Avalanche Safety Equipment at the Start Haus

As the skiing community ventures farther and farther off the beaten path in to the backcountry, so does the Start Haus.

Start Haus Owner Jim Schaffner skinning up Hidden Peak on Tahoe's west shore.

That means not only carrying the best backcountry skis, bindings and touring boots, but avalanche safety gear too.

It's important to know education comes first, and anyone venturing into the backcountry should take an Avalanche Level 1 course to learn about the complex science of a snowpack and how to safely travel in the backcountry.

But once you have that education under your belt, there are key pieces of avalanche safety equipment backcountry skiers should have on them at all times - an avalanche beacon, probe and shovel.

More recently the avalanche airbag backpack has gained popularity, with some compelling statistics backing its use.

We're carrying some of the best backcountry safety gear from Backcountry Access and Mammut.

Swing by the shop, give us a call, or shoot us an email and let us help you find the right backcountry gear for your next adventure.