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How the average hiker or backpacker can add multi-day ski trips to their repertoire of backcountry travel
- For the novices to people with some Nordic (XC) ski experience
- Most efficient method for skiing in rolling terrain with little avalanche hazard
- Lighter and less expensive gear
- Inspire you to start exploring the backcountry on skis!
- Help you understand that skiing is the most elegant method of snow travel— faster and more efficient than snowshoes!
- Help you appreciate the main purpose of BC skiing: to safely experience the splendor of the winter landscape. And you get to enjoy it in near solitude—away from the craze of summer crowds.
Multi-day backcountry ski strips are within the ability of the average backpacker. With the right equipment and the right terrain, it can be as easy and pleasant as a summer backpacking trip. Skiing is the most elegant and efficient way to get from point A to point B in the snow. And there is absolutely no requirement that you hurtle down precipitously steep slopes (a common misconception of backcountry skiing).
ARTICLE OUTLINE
- Part 1: Basic Nordic Backcountry Skiing
- Part 2: Advanced Nordic - Ski Mountaineering on UL Tele Gear
- Part 1: Basic Nordic Back Country skiing
- Explanation of Nordic, AT (Alpine Touring), and Tele (Telemark) Ski Equipment
- Nordic Touring Skis
- Nordic Backcountry Skis
- Alpine Touring (AT) and Telemark (Tele) Skis
- Other Considerations for BC Skiing
- Backcountry Ski Width Considerations
- Integration of your ski kit with your other winter backpacking gear
- Summary for Part 1: Basic Nordic BC skiing
- Explanation of Nordic, AT (Alpine Touring), and Tele (Telemark) Ski Equipment
# WORDS: 4540
# PHOTOS: 15
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Discussion
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Do you see any advantage of using a waxable ski?Â
Not today. It’s a much older technology from the days of wooden skis and tar bases coatings.
Cheers
Do you see any advantage of using a waxable ski?
On good conditions they are faster and for that reason still preferred by some. For majority of backcountry travel the ease of use of waxless bases and skins is much more important and for that reason waxable skis are probably going to become a novelty.
For multi-day tours I’ve been using the Lundhags Guide BC boot, which is the only leather nordic boot I know of with a removable liner. A bit difficult to source but available in the US via some British and German sites. The lines are great for taking into your bag at night to dry, and pair well with down booties around camp. Not as stiff as the Alpina Alaska, but more comfortable and efficient for low angle stuff, and very well made.
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