Backcountry skiing near the Arlberg, Austria

Backcountry skiing is skiing in a sparsely inhabited rural region over ungroomed and unmarked slopes (i.e. marked pistes are not present). More importantly, the land and the snow pack are not monitored or maintained. Fixed mechanical means of ascent (chairlifts, cable cars etc.) are often not present. Image File history File links The Mitterkar in the Malfon Valley (Arlberg, Austria), Photo: Crampon, February 2005 File links The following pages link to this file: Backcountry skiing User:Crampon ... Image File history File links The Mitterkar in the Malfon Valley (Arlberg, Austria), Photo: Crampon, February 2005 File links The following pages link to this file: Backcountry skiing User:Crampon ... Translated from the German-language entry de:Arlberg. ... Alpine skier carving a turn on piste Members of the U.S. Air Force skiing (and snowboarding) at Keystone Resorts 14th Annual SnoFest Downhill Ski Racing This article is about snow skiing. ... Rural area in Dalarna, Sweden Qichun, a rural town in Hubei province, China Rural areas (also referred to as the country, countryside) are sparsely settled places away from the influence of large cities. ... A piste is the name given to a marked ski-run or path down a mountain for the purposes of skiing, snowboarding, or other mountain sports. ... A chairlift in Bad Hofgastein, Austria A chairlift, also known as a fixed-grip chairlift, is a type of aerial lift, which consists of a constantly moving loop of steel cable strung between two end terminals and generally over intermediate towers. ... The construction of the aerial tramway. ...

Backcountry skiing can be highly dangerous due to the avalanche risk, the exhaustion from the possible climb, and often the terrain involved. Backcountry skiing is often associated with "extreme skiing". An avalanche is a very large slide of snow (or rock) down a mountainside, caused when a buildup of snow is released down a slope, and is one of the major dangers faced in the mountains. ... Extreme skiing is skiing performed on long, steep (typically from 45 to 60+ degrees) slopes in dangerous terrain. ...

Often, the terms "backcountry skiing", "ski touring" and "off-piste skiing" are used interchangably. "Backcountry skiing" is more commonly used in North America while "ski touring" is more commonly used in Europe, but both describe the same activity. "Off-piste" skiing can refer to any skiing a few metres away from marked trails and slopes pistes, whereas "backcountry" skiing and "ski touring" can refer to skiing which is not near marked slopes at all, or cannot be accessed by ski-lifts, and often will require a hike beforehand. Backcountry skiing can also involve more than one day through snow camping or the use of mountain huts where available. Skinning up the mountain Ski touring, also referred to as ski mountaineering, ski randonnée, and alpine touring (or AT), is a form of backcountry skiing (off-piste skiing) involving trekking from place to place in the wilderness, that has parallels with hiking, backpacking and Alpine climbing or mountaineering. ... A piste is the name given to a marked ski-run or path down a mountain for the purposes of skiing, snowboarding, or other mountain sports. ...

External links

• The skier's encyclopedia, that anyone can edit
• Backcountry skiing website and blog

• French off-piste skiing and snowboarding news
• Backcountry and avalanche safety information
• Good backcountry skiing equipment

See also

• Hazards of outdoor activities
• Skiing & Skiing topics
• Ski touring
• Ski mountaineering
• Telemark skiing
• Haute Route
• Heliskiing