There’s no better way to learn about safe travel in the mountains in winter than through someone who has earned their stripes. To become a qualified mountain guide you have to spend more time in the mountains than most of us can possibly imagine. Plus they should be able to show you the goods and take you to the areas with the best snow. Increasing your knowledge of avalanches and the snowpack is also a good call and there are countless avalanche courses out there to choose from.