Hitting the backcountry on skis is an excellent way to get outside during the winter. Not only can skiing help fight cabin fever and make the short hours of daylight more enjoyable, you can even use it as part of your regular fitness plan. Before you hit the backcountry you should understand the basics of what you're getting into, from necessary equipment to the hazards you might encounter once you venture away from groomed trails and ski-patrolled slopes.
Types
If you're focusing on covering distance in the backcountry, instead of bagging peaks or climbing up just for the sake of the pulse-pounding rush back down, you're cross-country skiing. Most backcountry cross-country skiing is done nordic style, with wide skis that float on top of the ungroomed snow. If you're ski mountaineering or just looking for the downhill rush, you can either telemark ski or opt for alpine-style touring. The biggest difference between these two styles is the bindings: With telemark bindings your heels and ankles are free to move, allowing lunge-style turns. With touring bindings, you can leave your heels free or lock them down.
Benefits
Aside from the adrenaline charge of carving down a snow-covered slope -- even on cross-country skis -- backcountry skiing is also a great chance to get outside with others. Traveling in good company doesn't just help you manage unpredictable backcountry conditions, it also makes the exercise feel easier and go by faster. And make no mistake about it, backcountry skiing is real exercise. According to Harvard Health Publications, if you weigh 185 lbs. you can burn 266 calories in half an hour of downhill skiing. Cross-country skiing burns even more calories, as many as 355 in 30 minutes.
Equipment
Having the proper equipment is especially important when venturing into the backcountry, because your equipment, your buddies and your own ingenuity are all you have to deal with unexpected hazards such as avalanches, foul weather, getting lost, equipment failure and injuries. You'll need skis, boots, bindings and poles specific to the backcountry style you've chosen. Other recommended equipment includes a helmet, goggles, multiple layers of clothing, a first-aid kit, equipment-repair kit, and avalanche gear including probe, shovel and beacon.
Considerations
Having the right gear in the backcountry won't do you much good if you don't know how to use it. The most important piece of ski equipment you can take along is your brain -- don't leave it at home. You should be confident in your ability to ski the expected terrain before you head out, and also be able to evaluate avalanche hazard, or at the very least identify and avoid avalanche-prone terrain. Alpine and telemark skiers aren't the only ones subject to avalanche hazard; even cross-country skiers may travel underneath avalanche-prone slopes. Consider taking avalanche safety courses an investment in your own safety and that of your ski buddies, and encourage them to do the same.
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