Sports & Fitness · Part of Skiing & Snowboarding
Backcountry Skiing
You climb it yourself, and nobody is patrolling what you ski down
The difference from a resort is not steeper terrain but the absence of any safety net: no lifts, no patrol, and avalanche judgement is yours. So the order is an avalanche course first, then beacon, probe and shovel, and never going in alone, which is why a partner is not optional. Most of the effort is the climb.
First stepTake an avalanche safety course first, learn the beacon, probe and shovel, and don't go into ungroomed terrain until you've finished it.
Barriers
Cost to start
$300–2k
Going deep → $10k–50k
Alone or with people
Anyone will do
Effort
Demanding
Without a teacher?
Needs a teacher
One session takes
A full day
same as parent · Skiing & Snowboarding
Where
A special place
Why people take it up