Built on Communication, Not Luck — The VNTRbirds Way

Somewhere between packing snacks, triple-checking your gear, and booting up in the cold at the trailhead, trip planning can start to feel optional.

We’ve all been there. You meant to read the forecast more closely. You assumed everyone had the same goals. You figured you’d “talk it through in the parking lot.” Life is full — and when time gets tight, it’s tempting to cut corners.

In the backcountry, those corners matter. Most incidents aren’t caused by one bad decision. They’re built slowly, step by step, when preparation slips and communication gets fuzzy. That’s why we talk so much about trip planning at VNTRbirds — not because we love checklists, but because planning is how we look out for each other.

" Because planning is how we look out for each other." 📸 @juliaordog

Start with Your People

Before you decide where you’re going, get clear on who you’re going with. Trip planning starts with honest conversations:

– What does everyone want out of the day? 

– What experience levels and comfort zones are in the group? 

– Who’s feeling solid, who’s unsure, and what support might be needed?

Naming differences early doesn’t make a group weaker — it makes it safer. Clear expectations at home make communication flow naturally when decisions matter out there.

Bring the Right Tools (and Know Them)

Your gear is part of the plan, not an afterthought. Avalanche rescue equipment? Check. Layers, food, communication devices, navigation tools, first aid? Check. Knowing how your gear works, not just owning it? Absolutely. Confidence comes from familiarity — and familiarity starts before the tour.

Read the Forecast — Then Read It Again

Checking the forecast isn’t a box to tick. It’s a conversation with the mountains. Look beyond the headline danger rating. Spend time with avalanche problems, recent observations, and weather trends. Ask yourself how conditions interact with the terrain you’re considering today. Forecasts are layered on purpose — the more you engage, the better your decisions will be.

Put the CAIC or Avalanche Forecast app where your social media habit lives. Make checking the forecast your new daily scroll. 📱➡️❄️  

Choose a Route with Intention

This is usually the moment where things get quiet. A map comes out. Someone traces a finger along a ridgeline. Another asks, “So… what are we thinking?”

At VNTRbirds, this is where we get specific. We use a simple color scale — green, yellow, red — and we’re honest about what it means. You can’t live in the yellow. Yellow is the maybe. The “we’ll see how it feels.” The space where pressure sneaks in and clarity slips out.

So we decide early: hell yes or hell no. We name where we’re headed and, just as clearly, where we’re not. We talk through the terrain we’re avoiding and identify the moments to pause, check in, and reassess if conditions change. That clarity removes guesswork later, when decisions matter more and energy is lower.

When everyone lays eyes on the plan — and the backup plan — that’s when the real check happens. Someone might pause and say, “This feels yellow to me.” That’s the signal to stop, regroup, and talk it through again. The goal isn’t to push forward with hesitation. We keep circling the plan until that person moves back into green — fully confident — or until the group collectively decides it’s a red and adjusts the route.

This is how teams stay aligned, how people stay safe, and how we make decisions everyone can stand behind — long before the first turn in the snow. Maps, slope shading, and shared visuals turn abstract ideas into shared understanding. The goal isn’t perfection — it’s alignment.

Because good days in the backcountry don’t happen by accident. They’re chosen, one clear decision at a time.

Prepare for the “Just in Case”

We hope for smooth days. We plan for the hard ones.

Responsible trip planning includes emergency protocols: who has communication devices, how to use them, what the exit options are, and who knows your plan back home. These steps take minutes — and they matter more than we ever want them to.

At VNTRbirds, we believe preparation isn’t about fear — it’s about freedom. When the groundwork is solid, there’s more space for learning, confidence, and joy in the mountains.

So if you’re feeling rushed before a tour, take that as a signal. Slow down. Reconnect. Double-check. The mountains will still be there.

Your future self — and your partners — will thank you.

— Leanne Wren, VNTRbirds 🪶