Jim Young is a NZ Mountain Guide Ski Guide, Avalanche Educator and Forecaster and member of the Aoraki Mt Cook Alpine Rescue Team.
He is also one of our Brand Ambassadors, and when we asked him to share some of his knowledge about safety in the back country, he leapt at the chance.
This is the first of a 3-part series on Snow Safety, focusing on what gear and equipment Jim takes and why.
Part 2 will look at planning and what you need to know before you go, while Part 3 is about keeping safe out in the field.
Download this Snow Safety Gear List
You won't need all of this if you're only out for a day. However make sure you have some spare gear with you, in case things don't go to plan.
The objective is to share knowledge to help keep people safe in our alpine environments, and to encourage conversation.
Please feel free to ask questions or comment below.
Please ensure your comments are respectful and appropriate for general audiences.
Thanks to Ross Mackay for filming and production.