backcountry skiing

Climbing 2,000 vertical feet in the San Juan range is a big day for me regardless, and while my body, knee included, felt strong, my mind was less certain.

Finding someone excited to pass along knowledge and has time to do so is more important than someone who is very experienced.

If you've ever talked yourself out of bringing ski crampons on a spring backcounty ski tour, you're doing it wrong. Here's why.

Mentorship is a foundational principle in the outdoor industry.

You've got options in the climbing skin department. Here's how to choose the right pair for you.

If you venture deep into the backcountry, you need a plan for emergency communication. These are your best options.

Climate change means you may not be able to do hut-to-hut ski tours in the Alps forever.

Notes from an intentional ski expedition on a new frontier.

If I win the lottery, you’ll know where to find me: soaking in the superyacht hot tub after a day of heli drops.

If you can get unstuck from the suck, it could be the best worst day ever.

The process of looking for an elk this fall helped me refine my backcountry skills in unexpected ways.

We spent all winter testing 50+ outer layers in the backcountry. These ones came out on top.

Having the proper equipment is the best way to stay prepared in an emergency—and to help you prevent one

We had 28 testers check out 30+ pairs of bottoms for winter backcountry adventures. These ones rose above.

Over the course of last season, this touring shell impressed us with a combination of serious weight savings and surprising durability

This lightweight, storm-resistant puffy earned an Editor’s Choice award. Here’s everything you need to know about it.

We’ve never encountered a zero-degree puffy this light and packable

The Comstock Couloir in B.C. has rarely been skied. Turns out, there’s a reason for that.

Myia Antone wants more women from First Nations to discover what she has: that floating through powder in the backcountry is a kind of homecoming.

Women are underrepresented in backcountry skiing. These scholarships and grants hope to change that.

Check out Sierra Shafer's author page.

Most people think ultra-running the Leadville 100 is impossible, but for big mountain skier Drew Petersen, it’s a lifeline.

These backcountry ski guiding operations will lead you to the goods in South America.

This ski touring and winter camping gear stood the test of challenging Arctic conditions.

The professional skier says long grips help him save energy and avoid injury in the backcountry.

Long stigmatized in the United States, wider adoption of guided backcountry skiing will boost knowledge, reduce gatekeeping, and promote human-powered skiing on public lands.

Learn how to execute a kick-turn more efficiently with this step-by-step tutorial.

Because they’ve saved me more than a few times—and they can do the same for you.

Things didn't go exactly as we wanted, but we learned a lot about perseverance, reward, and how to adapt in the moment.

Follow this nutrition advice from a ski touring pro to ensure you have enough gas left in the tank to enjoy your descent.

If your hamstrings and glutes are weak (or weaker than your quads), you're making your hip flexors do all the work.

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.

Learn how to navigate the backcountry like a seasoned pro with these lessons from legendary skier Mike Hattrup.

There's a tight window between skiing bulletproof ice and hot slush, and nailing it requires being borderline obsessive about it.

The "human factor" is one of the biggest dangers in the backcountry. Here's how to manage tricky social dynamics.

Over the past decade, the median age of avalanche fatalities in the backcountry has risen. Experts are scratching their heads as to why.

Fixed-length, long-grip poles are becoming a top choice among guides and ski patrollers for their strength and simplicity.

Scarpa's new 4-Quattro is made for skiers who want one boot for the uphill, downhill, and everything in between.

Traveling with our loved ones affects our decision-making in the mountains. Here’s how to do it safely.

The new Zero G Peak boot might be just the ticket for weight-conscious backcountry skiers who still care about downhill performance.

Learn how to read between the lines of your local avy report with these tips from a backcountry ski guide.

You can't bring everything with you when you're earning your turns, so dial in your kit wisely with these touring essentials.

As backcountry trailheads like the one on Wyoming's Teton Pass outside of Jackson Hole get more crowded, responsible recreation practices are more important than ever.

New digital snow evaluation gadgets keep popping up, but the technology isn't foolproof—yet.

B.C. based heli-ski guide Tyson Rettie lost his vision in 2019. Now, he's the blind leading the blind.

Remember, this backcountry tour isn't about you or your mission. It's about your kid.

Most skiers decide on their route first, then check the avy conditions. Here's why that's backwards.

Learn how to spend less time futzing with maps and more time skiing powder in the backcountry.

Becoming an AMGA/IFMGA guide is no small feat. When Margaret Wheeler achieved that milestone, she became only the second U.S. woman to do so.

A professional mountain guide and AIARE instructor shares the gear that should be on your pack list for a day in the backcountry.

Packs to carry the essentials you need to get up and get down safely.

Before it was an industrial process, ski-making was an art that enabled the exploration of the harshest areas of our planet.

I love skiing and the skiing community, but I have always been aware that as a person of color and an immigrant’s son, I stood out.

Backcountry skiers faced the most challenging season in recent memory, including a record-tying number of people killed in avalanches.

With a slew of great mapping layers, Gaia GPS is likely going to be your one-stop-shop for planning your next backcountry mission.

Beacon, shovel, probe, plumber's putty? Here's what the pros consider essential gear for backcountry missions.

This spring, 22 women hiked up to the top of Bluebird Backcountry’s West Bowl, stripped down, and got down.

A program helping backcountry users work together in avalanche terrain is taking off across the American West.

Ascent Mentorship pairs seasoned female backcountry skiers with aspiring ones to reduce barriers to an intimidating sport.

The expansion makes Lake Louise the second-largest ski resort in Canada after Whistler Blackcomb.

There have now been 11 fatalities resulting from eight avalanches nationwide since December 18.

The brand’s new Diract Voice transceiver provides audio commands to assist at critical times during avalanche search and rescue.

The fledgling operation opened in a new location this season, offering backcountry lessons, avy education courses, and guiding services.

The pandemic is drawing more and more skiers into the backcountry, but novice users aren't the only ones at risk.

SKI caught up with Marcus Caston about skiing during the pandemic, the current backcountry skiing situation in Utah, and joining Sweet Protection.

Cat-skiing, heli-skiing, glamping? Pick one or all of the above at Utah's Whisper Ridge Backcountry Resort.

A backcountry "cabin" steeped in Telluride lore.

Looking for a rugged, high-alpine backcountry experience away from it all? This place might be your best bet.

Late spring and early summer bring the fun to an iconic Oregon backcountry spot.

Packs, poles, rescue equipment, and other accessories designed for ski touring adventures.

Salomon athletes share their tips and tricks for a successful day in the backcountry in a new video series.

Whether you're going on a day-long tour or multi-night hut trip, you need the best backcountry binding that works as well going uphill as it does going down.

What can be learned from earthquake-triggered avalanches?

There’s a women’s movement happening in the skiing community, and Revelstoke-based ski coach Leah Evans has—by popular vote—been elected its leader.