Phat brings up a good point I didn't consider. If you are in avalanche country, you should have a beacon, which can be rented, the knowledge of how to use it, a decent shovel and probe and some avalanche training-mostly how to avoid them.

Also, you need good navigation skills. Snow on the ground makes everything look alike and trails may be completely covered up. I spent half an hour looking for my skis one time because I had taken them off and leaned them up against a tree before walking away from them for no more than about 50 yards. I won't be doing that again. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />