Backcountry requires multiple skills due to its environment setting. Because of the broad skillset required it is good to take your first forays supported by someone who you trust to give you a good introduction. Choosing a good day and the best place to be on the mountain makes all the difference. This could be the difference between fun snow or icy slopes, the difference between playing or surviving or the difference between celebrating or spending the night out. A reasonable on piste standard of skiing or snowboarding competence is required to make safe descents in variable non-groomed snow.

In addition to this are the skills associated with using backcountry equipment; skis or snowboards that allow the user to engage uphill or “skinning” mode. Good navigation is essential for anyone skiing beyond a Ski Patrolled area as is snow safety / mountain skills with particular emphasis on Avalanche Awareness. When accessing the backcountry, we may require ice axe and crampons allowing us to deal with the icy / steeper challenges. If we choose to leave them at home then good judgement is needed to plan and execute a day on the hill avoiding their need.

To safely enjoy riding in the backcountry be it snowboarding or skiing the user should be comfortable making turns in variable snow conditions and have an ability to find the safest and most enjoyable snow on offer that day. If still improving your backcountry riding then it is highly beneficial to have professional input which in turn helps increase your enjoyment, efficiency and safety.

Touring skis have special touring bindings, these bindings allow the user to ski the skis just like alpine bindings do when skiing downhill. However, when it comes to “uphill” mode or skinning uphill, touring bindings allow the heal of the boot to be released but the toe stays attached. This allows the user to raise their heal and slide the ski along the snow all without lifting the ski from the snow.

Splitboards are snowboards which can be split into two, to make two splitboard “skis”. Each of these splitboard “skis” also has a similar sort of touring binding enabling you to lift your heel and slide in the same walking motion across the snow.

To “slide” uphill you can attach “skins” to the sole of your skis or split snowboard. Touring skins are like natural animal fur in that they lay smooth and flat if brushed in one direction but are rough and grippy if pushed in the other direction. With skins attached to the bottom of the skis these enable the skis to grip the snow and not slide backwards as you ascend the slope. Once you reach your destination you simply remove the skins from the skis, lock your bindings into downhill mode, click both your toes and heels into the bindings and then ride downhill as with normal alpine skiing. If using a splitboard, you simply remove the skins, lock the two halves back together, and then snowboard back down the hill as normal.

Navigation, snow safety and mountain skills are fundamental to enjoying the backcountry and this presents further equipment consideration beyond the actual skis or snowboards.

Ski touring equipment

Basic ski touring equipment:

Link to Glenmore Lodge Touring Equipment Video

CLOTHING: When accessing the backcountry in the UK we will experience a huge range of conditions from “blue bird” days to driving sleet and snow. Therefor your clothing selection for each day needs to reflect the current conditions. These may include having a good layering system, waterproof jacket (with a hood that fits over your helmet) and waterproof pants (that fit over your ski boots), multiple gloves and googles may all be required depending on the conditions.

SKI BOOTS: Ensure you have well-fitted ski boots that are designed to match your touring bindings. Depending upon the type of touring binding you are using, the toe of the boot may attach differently. If using a frame binding you can use regular alpine ski boots, but these would be less comfortable for the ascent part of the day. If using a tech binding your boots will require a toe capable of taking pins. This  video helps explain. (I can’t access this video – “private video?)

SKIS BINDINGS & POLES: You can use any type of alpine ski for ski touring, however lightweight purpose made equipment is always preferable. Bindings come in two types, plate and tech. For poles, you can get by with any alpine ski poles, however, there are purpose made poles with subtle differences.

SKINS: Skins allow you to go uphill on your skis without slipping backwards. They are long strips of material fitted to the base of your skis with one sticky side and one “bristly” side covered in hairs. The sticky side is stuck to your ski base and the bristly side touches the snow with the bristles/hairs point backward. In decades gone by seal skin / fur was used and influenced the man-made skins we use today.

RUCKSACK AND SAFETY EQUIPMENT: The mountain environment can be hostile if the weather turns on you, so planning is key to ensure you are venturing out in safe conditions and safe terrain. We strongly urge those new to ski touring to ensure they have sufficient knowledge and training to understand weather and the risks in the mountain environment. Part of mitigating risk is to carry a rucksack (something around 20 – 35litrs works well) depending on the equipment required that day.

Map, Compass and GPS: A knowledge of how to navigate using map and compass is essential for safe route choice in the winter mountains. GPS can be a very useful back up to map and compass navigation and can be achieved by simple mapping apps downloaded to your smart phone. With phone GPS navigation we need to be aware not to run the battery down if the phone is also the primary piece of equipment for calling for help if required.

T.S.P.: If heading into the winter mountains Transceiver, Shovel and Probe would be standard safety equipment carried by all accessing the backcountry.

