Mountain Safety Collective Membership Drive 2023
Mountainwatch | News
Backcountry skiing and snowboarding exploded in Australia through COVID, with some estimating local numbers quadrupled to over 10,000 active or interested participants. This is in line with huge growth internationally where the backcountry market is recognised as the fastest growing segment of the snow sports industry.
A decade ago, you might have seen a handful of backcountry enthusiasts slogging their way out to the main range. Recent seasons have seen trailhead car parks packed just after dawn and you might see hundreds of people on any given weekend skinning out to access their favourite backcountry lines.
Mountain Safety Collective has played a key role since 2017 ensuring people can access timely and relevant information about backcountry conditions in all of the major Victorian and NSW alpine regions. This is delivered in the form of a daily Backcountry Conditions Report that provides an overview of likely hazards, snow and weather conditions and the possibility of avalanche activity. This information becomes critical for anyone planning a backcountry trip to make informed decisions about where to ski and make it home safely again.
Mountainwatch also publishes the MSC Backcountry Conditions Report every Friday, so those planning a weekend tour are informed and can make the right choices.
While avalanche risk has been brushed off as not being a serious problem in Australia in the past, recent climatic changes have seen large volumes of snow falling at higher elevations combined with rapid temperature fluctuations, a recipe for producing some of the largest avalanches observed in recent memory during the 2022 snow season. Combine this with larger numbers of people accessing avalanche terrain and the need for the consistent reporting that Mountain Safety Collective provides becomes very apparent.
Structured as a not-for-profit association and overseen by a committee of volunteers, Mountain Safety Collective relies on funding for its reporting services from three key areas: corporate sponsorship, government grants and individual membership fees. Before the season kicks off each year, Mountain Safety Collective runs its annual membership drive, where existing and new members go into the draw for a selection of fantastic prizes.
For 2023, this includes a premium shell jacket and pants set from Arc’teryx, an avalanche safety kit from Mammut, a Burton splitboard, Marker Kingpin 13 touring bindings, Milo hand-free action communicator, POC helmet and goggles, mountainFlow eco-wax kits, Wild magazine subscriptions, a Thredbo backcountry tour and an avalanche awareness course from Whiteroom Tours.
The $50 annual membership fee helps fund all of Mountain Safety Collective’s reporting and online education resources alongside facilities like the Avalanche Training Centre in Hotham and one soon to be announced in NSW for the 2023 season. Alongside a membership kit, members receive big discounts on Mountain Safety Collective merchandise and events, exclusive access to maps and guides and special offers from sponsors.
Are you planning to go backcountry this winter? Sign up as a Mountain Safety Collective member before June 11 and not only will you have a chance to win some great prizes, you’ll be helping ensure the whole backcountry community continues to benefit from this important organisation’s services.
Sign up as a MSC member here.
