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IFMGA-Certified Guide Explains Backcountry Skiing

If you're a skier or snowboarder who has watched tracks disappearing beyond the ski area boundary and wondered what's out there, this guide is for you. Backcountry skiing — also called ski touring or alpine touring — opens up an entirely different relationship with the mountains.

Why backcountry? In 20+ years of guiding, here's what keeps bringing me back:

Untracked powder
No lift lines or crowds
Extraordinary views and remote terrain
Outstanding exercise
Access to objectives that simply don't exist inside resort boundaries

What Is Backcountry Skiing?

Backcountry skiing means skiing outside of marked, lift-served, and patrolled ski resort boundaries. Instead of riding lifts, you earn your turns by skinning uphill. "Sidecountry" refers to leaving resort boundaries via a gate — it still counts as backcountry once you cross that line.

If you're a reasonably fit intermediate-to-advanced skier, you can enjoy backcountry skiing. Fitness improves quickly with time on the skin track.

What to Wear: The Layering System

Skinning uphill has very different thermal demands than riding a lift. Overdress and you'll be soaked in sweat at the top of your first climb.

Base layer: Breathable synthetic or merino wool. Wicks moisture away from your skin. Wear it all day. A sun hoodie on top, lightweight bottom.

Mid layer: Insulation and ventilation. On cold days, a light synthetic insulated jacket. On warmer days, a hybrid softshell/fleece that breathes well while moving.

Shell jacket: Your armor against wind and precipitation. Choose a hardshell for wet conditions, a softshell for cold and dry. No insulation in your shell — that's your mid layer's job.

Essential Backcountry Ski Gear

Skis: A backcountry-specific ski, lighter than resort skis, with a waist between 90–115mm depending on terrain and snow. I ski a 102mm in the Wasatch for most conditions.

Climbing skins: Adhesive strips that attach to the base of your ski. One direction grips the snow; the other glides forward. Cut them to match your ski exactly.

Alpine touring (AT) bindings: Release the heel for climbing, lock it down for descending. Tech bindings are the lightest; frame bindings offer more downhill performance.

AT boots: Lightweight with a walk mode that unlocks the cuff for natural ankle movement on the ascent. All modern AT boots have tech inserts and Vibram soles.

Splitboard (for riders): A snowboard that splits into two ski-like halves for skinning up, then reconnects as a normal board for the descent.

Avalanche Safety: Non-Negotiable

Avalanches are the primary hazard in backcountry terrain. Three items are required on every outing:

Beacon: Worn on your body at all times (not in your pack). Transmits a signal when on — your partners switch to search mode to locate you if you're buried. Use a modern three-antenna digital beacon.

Probe: A 240–300cm collapsible pole that pinpoints your exact burial depth once your beacon signal has been narrowed to a small area. Practice deploying it quickly.

Shovel: An aluminum-bladed shovel with an extendable handle. The most physically demanding part of a rescue is shoveling — practice efficient V-conveyor technique.

Beyond gear: take an Avalanche Level 1 course, read the daily forecast for your region at avalanche.org, and go out with experienced partners until you've built solid field judgment.

Fitness for Backcountry Skiing

The aerobic demand is real. A typical day might involve 3,000–6,000 feet of climbing. Build your base with:

Hiking or trail running in the off-season
Cycling (road or mountain) for aerobic capacity
Gym work: lunges, step-ups, single-leg squats, hip stability
Yoga or mobility work to support ankle and hip range of motion

The good news: skinning itself is excellent training. Most people come back noticeably fitter each season.

Ready to try it? Book a guided day in the Wasatch with an IFMGA or AMGA-certified guide and learn the ropes in good hands.