Our partners Craigdon and Ellis Brigham offer backcountry equipment for sale/hire and sound advice as well as discounts to Membership of Snowsport Scotland

https://snowsportscotland.org/join-us/

Second hand equipment can be found via the British Backcountry face book site

https://www.facebook.com/groups/371892739934801

Equipment reviews –

https://sigb.org.uk/ski-snowboard-test/

https://www.fall-line.co.uk/category/fall-line-back-country/

https://www.onthesnow.co.uk/

https://whitelines.com/snowboarding-advice/backcountry

• Backcountry can literally take place anywhere if there is snow!  Scotland’s hills and mountains offer a fantastic opportunity to engage with Backcountry skiing and snowboarding.  We would recommend starting at a ski area or with a qualified person to learn and understand the basics of the sport before venturing out for a tour.  Once you have an understanding the sport the following are good places start:
  • Ski areas that offer Backcountry access: Nevis Range “back bowls”, Glen Coe and Glen Shee
  • Ski Scotland: Fall Line Link
  • Guidebooks:
    • Scottish Offpiste Skiing & Snowboarding. Glencoe, Kenny Biggin
    • Scottish Offpiste Skiing & Snowboarding. Nevis Range and Ben Nevis, Kenny Biggin
    • Ski Mountaineering in Scotland, SMC, Donald J. Bennet
  • Maps: Ordinance Survey & Harvies Maps cover all of the UK’s best skiing areas
  • Apps:
    • Fatmap (for route and avalanche awareness planning both before and during the backcountry)
    • View Ranger (Digital mapping compatible with smart phone)
    • OS Mapping (Digital mapping compatible with smart phone & computer)
    • Trailforks (Some ski area info, limited use)

  When accessing the Backcountry from one of Scotland’s five ski resorts tourers are expected to adhere to the Snowsports Touring Code. – https://www.mountaineering.scot/activities/snowsports-touring/code

Backcountry skiing or snowboarding requires knowledge and the application of snow safety and mountain skills. Snow Safety and mountain skills is a broad term that can be boiled down to these components:

Navigation – The ability to safely navigate in challenging winter terrain.

Weather – Understand the impact of weather in the hills and how it can affect avalanche awareness, navigation, route choice both up and down and personal ambitions for the day.

Be Avalanche Aware – Understand the risk, have the knowledge to risk assess your journey itinerary and identify hazard, be able to react in an avalanche scenario. We recommend the Be Avalanche Aware App developed by the Scottish Avalanche Information Service to give insight into Snow Safety – click https://www.sais.gov.uk/

When planning your backcountry journey be aware of the potential conditions and terrain that you may experience and take the appropriate equipment to deal with these challenges. For example the ability to plan days where we appropriately carry or leave out , ice axe, crampons, rope ect

Have the appropriate practiced skills to deal with steep or challenging terrain both on and off your skis or board

For further training on these topics Snowsport Scotland Backcountry Awards offer training that can be completed without the need for assessment. Delivered by our partner Glenmore Lodge we recommend attending these training course to gain adequate knowledge on snow safety. See our Training & Awards section or visit https://www.glenmorelodge.org.uk/

Mountaineering Scotland also offer essential Skills training including Navigation and Weather – https://www.mountaineering.scot/safety-and-skills/essential-skills for members only

The #thinkwinter campaign also offers insight into how to operate in winter – https://www.mountaineering.scot/safety-and-skills/thinkwinter

Glenmore Lodge offer multi day courses throughout the winter. These can be found by visiting https://www.glenmorelodge.org.uk/ski-touring-courses/cat-32-ski-touring

Snowsport Scotland offers training and awards for backcountry snowsports leaders and participants. In conjunction with Glenmore Lodge we have developed the ‘new’ off-piste leadership pathway on behalf of UK Snowsport.

Qualification of award is attained in three parts – training, logbook and assessment.

The training is offered independently to the award in part to make it available for those interested in learning the skills included but who may not wish to become leaders and hence do not wish to complete the award.

The award qualifications if completed licenses the awardee to lead groups in UK backcountry environments of differing degrees of complexity.

For more information please visit our qualification page https://snowsportscotland.org/courses-qualifications/

For course dates please visit https://snowsportscotland.org/course-calendar/

With skills in off-piste skiing and ski touring a host of other opportunities open up.

Freeride is the term given to skiing and snowboarding in natural, un-pisted (usually steep and sometimes rocky) terrain. The term freeride is allied with other words such as “Big Mountain” or “Extreme” which are largely used to describe the same activity.

Freeride competition involves being judged on how well you ski or snowboard down a designated “competition face”. At world-class level outstanding performances involve a complex combination of creative line selection, technical off-piste riding and impressive air & style, all wrapped up into one seamless, fast and fluid run down an open, extreme competition face. It can be inspiring and jaw-dropping to watch and very challenging but rewarding to compete and do well.

For more info see our Freeride page here

Ski Orienteering competitions

Skimo competition

Overseas

British Backcountry Winter Opener https://www.british-backcountry.co.uk

Upbattle – Scotland’s Split Boarding Championships https://www.facebook.com/upbattle

Skimo Scotland – Scotland’s Ski Mountaineering Race Series http://www.skimoscotland.co.uk/

The Scottish Freedom Series – Scotland’s Big Mountain Freeride Competition Tour https://www.scottishfreedomseries.info

Glenmore Lodge Wild Ski weekend https://www.glenmorelodge.org.uk/backcountry-skiing/wild-ski-weekend/