Back Country Skiing

[lowangle al]

I can't think of a better activity when I can't paddle. It's probably the best exercise I've ever done for cardio. Portaging heavy loads might be as good, but for sure it's not as fun.

Some Pa. action.


Some Ak. action.

 

[Mason]

Yep!!

 

[snapper]

You guys have some wonderful adventures to share. My knees would never hold up to that type of skiing anymore but I still enjoy being out on my backcountry skis in the woods and along snow covered seasonal roads around here. Thanks for sharing your photos.

That's all for now. Take care and until next time...be well.

snapper

 

[ppine]

Nice first tracks. I miss backcountry skiing. I can recommend some overnight trips. Wait until late Feb or Mar, plenty of snow, more daylight and milder weather. I used a little kiddie sled to haul half my gear with a big dog. Skiing is much better with less weight. Winter camping requires a little more gear. A Whelen lean to with a fire is like a luxury hotel after a day in the snow. Prepare food ahead of time and freeze it. Cooking dinner is just melting snow and boiling food in a plastic bag. That is what the mushers do Bring insulation for your dog to sleep on. I zipped my BC in a large jacket and she stayed in her own sleeping bag all night.

 

[Mason]

More Yep. BC skiing can take you to some wild areas! And to think all that snow eventually turns to water, which flows into rivers and lakes. Everybody wins.

 

[MJones]

Looks great!

I used to enjoy a weekend at Tuckerman Ravine on Mt Washington, NH.

 

[Mason]

And then there's ski mountaineering (not to be confused with skimo!). Ropes, harnesses, ice axes and crampons come to mind. Oh, and sometimes carrying your skis, perhaps for miles......

 

[stripperguy]

I am jealous!!
My back country runs are usually at long abandoned ski areas here in NY or VT and MA. No above tree lines for me, but the old trails are narrow and grown in, and the tree skiing is superb. Last week there was a 27” base, pretty good for all natural around here.

 

[yknpdlr]

During the past two winters the extra heavy lake effect snow has defined, my XC skiing, when I have time away from other activities. It focusses on skiing 2 miles into a hunting camp I inherited from my father several years ago in the heart of the Tug Hill Plateau of NYS lake effect snow country. Snow depth has been at least 4' each of the three times this season so far that I have skied in to shovel that much and more from the roof. Skiing in from a tavern (read snowmobiler drunken stop) parking lot and breaking trail would be a massive Undertaking in the deep light weight soft condition of lake effect, and would likely take this 74 yr old guy to the undertaker.

But there is a heavily used snowmobile trail that can take me 3/4 of the way there before I am able to cross a beaver meadow and snow covered creek. I do not make the trip on weekends when literally hundreds of the smelly loud machines zoom past me throwing up thick opaque clouds of snow dust in trains of up to 15 at sometimes 70mph. Many are city and out of state wanna-be winter jocks ignoring all safety rules and state trail speed limits. A number are killed each season. Wednesdays are a little better for my access , but not by much.

Save my dad's camp!


4 feet + under tree cover

 

[soloskip]

Now that’s a slice of heaven. Hope you get to enjoy the quiet.

 

[Aslowhand]

I can't think of a better activity when I can't paddle. It's probably the best exercise I've ever done for cardio. Portaging heavy loads might be as good, but for sure it's not as fun.

I totally agree.

Yes! I love backcountry skiing!!!

The Alps offer a suitable playground for this. In late winter, our cabin is an ideal base camp, even if getting in sometimes requires a bit of effort.

BC skiing can take you to some wild areas!

I wish I could go there too. I'm sure you'll find far fewer people there than over here. Mason, I'm jealous!!!

 

[Glenn MacGrady]

Non-skier here, but you ski folks are amazing and your photos are awesome.

And then there's ski mountaineering

This reminds me of an impressive video I watched last week of Andrzej Bargiel, who summited Everest in September 2025 with no oxygen and then skied all the way down from the summit to the base camp. His slowing, turning and stopping techniques on the cliffs, ridges, rock fields and icefalls were breathtaking to me.

He is first person to ascend and descent Everest with no oxygen. More than 18 hours in the high altitude "death zone," where oxygen is only 33% of sea level.

The ski down was filmed and guided by drones. Also footage from a helmet GoPro.

 

[Mason]

He also skied down K2, a much more technical mountain. K2 Ski descent. And Jim Morrison recently skied the north side of Everest (Morrison ski), after his partner Hilaree Nelson, died skiing Manaslu with him.

And for the old timers, there's The Man Who Skied Down Everest (Everest ski) about Miura in 1970.

One of my favorites, since I worked in the shadow of Mt. St. Elias, was "Mt. St. Elias" (St. Elias ski, available on Netflix) , about the first ski descent of Mt. St. Elias (duh). It was skied the year I left Alaska, with their helos flitting around one of my study areas. Two people died on an earlier attempt (friends of friends) while I was there St. Elias news clip. The pilot working with both parties is a friend of mine.

There are absurdly high stakes in high level ski mountaineering. I've only done low level stuff, but skiing above crevasses and cliffs tend to make one focus.

 

[Pseudonym]

It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to spend much time in the backcountry, but I hope to get back in the game as the kids grow up.













Just for fun, these last couple photos are beach-tow-skiing behind a Jeep.

 

[Pseudonym]

The Alps offer a suitable playground for this. In late winter, our cabin is an ideal base camp, even if getting in sometimes requires a bit of effort.

Oh my goodness! That cabin completely disappeared under snow! I didn’t even realize what I was looking at. What an amazing spot.

 

[Aslowhand]

Pseudonym, WOW, that's an impressive jump! At first glance, it looks like you're jumping into rocks. I assume the landing was safe.

 

[Pseudonym]

@Aslowhand, actually…. that is my cousin. I’m just the photographer!

The photo is deceptive, but you’re right: he baaarely made it. It’s one of those moments in life when we were spared from our poor decision making, thank goodness. Looking back on it, it still makes me nervous. It’s easily the biggest leap I’ve ever seen in real life.