Safety in Numbers?

I've noticed an interesting dichotomy in one aspect of skiing: groups. There are groups that say it's safer to ski in big groups (I'd classify this as 4 or more, but that's just me). There are those that say it's a safer to go it alone (and hopefully they only mean in bounds). And then there's some that say 2 or 3 is ideal. Obviously hurtling yourself down a mountain on one or two boards isn't the safest past-time (even though it is the most fun), but there are so many things you can do to improve the odds of making it off the hill and through the season in one relatively-unmangled piece.

The first step is wear safety gear: helmet, long pants and a jacket (since spring is here people take up wearing shorts and stuff; don't forget about ice burn people), a beacon/shovel/probe combo for backcountry, powder leashes, etc. The second step is going with the right people.

I enjoy skiing alone. Turn on some tunes, hop on the lift, and lap it until you can't anymore. However, this isn't the safest way to go, especially if you are going off-piste or it's a low-traffic day. It's easy enough to fall where no one can see you and be unable to ski out, and going it alone means there's no one to go get help. More ski areas are covered by most wireless providers, and I recommend everyone put the ski patrol number in their phone before they hop on the lift (you never know when you or someone else might need it and it takes seconds to put in).

Alternatively, I've skied in some pretty big groups before. It gets annoying to wait around for a lot of people, especially if you're not all the same pace. In large groups there is much more of a peer pressure component as well. If everyone you're with is sending something pretty big, then you may decide to do it even if it's beyond your ability so as not to get called a pussy or whatnot. Additionally, if you're not picking the run you may end up on something you just can't ski. Advanced to expert skiers tend to forget that not everyone can do everything they can, and pick lines based on their skills and preferences as opposed to playing to the least skilled member of the group. I've been guilty of this and I think most expert skiers have as well.

A group of 2 to 3 is the best, though still not ideal unless everyone is evenly matched. Peer pressure, fatigue, personality clashes, etc., are all still present and on such a small scale are actually more likely to cause issues. The best advice I have it to always ski with a buddy if possible (and only ski with at least one buddy if you're in the backcountry; don't be stupid), but make sure you find the right people for you to ski with. Just because someone is a good friend, it doesn't mean they'll be a good ski friend. There are differences in relationship dynamic there, so make sure you are optimizing your ski experience. I know for me it's my happy place, so why would I populate it with people I don't have fun with?

What's worse is taking those great ski buddies out of the mix; it detracts from the whole day. I skied with my dad for 8 seasons straight and we had a blast; he taught me a lot and it was a great father-daughter bonding experience. Here in SLC I've found some great friends to ski with, but certain recent experiences have precluded our skiing together. It's a bummer.

Skiing: good snow, good gear, good beer, and great friends, it's all you need.