How to Get Started with Backcountry Skiing

As a professional snowsport instructor in Colorado, I'm lucky to have access to some of the finest backcountry skiing and riding in the United States. Nothing beats the feeling of gliding through deep untracked powder. It's you and Mother Nature in blissful harmony - snow, mountains, and clean air. Skiing in its purest form.

In the West, backcountry skiing can be accessed in a variety of ways. Ski resorts might have legal backcountry access gates, there are established touring trails like the 10th Mountain Hut system, and highway accessed terrain such as Berthoud and Loveland Pass. Most backcountry skiing requires an advanced to expert ability.

To get started with backcountry skiing isn't as simple as going out and buying touring gear. Just ask members of Grand County Search and Rescue in Winter Park, CO. Every season would-be backcountry skiers are seriously injured or die. Learning to be safe in the backcountry is the first step towards your skiing nirvana.

Starting your education can be as simple as going online. There is a community of knowledgeable backcountry skiers out there. They want you to be safe too. Great places to ask questions are at Epicski.com and the hardcore crowd at Teton Gravity Research.

Before you start looking at touring equipment, take some education courses. At a minimum you should take an avalanche awareness course, an avalanche probe course, and an avalanche beacon training course. Then get out there and practice, practice, practice at your local beacon training park. Avalanche beacons are useless unless everyone in your party is wearing one and knows how to use it. They take practice to learn how to quickly locate a victim. Many stores offer free avalanche training courses and beacon courses. They'll even give you a great purchase discount at the end of the course.

Backcountry skiing can utilize a variety of ski gear. It all depends upon the terrain you are planning on skiing. A great deal of terrain can be skied using regular alpine ski equipment. It you are planning on skiing trails, you'll probably need to buy or rent some alpine touring gear. They have special free-heel bindings that let you skin up steep slopes and a clip that locks your heel down when skiing down. You'll probably want to rent the first few times you try alpine touring.

Once you have your ski gear, there are a few more items you'll need to acquire. First you'll need a backpack that is designed to carry backcountry gear. If you boot pack up with your skis attached to the pack, it will need some straps. It's just the ticket when hiking up Highland Bowl in Aspen. Next, you'll need a lightweight shovel, an avalanche probe, and an avalanche beacon. Most reputable stores will not rent beacons so you'll need to purchase one. A simple easy to use beacon is the Backcountry Access Tracker DTS Beacon.

On your first backcountry outing, go with experienced people who know the terrain. It will prevent you from getting "cliffed out" and nowhere to go. Ask your guides what to bring. It's always wise to bring extra clothes, water, food, and a headlamp. You might get stuck out overnight.

Several days before your trip, start consulting the local weather predictions and the local avalanche prediction center. They can tell you what weather to expect and where the highest avalanche dangers are. Be prepared, even the most trained personnel can get caught off-guard.

You are now ready to go experience that backcountry. Have fun and take lots of pictures. With backcountry knowledge and safe practices, you'll have a wonderful time. Now get out there and rip!