8 Classic Backcountry Routes for Beginners to Experts
Resorts are closing, but you can extend your ski season with these backcountry touring routes for all abilities.
Author
Lily Krass
Lily grew up skiing Cascade Concrete in the PNW before moving out to the Rockies to study Spanish and Italian at the University of Colorado in Boulder. She now calls the Tetons home and works as a freelance writer in the ski, outdoor, and adventure travel industry.
She loves to ski, mountain bike, and trail run, and when she’s not deep in the mountains you can find her in her tiny kitchen, whipping up new recipes for her upcoming cookbook.
My Stories
A Ski Tour from Jackson Hole to Grand Targhee Taught Us to Embrace Adventure
Things didn't go exactly as we wanted, but we learned a lot about perseverance, reward, and how to adapt in the moment.
Hip Flexors on Fire After a Ski Tour? Here’s Why.
If your hamstrings and glutes are weak (or weaker than your quads), you're making your hip flexors do all the work.
If You’re Going to Tow Your Gear Into the Backcountry, Here’s What You Should Know
Towing your gear for a multi-day backcountry mission may sound like good idea, but sometimes a sled is more trouble than it's worth.
How to Time Your Backcountry Ski Tour to Harvest Perfect Spring Corn
There's a tight window between skiing bulletproof ice and hot slush, and nailing it requires being borderline obsessive about it.
Gear You Need for Spring in the Backcountry
Check out Lily Krass's author page.
The Best Way to Improve Your Performance on the Skin Track Has Nothing To Do With Technique
Getting electrolytes on board will increase your stamina on the uphill so you can make the most of the downhill.
6 Tips for Nailing Soft Spring Turns at the Resort
Spring corn is delicious, but hitting the melt-freeze cycle just right is tricky. Here's how to find the best turns in the spring.
The Biggest Risk in the Backcountry Isn’t An Avalanche
The "human factor" is one of the biggest dangers in the backcountry. Here's how to manage tricky social dynamics.
Why Are Older People the Ones Dying in Avalanches?
Over the past decade, the median age of avalanche fatalities in the backcountry has risen. Experts are scratching their heads as to why.