Backcountry Skiing, Mountaineering and Alpine Touring

Description: Mountaineering refers to mountain climbing. Ski mountaineering, also known as Alpine Touring (AT) or backcountry randonee, refers to climbing the mountain on/with skis. By definition, this endeavor is in the backcountry, outside of the boundaries of a resort.

The equipment one uses and carries is also much different from that used within a ski resort. Avalanche beacons, probes, shovels and rescue gear are essential in unpredictable conditions. The standard skis, boots and equipment are hardly suitable. Mountaineering skis, bindings and boots are typically much lighter as it is you who provides the energy to fight gravity and not the ski lift. Alpine Touring (AT) mountaineering skis use a binding which allows the foot to articulate in an Nordic ski (cross country ski) fashion where the toe is allowed to pivot and the heal is permitted to move up and down to allow one to travel in a natural human walking motion known as "Walk To Ride" (WTR). For snowboarders, a type of snowboard known as a splitboard is used which allows the boarder to move like a skier uphill but then attach them together as a single snowboard for the downhill run and are covered in our article on Snowboard Mountaineering and Splitboarding.

According to Snowsports Industries of America (SIA) sales stats gathered from the ski industry, the popularity of backcountry ski touring has increased significantly. It seems obvious to me that high resort ticket prices, the quest for powder and improved equipment, have pushed people to the backcountry.

The skis and boots used for ski mountaineering are typically lighter than their downhill alpine counterparts but still quite similar. Lower weight is desired to reduce the fatigue one would experience from carrying the gear uphill.

1. Cross country ski binding mode: the toe is attached but allowed to pivot and the heal is free to move up and down. An adjustable block or riser is under the heal to raise it while going uphill to maintain a proper ankle geometry.
2. Downhill boot binding mode: the heal is locked to the ski so the entire boot is fixed to the ski like a regular downhill alpine ski.

There are two basic designs of touring bindings available:

1. Lightweight tech bindings designed to only work with AT boots with dimpled "pinned" toe inserts which allow the climbing articulation where the heel can lift and hinge vertically about the toe. These bindings are designed to be very lightweight and generally do not support high DIN settings.
2. Alpine boot compatible bindings which step into a frame which hinges about the toe. These bindings tend to be more durable and can support higher DIN settings and load.

Touring boots are very much like traditional alpine skiing boots except that they provide the dimpled toe inserts for the pure lightweight AT pin bindings, they support more fore-aft movement in the tongue to ease the hiking of alpine accents, and are made of lighter materials.

Backcountry Equipment Manufacturers Links:

• BCA: Back Country Access - works with existing alpine bindings
• Black Diamond - skis, boots, skins, etc
• Fritschi Diamir - bindings
• G3: Genuine Guide Gear - telemark skis, bindings and boots, climbing skins, gear
• Marker AT bindings - Power "Duke" and "Baron" for wide AT skis.
• Salomon Guardian 16 - easy transition from downhill to AT.

Take a look at our coverage of traditional alpine ski bindings and ski equipment

AT Binding Adapters:

Kitten Factory (KF) Carbon Ascender:

AT Boots:

AT boots support features for mountain ascent such as:

• Pinned toe: this allows the boot to swivel up/down to support "walk mode" when the heal is released on the AT binding.
• Flexibility and range of motion: foot articulation is important for "walk mode" (only).
• Support: ultimately, once the ascent is complete, one will ski down the hill in regular Alpine ski mode. The boot needs to be able to transform from a flexible AT mode to a regular Alpine mode which allows downhill ski control and transfer of force and weight.
• Lightweight: the more your gear weighs, the more you are carrying up hill during your mountain ascent.

MountainYahoos.com Ski Poles: poles with arresting features

Accessory Manufacturers Links:

• BCA: Back Country Access - climbing skins, bindings, gear
• Black Diamond - skis, boots, climbing skins, gear
• G3: Genuine Guide Gear - telemark skis, bindings and boots, climbing skins, gear
• North Face - backpacks
• Pieps - backcountry backpacks

Also see our coverage of avalanche safety gear and equipment

Alpine Touring Locations and Guides:

• Western United States of America:
  • High Sierra mountains California
  • Wasatch Mountains Utah (where the photos above were taken)
  • Teton Pass Wyoming
  • Loveland Pass Colorado
  • Berthoud Pass Colorado
  • Valdez Alaska
• Western Canada:
  • Rogers Pass British Columbia
  • Wapta Traverse Alberta
  • Banff Alberta
• Europe:
  • In the company of guides - Alps, Mont Blanc (Chamonix Valley), Matterhorn, ...
  • Chamonix France
  • Zermatt Switzerland
  • Apennine Mountains Italy
  • Hochkonig Austria
  • Bergmenn Mountain Iceland

Links:

• In The Company Of Guides - guided backcountry tours: Utah, Alaska, La Grave France, Haute Route Switzerland/France, etc
• Sierra Mountain Center - 1-760-873-8526 Bishop CA (near Mammoth) Back country tours, huts, etc
• United States Ski Mountaineering Association
• Utah Avalanche Advisory

Stay warm with the appropriate clothing and be safe by bringing the appropriate backcountry AT gear, avalanche gear, food and water. Training helps and hire a guide if you are unfamiliar with the area.

Also see the MountainYahoos.com guide to Avalanche safety gear and Avalanche training and education.