Discover the expert in you.
Discover the expert in you.
Backcountry skiing can be an enjoyable way to explore places that are unreachable by foot during the winter while getting the benefits of a strong cardiovascular workout. Skins go over the skis and are used to provide additional traction when backcountry skiing in areas that have an abundance of hills that need to be climbed. Choosing the right skins for your skis is dependent upon a variety of factors, including the terrain you are going to be tackling and the type of skis you are using.
Head to the Northeast for some backcountry skiing and you may be busy for quite a while. From powdery gullies to near vertical ravines, the Northeast has many places for skiers and snowboarders to drop off the grid and find their own line. People have been taking to these beautiful slopes knowingly in pursuit of backcountry skiing for more than a hundred years, and there are likely some natural lines waiting to be discovered.
Backcountry skiing is an extremely challenging sport. Only expert skiers should attempt it, as the skier needs to be able to handle any type of terrain from trees to steep slopes to cliffs. Ski techniques include short-radius parallel turns, hop turns, dealing with deep powder, crud and ice and either changing a "line" in an instant or skiing a line determined by the mountain.
Nordic backcountry skiing is an adventure sport that, unlike telemark or alpine touring, focuses more on travel and less on downhill thrills. The gear is lighter and more oriented toward rolling terrain instead of the steeper terrain people on telemark and AT gear focus on.
There's no doubt about it, backcountry skiing is exhilarating. The quiet and often untouched terrain beckons many skiers who wish to leave the lift line. Backcountry skiing is something that takes time to learn, however, and many precautions should always be taken. If you want to backcountry ski, you need to learn about avalanches and how to evaluate terrain, learn to use skins, learn how to dress for extreme conditions and about proper backcountry ethics.
Backcountry skiing is peaceful and exhilarating due to its lack of crowds. But it also is dangerous and requires specific gear.
Beep, beep, beep. It's amazing how such a simple sound could save your life.
