How I’ve [Safely] Learned to Backcountry Ski this Winter
Katelyn Kommer
“Earning your turns” means sucking wind while slogging uphill, sweating profusely in well-below freezing weather, and traveling through some questionable terrain. Across the country, backcountry skiing has exploded in popularity. As resorts get more crowded and pricey, skiing aficionados everywhere have discovered that you can have just as much fun without waiting in lift lines or paying $5 for a gatorade. However, to safely recreate in the backcountry, skiers need a whole lot more knowledge than is required at the resorts. This season I’ve started to tip-toe into the backcountry, safely. Here’s how I’m doing it.
Start Traveling Uphill Inbounds (At a Resort)
Skinning (traveling uphill on skis) and skiing down a groomed run at a resort is like the climbing gym of backcountry skiing. You get the chance to practice the techniques used and build strength, with almost all the risk mitigated. For this, you won’t need any avalanche safety gear or training. This is a great place to rent gear for the first time or borrow from a generous friend. Every ski resort has a different policy on whether or not they allow uphill travel, and sometimes it will be designated to certain areas of the resort and at certain times of the day. This information can be found by googling the particular resort + “uphill travel policy”.
The first time I used a backcountry setup was last winter at Park City Ski Resort. From 6 pm - 8:30 am they allow uphill travel on one specific run. The workout was SO much harder than I bargained for - it took me 45 minutes to get to the top and about 4 to ski back down. However, the reward of an uphill workout like this is entirely unlike the downhill section of a hike or trail run. It’s pure, unadulterated fun to switch your boots back into ski mode and cruise downhill after an intense climb up.
Research What Gear you Need + Start Investing
After you’ve gotten the basic technique and fitness down, the next step is to start building your setup. There’s a ton of different boot/binding/ski combinations possible, so I highly recommend taking your time to survey all your options before purchasing. Additionally, if you’re planning on traveling in avalanche terrain, you’ll need a beacon, probe, and shovel. At first, lightweight gear may not be your first priority but over time extra weight on your skis and bindings will make the uphill touring significantly more difficult.
Once I got myself to this step, I started to venture out into the backcountry in areas where there is zero risk of Avalanche danger. Many people decide to take an Avalanche course before stepping into the backcountry at all, but I did it this way so I could build a bit of base knowledge before an official course. I only had enough money for one ski setup this winter, so I chose skis and bindings that perform well at the resorts, but are also compatible with touring. This means they’re significantly heavier than other options, but I decided that a year or two down the road I may be able to invest in lighter gear if I seriously get into backcountry skiing. And although I’m traveling through low-angled and south facing terrain, I still carry my beacon, probe, and shovel so I can practice with my touring partners.
Sign up for an Avalanche safety Course
Early next winter, I’m going to sign up for an AAIRE certified Avalanche Safety Course. Again, most people do this first but I chose a different approach. I know the basics of where you can tour without any risk of Avalanches, so I wanted to build fitness and base knowledge before truly absorbing all that I need to know. In an avalanche course, you’ll learn the basics of touring, avalanche science, how to measure slope angles, rescue techniques, and so many more things that are crucial to be able to backcountry ski safely. There’s also a lot of self-studying you can do beforehand to get a grasp on the basics. Bruce Temper’s “Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain” is an amazing written resource that I highly recommend for anyone looking to venture into the backcountry.
Skiing is by far my favorite new sport - and I hope to still be doing it when I’m old and gray. Traveling into the backcountry is an entirely different beast from resort skiing, and it requires a lot of caution to do it safely. Everyone’s approach for getting into the sport is different, but over the past year this general progression has worked incredibly well for me.
