Going out with a new partner for the first time can be the start of a great partnership…or a fiasco. In almost all situations, being explicit about how you like things to happen will help you have better partnerships…or will let you know you’re not a good team before you get on the snow. Here’s some tips for stacking the odds in your favor when you’re with a new partner:
Ask better questions than “have you taken an AIARE 1?”
We have a whole section on this elsewhere. Rather than ask if someone has sat through a class, ask what you really want to know about your partner. Do you want to know if they can read a map? ID terrain in the field? Make relevant observations for today’s avalanche problems? Those questions will help you a lot more than asking “have you taken an AIARE 1?”
Tell them how you like to plan
We address this in more detail below, but let your new partner know how you like to plan early in the process.
Tell them how you like to communicate and make decisions
Do you expect everyone to chime in on decisions, or do your groups have one person who is running the show? Own it. Tell your partners how you like to make decisions.
Put debriefing in the plan
Set the tone early on as you get to know your new partner that you want to debrief trips you go on together. If your partner says they don’t want to, you can explore why that is. Maybe they haven’t learned how to right-size their debriefs, or they haven’t seen how a debrief can expose why a trip turned out so good! If you think debriefing is valuable and your new partner is unwilling to do it, that might be all you need to know to move on to a different partner. Better to learn that well in advance, rather than while you’re on the snow.
New person recap
This tool is designed for when there’s a “newbie” on a trip, but equally valuable for new partners. Have your partner tell you their understanding of the plan. You and your new partner may both plan to do the standard route on Mt Kale, but your idea of standard is a quick lap in the Salad Bowl, ending at the cars before lunch, while your partner’s idea is two laps in the Salad Chuter and skinning back to the car as the sun is setting. Having the new partner recap the plan can expose these inconsistencies between partners before it's problematic.
Don’t flake, and help your new partner not to flake
No one likes it when their partner flakes and plans fall apart. We’ve heard it from many people we’ve interviewed. Our hunch is that people who flake at the last minute were never really committed to the trip to begin with, or they were committed as long as a better offer didn’t appear. There’s nothing wrong with not being fully committed to a trip, as long as you’re clear with your partner(s). When you’re starting to make plans let your partner know how committed you are to the plan, and ask how committed they are.
Be explicit about how you like to plan, communicate, make decisions, and debrief:
We’ve probably all been there…out with new partners, and they do things very differently than how you do. Maybe they like to use a lot of checklists, and you just want to go. Or you like to stick together, and they are racing to get to every ridge before you.
Don’t change your usual process or checklist when planning:
Whether you use an AIARE fieldbook, SAC’s Daily Flow, or you just wing it, don’t let a new partner steer you off your process. Planning via text? Make sure you’re covering the same information you would if you were meeting your partner at the coffee shop to make your plans.
Terrain choice is the biggest factor in having a good day
Pick a low key, short, easy, inconsequential tour for your first outing. Much like going out for a cup of coffee as a first date, going on a short, low consequence trip allows you to get to know your new partner before you’re deep in the backcountry with them.
Consider spending a day riding lifts in the ski resort before going out into the backcountry. Urban dwellers: If your days in the mountains are few and precious, find another activity where you can get a better feel for your potential partner. Go for a hike, mt bike ride, or a session at the climbing gym. Failing that, try getting a literal cup of coffee.
Reflect on the trip and update your quiver
After your trip, take some time to reflect not just on your partner’s performance but also on how well they matched your style and needs. Consider what made them a good partner and in what scenarios they might excel or struggle. Were they reliable and communicative? Did they share your approach to planning and decision-making? Think about the types of trips where their strengths would complement yours and where their weaknesses might pose challenges. This reflection will help you decide if they’re a suitable partner for future adventures and identify the best contexts for your collaboration.
