Splitboard Skills Episode 9: Whiteout travel technique- fishing!

As our incredible spring shred season wears on into summer the riding continues to be top notch. When in the alpine and on glaciers stormy or foggy weather can really cause disorientation and distress. When visibility decreases I’ll cast a line for contrast. This video was part of our Splitboard Mountaineering Course on Mount Baker through my company Guided Exposure. Join us for more split love!
Start by tying your cordolette to the end of your trekking pole. I like to use a combo of a bowline around the basket hole along with a clove hitch around the pole. But a figure 8 follow through works too. When casting a flick of the pole from the wrist really gets the end whipping out in front of you. Ride slowly toward the cord and cast again.
Here’s the why:
✅ Helps to create contrast to see the terrain in front of you
✅ Visibility unexpectedly decreased based upon forecast & observations
✅ Unfamiliar terrain and don’t know what’s coming up downhill
✅ You have to travel and don’t have an option to stay put
Why not:
🛑 Crevasse fall likelihood is too high- wait for better visibility
🛑 Riding in control is overly difficult
🛑 Snow or fog too thick to be effective
🛑 Could cause severe damage to your cordolette
⚠️Caution: Whiteout navigation on a glacier requires practice, skill, and experience. In most cases I avoid the need or chance of relying on white out nav by timing the weather. If crevasse fall is possible your cord might be too short to create a margin of error resulting in being to close to a crevasse and not being able to stop.
A very useful resource for new glacier travelers that have received training from a professional is Joe Stocks Crackulator. Link here: www.stockalpin...
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