I went out for my first backcountry trip with a couple friends with a bit of fearful excitement. I had just picked up a used splitboard the night before, and quickly tried to set it up, wax it, and cut new skins to be ready to head out today. I was both excited, and also still a little bit apprehensive about backcountry travel, as I hadn't had any formal learning or experience with avalanches and terrain awareness (yet). I was assured the terrain here was fairly beginner-friendly, and was being led by more experienced friends into this area.

The board I purchased was a 2013 Burton Freebird in a 158 length. It was fitted with older Spark R&D pin bindings with Burton Custom straps on them.

I had just picked up new G3 skins that week and had to cut them as well, which was really easy to do to be honest.

At Whistler, you need to purchase a Backcountry Pass that allows up to four chairlift rides to get you up to the backcountry entrance. You need to show your avalanche gear (minimum beacon, shovel, probe). We made it up there with a bit of downhill in between, which is nice to get the gear tested a little before venturing further!

Then came the skinning up! Many were gathered at the backcountry entrance to transition to uphill mode. There's a beacon testing station as well, to make sure it's operating properly (and turned on!). Just be sure to give space between one another so you don't set each other's off during the testing. Up we go!

We made it up to Flute Summit where you get all the views to start you off right.

We did a bit of up and down in the bowls around the area of Musical Bumps, getting used to the transitioning between ride and climb modes and getting more efficient at it. Overall I didn't get the comfort on this board that I normally do with my resort snowboard, but that's to be expected as it was my first time out with it, foot positioning may not have been set right and just other general factors. A really good test day, and got me excited to try more and get more comfortable with all of this! Couldn't have asked for better weather.

The day didn't come without a couple minor issues - I had a retaining clip for one of the pins on my binding come off as it was a little loose/spread out, and luckily a nearby splitboarder had a multi-tool with pliers on it that helped me tighten up that ring so I didn't lose it. I will now carry my own Leatherman multi-tool for future trips (let me know of any lighter weight solution). There was also a buckle on one of the straps that had a broken spring, so it came loose periodically and I had to keep checking it. I also lost a snow basket on one of my poles on the uphill. All things to be aware of and prepared for next time!

On the way out through the resort, there was a longer traverse that just wasn't worth trying to push and hop with the poles on the board, so I took it off and used much less energy walking. Also found out I can tow my board like I'm walking a dog, and much easier than carrying it!

Final stats for the day: