Backcountry Essentials Guide: How To Get Started In The Backcountry

The idea of escaping into the wilderness, away from the crowds to enjoy untouched powder is becoming increasingly popular. People are branching out further and further off piste to find the hidden, untouched treasures of the mountains, but where do you start when beginning you first backcountry adventure?  

When exploring the backcountry, it is important to remember that you are there to have fun but staying safe is your main priority. The most important thing you bring into the backcountry is knowledge and good judgment. Good judgement keeps you out of trouble and knowledge may save your life when judgement fails. Unfortunately, judgement comes from experience. 

So how can you survive the learning curve? Although judgement can take time to develop, knowledge can be relatively easy to acquirer. Every year we at Snow + Rock hold avalanche talks to help provide our customers with the knowledge needed to explore the backcountry. Your first time in the backcountry with all of your equipment, should be with an avalanche instructor such as ISTA, to help educate yourself on how to stay safe. If you are unable to do this, we strongly recommend seeking out a local, fully qualified mountain guide whenever you head into the backcountry. Mountain guides will have a wealth of local knowledge and will help to keep you safe in the backcountry. Then take a course as soon as you possible can.

Knowledge and judgement are just one of the two essentials needed within the backcountry. The second, of what we are going to tackle the basics of is equipment. Before we look at equipment, you need to think about where you will be skiing, how you plan to ski, the type of terrain you will encounter. Most backcountry skiers can be separated into three categories:

These skiers primarily stick to the resort but are tempted by fresh snow just beyond the marked runs.

• Spend most of their time on-piste, only venturing off when conditions are ideal.
• Rarely hike or search extensively for untracked powder.
• Enjoy the convenience of lift access with the excitement of occasional off-piste runs.

The backcountry skier is always on the hunt for untouched powder and true wilderness experiences.

• Dedicate most of their skiing time to the backcountry.
• Willing to boot pack or skin short distances to find fresh snow.
• Prioritise the quality of snow and solitude over convenience.

Touring skiers are the most adventurous, embracing the journey as much as the descent.

• Often embark on multi-day trips, travelling from hut to hut.
• Spend significant time hiking or skinning up mountains, sometimes for days, to reach remote peaks.
• Value the challenge and experience of the ascent as much as skiing down.

While it’s technically possible to use a piste ski in the backcountry, these skis often lack the floatation and design features needed for deep snow and variable terrain. Backcountry-specific skis make off-piste adventures far more enjoyable, with different models tailored to the needs of various skiers. 

Side-country skiers spend most of their time on the resort but occasionally venture off-piste for fresh snow.

• Best suited to all-mountain skis with a waist width of 90–100mm and some rocker.
• These skis balance on-piste control with enough floatation for occasional powder stashes.
• All-mountain skis are versatile, performing well both on groomers and in softer snow.

Backcountry skiers prioritise deep powder and untracked lines, often venturing far from the resort.

• Opt for wider skis - typically with a waist over 100mm - to maximise floatation in deep snow.
• The extra width makes skiing powder easier and more enjoyable but sacrifices performance on hardpack or groomed runs.
• These skis are designed for those who spend most of their time off-piste, chasing the best snow.

Touring skiers are focused on uphill efficiency and long-distance travel, sometimes over multiple days.

• Touring skis range from ultralight, uphill-oriented models to freeride-focused skis with dimensions similar to inbound powder skis.
• Built to be lightweight, making ascents easier, but this can lead to more chatter on hard snow and increased vulnerability to base and edge damage.
• Not ideal for those who spend significant time on-piste; better suited for skiers who prioritise long tours and remote objectives.
• If you’re not planning to spend most of your time hiking for untracked lines, a backcountry ski may be a better fit.

Choosing the right ski depends on how and where you plan to spend your time in the mountains - balancing floatation, weight, and versatility for your style of backcountry adventure. 

Ski skins are pre-cut strips of adhesive-backed material designed to attach to the base of your skis. They are held in place by secure attachments at both the tip and tail. The key feature of skins is their napped fabric surface, which grips the snow when you move uphill but allows the ski to glide smoothly when you move forward. This unique property enables skiers to ascend snowy slopes efficiently without sliding backward.

• The napped fabric acts like tiny scales: it grips the snow when pressure is applied backward but glides when moving forward.
• Skins are essential for touring skiers who need to hike up slopes to access remote or untouched terrain.
• Some backcountry skiers also use skins to reach areas that would be otherwise inaccessible without uphill travel.

Ski skins, originally made from actual seal skin, now use two main types of fibres: Mohair and Synthetic. Each material has distinct characteristics that make it better suited for different types of backcountry skiing.

Mohair Skins

Mohair is a natural fibre sourced from angora goats.

• Best for glide: Mohair skins allow skis to move smoothly and efficiently across the snow, making them ideal for long tours where minimising resistance is important.
• Lighter weight: They tend to be lighter than synthetic skins, which can help reduce fatigue on long ascents.
• Faster wear: Mohair skins wear out more quickly than synthetic options, especially in abrasive or icy conditions.

Synthetic Skins

Synthetic skins are typically made from nylon.

• Superior grip: Synthetic skins provide the best uphill traction, making them a reliable choice for steep or icy climbs.
• Highly durable: They are more resistant to wear and tear, lasting longer even with frequent use in rough terrain.
• Heavier and less glide: Synthetic skins are usually heavier and don’t glide as smoothly as mohair, which can make them less efficient for long, flat approaches.

Bindings are a crucial component of any backcountry ski setup, directly impacting your efficiency, safety, and enjoyment in the mountains. Choosing the right binding depends on your skiing style and how far you plan to venture from the resort.

If you mostly ski in bounds but occasionally dip into the backcountry:

• Traditional alpine bindings are sufficient for side-country skiers who stick close to the resort and don’t require uphill travel features.
• These bindings offer reliable downhill performance and are compatible with most alpine boots.
• As you progress deeper into the backcountry, you may want to consider bindings with touring capabilities for greater versatility. 

Backcountry skiers face a choice between traditional alpine bindings and frame bindings, depending on how much uphill travel is involved.

Alpine Bindings:

• Work for backcountry skiers who are willing to boot pack (hike with skis on their back) to reach powder.
• Lack uphill touring features, making ascents in deep snow challenging and tiring.

Frame Bindings:

• Feature a frame or rail connecting the toe and heel, allowing the heel to be released for uphill travel while the toe remains attached.
• Enable a natural walking motion when ascending with skins.
• Offer excellent downhill performance due to their traditional alpine binding design.
• Heavier than tech bindings, which can lead to fatigue on long tours. 

Touring skiers prioritise uphill efficiency and lightweight gear, leading to two primary binding types: frame bindings and tech bindings.

Frame Bindings:

• Allow the heel to lift for uphill travel, while retaining strong downhill capability.
• Compatible with both traditional alpine soles and lugged AT (alpine touring) soles.
• Drawback: The frame adds weight, especially under the heel, which can cause fatigue over long ascents.

Tech Bindings (Pin Bindings):

• Minimalist bindings that use pins to secure tech-compatible boots at the toe and heel.
• Lightest option available, making them ideal for long tours and frequent climbing.
• Require boots with tech (pin) inserts.
• Offer efficient and natural uphill movement, but may have a learning curve for beginners.
• Slightly less robust on the downhill compared to frame or hybrid bindings, but modern tech models balance weight and performance well. 

• Alpine bindings: Best for side-country or short backcountry trips with minimal uphill travel.
• Frame bindings: Good for skiers who want strong downhill performance and occasional touring capability but don’t mind extra weight.
• Tech bindings: Ideal for dedicated touring skiers focused on long ascents and minimising fatigue; require compatible boots.

A newer category, hybrid bindings combine features of tech and alpine bindings, offering uphill capability with strong downhill performance. These are heavier but provide versatility for those splitting time between resort and backcountry skiing.

Selecting the right binding is about balancing weight, uphill efficiency, and downhill performance for your specific backcountry goals.

A ski boot with walk mode is a game-changer for anyone venturing into the backcountry. Walk mode allows the cuff of the boot to pivot freely, greatly improving comfort and maneuverability when you’re boot packing up steep terrain or skinning uphill. This feature is essential for both beginners exploring off-piste areas and experienced ski tourers seeking efficiency on long ascents.

Hike and ride boots have become a popular choice among backcountry skiers in recent years.

• These boots feature a walk mode that lets the cuff pivot for easier movement uphill, while still offering solid downhill performance.
• Designed to mimic the feel of touring boots but with an alpine sole, making them compatible with most traditional alpine bindings.
• Ideal for short tours and boot packing, providing a balance between comfort for climbing and stability for skiing down.
• Great for skiers who split their time between the resort and occasional backcountry adventures.

Touring boots are purpose-built for ski touring, offering advanced features for serious backcountry travel.

• They come with a more sophisticated walk mode that provides a much greater range of cuff movement compared to hike and ride boots.
• Typically equipped with thicker, lugged rubber soles for better traction on icy or rocky terrain.
• Constructed with a lightweight shell to reduce fatigue during long climbs.
• The thicker sole and specialised design mean these boots are not compatible with traditional alpine bindings; they require touring or tech bindings.
• Best suited for skiers who prioritise uphill efficiency and plan to spend most of their time touring or exploring remote terrain.

Backcountry ski poles are essentially the same as regular ski pole, but ideally they be adjustable or collapsible to adapt to changing terrain. For flat terrain, a longer pole is needed, whilst on steeper ascents, a shorter pole is best.

A backcountry backpack in an essential, not only should the pack offer a means of carrying your skis when boot packing and allow extra capacity for layers and other essentials, it should allow quick and easy access to your shovel and probe. You may also be interested in extras such as hydration bladder and helmet attachment points. 

A key function of a backcountry backpack is to allow quick access to your avalanche safety equipment, however, some backpacks can help save your life. Avalanche airbag systems were created to save your life by preventing you from becoming buried. If you find yourself in a slide, you pull the handle and an airbag deploys to increase your mass and helps you to stay on top of the debris. However, an airbag is not a reason to travel into dangerous territory, no amount of equipment can save you from harm, an airbag is simply a tool to supplement good decision making. 

Whether you’re a tourer, backcountry or side-country skier a transceiver is an absolute necessity. Without it, you cannot search for someone who is buried in the event of an avalanche while no one would be able to detect you should you become buried. There is a variety of transceivers on the market, some with a lot of unique features. It is important that you know how to work the transceiver that you have. No matter how technically advanced a transceiver is, it is only as good as the user, so you need to practice with the transceiver until it becomes second nature.

Find out more about transceivers here.

Another necessity, to dig test pits for snow pack analysis and to excavate other skiers in the event of an avalanche is a shovel. A strong aluminium blade is the only choice for any backcountry skier, anything less will not be able to stand up to the stress of moving avalanche debris. Blade size and shape depends on the type of skiing you intend to do and your personal preference. Remember to consider your backpack when purchasing your shovel, as it should easily fit within it.  

Find out more about shovels here.

The final necessity of your avalanche safety equipment is the probe. Probes are used in an avalanche rescue scenario to probe the snowpack for buried skiers once they have located their general position, enabling the search part to zero in on their location to cut digging time. Probes come in a variety of sizes, just like the shovel, the type of probe you choose will come down to the type of skiing you intend to do. 

Find out more about probes here.

Not bringing an extra pair of gloves is where most new backcountry skiers go wrong and they pay the price for it. Your hands get a lot more snow coverage when skiing in deep powder than when on the piste and your hands will sweat more due to a higher aerobic output when hiking. When gloves get wet, they are next to impossible to dry on the mountain, and when gloves get wet they get cold, really quickly. Having a spare change of gloves to change, either a thinner pair of gloves to use when hiking or a thick pair for when your gloves get wet will keep you warm and comfortable in the backcountry. 

What layering you wear on any given day varies greatly, depending on the weather but even on the hottest of spring days, a good warm insulation jacket in the bottom of your pack is a great idea. Weather can change quickly and you may find yourself standing around in the event of an accident, keeping yourself and other warm is critical in those situations.

Find out more about mid-layers here.

Any backcountry skiers will take an extra pair of goggles with them, or at least a spare lens. The weather conditions in the backcountry can be unpredictable and change rapidly, so carrying an extra lens for a different light is recommended. An extra pair of goggles is also a great item to take, to avoid skiing in foggy goggle in the event that they get wet.

This may seem obvious to some people but it is often overlooked. Whether boot packing or skinning to get away from the crowds, you will be burning energy faster than just skiing. Even if it’s a sandwich or a couple of food bars and energy gels, make sure you have a means of boosting your energy and water to hydrate yourself when you need to. 

Items in your emergency essentials kit will come down to personal preference and experience. For those with little experience, a headlamp if you get caught in the dark, duct tape to patch outerwear rips, a lighter to start a fire, a multi-tool with a knife and a couple of ski straps is a good start.

Everyone has their own list of necessities that they take with them, derived from experience. For myself, an avid backcountry skier, part-time ski tourer, I like to take a little saw to help build snow pits and cut away tree branches that may cause problems. When touring I tend to take a flask of hot water (or tea) to defrost hut locks. These little things can save you a lot of time and pain but have all been learnt the hard way; experience is the real teacher in the mountains. 

Now you know the basic essentials needed for the backcountry, it is time to go out and practice with them, grab a couple of friends and practice finding a transceiver in the snow. Remember the most important thing about skiing the backcountry is to do it safely, so go and educate yourself with an instructor.