Excellent reminder to always ride with a partner on powder days because even a low speed fumble can lead to critical situations. Such was the case back in January on the sidecountry slopes of Salzburger Land, Austria where a snowboarder caught an edge on some exposed vegetation and ended up buried head first in snow. Thankfully his partner was nearby and quickly came to dig him out but you can imagine what might have happened if he was solo.

Francis Xavier is a seasoned writer for Unofficial Networks, bringing a lifetime of outdoor experience to his work. Having lived in a ski resort town for years he has a deep connection to mountain culture....