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.
Backcountry skiing is characterized by skiing in remote areas on unmarked slopes. With the unknown terrain and extreme challenge of backcountry skiing, technical gear and equipment is required for safety and success. Along with...
Once you exit the boundaries at any ski area or hike into Washington wilderness that is not monitored by ski patrols, you enter into the backcountry. The risk involved in backcountry skiing may include sinkholes, avalanches, la...
Backcountry skiing can be an exhilarating and adventurous excursion. Skiing the backcountry means going slightly off the beaten path of traditional ski slopes and areas. Backcountry skiing lets you see areas that are remote and...
The promise of pristine, untracked powder inspires advanced skiers to explore the backcountry. While the lack of crowds and lift lines may sound tempting, backcountry skiing is a potentially dangerous and exhausting sport. Whil...
Backcountry skiing is a form of cross-country skiing in which skiers traverse untamed snow off the trail and often deep into the wilderness. This type of skiing can be dangerous because it is often in remote locations where res...
The beautiful mountains of the Idaho Panhandle offer great backcountry skiing opportunities. You'll find a wide variety of trails, from easy paths for beginners to extremely challenging ascents and descents suitable for only th...
Nordic backcountry skiing combines the disciplines of cross-country and telemark skiing. While the techniques and terrain resemble cross-country skiing, Nordic backcountry skiing uses equipment similar in style to telemark skii...
The sport of backcountry skiing is done in regions of the mountains that are not developed ski resorts. Backcountry skiers do not use chairlifts to reach the top of runs, and they descend regions that have not been groomed or a...
Backcountry skiing, also known as ski touring or ski mountaineering, is a popular winter activity that involves skiing---either uphill or downhill---through wilderness areas, over nongroomed trails. Backcountry skiing is a fun,...
The backcountry entices advanced skiers with the promise of untracked powder, solitude and freedom. Although the "great white open" is tempting, it is potentially dangerous and exhausting. Powder-skiing skills, strength and ae...
Backcountry skiing, also known as "off-piste" skiing, refers to skiing in areas not formally designated or patrolled for skiing and generally not serviced by ski lifts. Backcountry ski equipment differs from traditional alpine...
