Every week I load my pack with a shiny new probe, shovel, and top-of-the-line transceiver...then take a look at the day's avalanche report and turn back. Why? In December 2002, after reading and talking to local experts for more than a year, I finally took a winter-safety course. The class taught me the basics on when to go into out-of-bounds territory and what to look for. What follows is what I've gleaned over the last two seasons; hopefully, it'll help you start your own adventure into the backcountry. Keep in mind, this list is not meant to take the place of proper avalanche safety training.

1. Get the gear. Your first step is to acquire the tools-and then practice using them until you could do a rescue blindfolded and backward. This is an expensive but necessary endeavor-it usually runs around $400 for the probe, transceiver, and shovel-and that's before a split board or snowshoes. The latest transceivers feature digital readings that give distance and point you right to the victim. Statistics show that after 15 minutes, most rescues turn to recovery, so shoot for this in practice.

2. Choose partners wisely. Your favorite friends to ride with inbounds are great to push your riding to new heights, but they may not be the best group to veer out of bounds with. I look for backcountry partners who exercise caution, patience, respect, and flexibility. Everyone must be familiar with their rescue tools, possess backcountry etiquette, and be able to function under stress. Also remember that every member of your group must wear a transceiver; like walkie-talkies, one alone is pointless.

3. Give gear a once-over before heading out. Being geared to the gills is of no help if the batteries in your beacon are dead or the handle to your shovel is at home. Take a second before stepping into the backcountry to check every beacon in the group, and don't forget to test the testers.

4. Know before you go. Heading into the backcountry requires knowledge of weather, terrain, and snowpack, so pick up an established avalanche-safety book such as Jill Fredston and Doug Fesler's Snow Sense and start studying. Check in with the local avalanche forecast throughout the season and definitely before heading out.

5. Ditch the ride. When you swing through the out-of-bounds gates or hike into the backcountry, lose the leash. In the case of an avalanche, you need to be able to remove your board as fast as possible. If swept into an avalanche a snowboard can act like an anchor, pulling you deeper into the snow and preventing your legs from fighting the current.

6. Tree wells. Areas with trees and rocks may look like islands of safety that are out of the slide path, but they can also be terrain traps. When in a tree area, avoid getting too close to individual trees, as they can suck you into the open ring around the trunk. Sparsely located trees can also be trigger points for avalanches.

7. Watch for warning signs. Study the snowpack at the approximate angle and area where you plan to descend. During your ascent, look for heavy or wet snow on lighter layers, old avalanche crowns or slides in the area, and collapsing snow underfoot. Use a clinometer to check out the slope angle-most slides occur between 32 and 40 degrees.

8. One at a time. It takes copious amounts of patience to watch your buddy rip down a fresh line of powder while you stand freezing at the top, but it could save a life. By hiking across exposed avalanche terrain and riding one at a time, you ensure that there will be someone watching out for your safety. Take the time to allow each rider to get to an "island of safety" before the next starts making turns. Also, be aware that it isn't always the first down or across who triggers the slide.

9. Fight like mad. If you find yourself in a slide, fight, yell, try to figure out which way is up, and swim in that direction. When the slide begins to slow, make room around your mouth for an air pocket.

10. Go to class. Spending three days in the woods with experienced mountain guides is the only way to fully understand how little you know and how much you have to learn.