It is a cold, blustery day in the Colorado backcountry. The mountains are covered in a blanket of snow. The tree branches are bending under the weight of the previous night’s snowfall. A canopy of branches is over the trail. My breath forms a cloud in the morning air. My cheeks are cold. I do not dread heading into the mountains in these conditions. I embrace them. I am about to explore the backcountry. Not plodding through the snow in boots. Or stomping down a path with snowshoes. I plan on gliding over the snow on skis. I will be backcountry ski touring. An elegant, efficient and, dare I say, almost magical way of seeing the backcountry in winter.

Backcountry Nordic skiing is all about the journey.

What is Backcountry Ski Touring?

Ski touring, formally known as backcountry Nordic touring, is a type of skiing that is located somewhere between the classic cross-country skiing in a flat or groomed area and the “big mountain” skiing where the emphasis is on steeper inclines and making turns.

Backcountry Nordic is more about the journey than the adrenaline rush. Exploring. Making distance over varied terrain. Seeing what a beautiful, but crowded, lake looks like in the winter with only you and a Thermos of hot chocolate present. It’s akin to hiking on skis: If your idea of a quiet evening at home is poring over a topo map and plotting out a backcountry route, this type of skiing may appeal to you.

Why Skiing Instead of Snowshoeing?

Snowshoeing has a less steep learning curve but is less elegant and slower than skiing. Once a person learns the basics needed for ski touring, it is amazing how much ground can be covered vs. snowshoes. And while snowshoes do work better in heavily wooded areas, as a person’s skill level increases, the definition of heavily wooded tends to be more elastic.

But skiing is not just about covering distance more efficiently. It is also about skiing along in fresh snow, hearing a schuss sound while making your way through the powder and getting into that magical moment as you glide effortlessly through the landscape. With snowshoes, I feel as if I am plodding. With skis? I am in flight.

What Type of Skis to Buy?

Unfortunately, there is no perfect ski. Some skis are long and straight and great for gliding over flat terrain but not as good for turning. Others are very wide and have a pronounced hourglass shape to them. This type of ski floats well and will make turns easier but makes for slow traveling overall.

Backcountry Nordic skis tend to be somewhere in the middle. A little wider to accommodate floating over powder, but narrow enough to facilitate gliding. And a bit of a shape to make turns. Like their classic cross-country skiing cousins, most backcountry Nordic skis have a noticeable arch (known as a double-camber) in them that facilitates good gliding.

Much like bicycling enthusiasts, many people who get into skiing end up with multiple skis in their “quiver”. Some skis for touring in rolling terrain, some for mainly flat terrain and still another set for very steep terrain. And so on. It can be an addiction! But to start off, it’s best to get one pair that will be a good all-around ski for a variety of conditions. Besides the type of ski, the boots, bindings, and waxable / waxless skis are additional factors that need to be considered. A whole book can, and many have, been written about these topics.

Bindings & Boots: New Nordic Norm – Backcountry (NNN-BC) vs. 75mm 3 Pin

For the sake of brevity, to sum things up the NNN-BC systems are best for day use activities. This system is light and excellent for speed and gliding. The older, but still widespread 75mm three-pin system is more robust and allows for better turning ability especially with a heavier load. I find the 75mm three-pin system is less prone to icing up vs. the NNN-BC system and is better suited for overnight use.

Waxable vs. Waxless Skis

Backcountry Nordic skis are able to climb moderately steep terrain and still retain gliding ability on the flatter areas and downhill sections. There are two methods used in backcountry ski touring to strike to this balance between gliding and climbing abilities. The methods used are either kick wax, or a fish scale pattern built into the skis themselves. Both of these methods allow for gliding on the flats and downhills while also allowing a skier to climb up moderately steep terrain. One method may be better than another based on terrain, type of snow, skier’s ability, or even preference.

Waxable Skis

Waxable skis use a variety of color-coded hard to soft waxes that work in a variety of conditions. The colder the snow, the harder the wax that should be used. In consistent cold and dry snow, waxed skis allow for better gliding and faster descents vs. waxless skis. There is a bit of an art to applying wax that some people, especially beginning skiers, may find to be a bother or even difficult to apply correctly.

Waxless Skis

Waxless skis dispense with the wax and use a fish scale pattern that is built into the skis themselves. No need to apply the appropriate wax. This pattern allows for climbing on moderate terrain but has a slower glide on flatter areas and downhills vs. waxed skis. I find that waxless skis do work better in wet and warm snow versus waxed skis. And if a person is climbing up steeper terrain, especially with a heavier pack, climbing skins may need to be used. What are climbing skins? Climbing skins are simply a strip of mohair fabric with a sticky glue-like backing on the other side of the strip. A skier will put the glue side against the bottom of the ski when a climb is encountered and remove the climbing skin when descending. The climbing skins allow a skier to climb up a steep incline and allow for limited gliding on flatter areas and while going downhill. A skier can purchase full length skins that go from the tip of the ski to the tail, or kicker skins that cover the middle underside of the ski, also known as the kick pocket, only.

For most backcountry Nordic tours, the full length skins are a bit overkill. Besides being more expensive, the full length skins inhibit the glide quite a bit and aren’t suited for the typical rolling terrain seen in Nordic touring. Kicker skins, however, work well for this type of skiing and they also work very well in spring ski conditions with waxable skis. Climbing skins are probably best purchased later when a person is feeling comfortable skiing in more aggressive terrain.

Suggestions for an Initial Kit

As a person can see, there are many variables in picking a ski system that will work for them. I always suggest that a person talk to a knowledgeable person at an outdoor store that specializes in this type of gear. The staff will be able to assist in purchasing skis, bindings, and boots that will work for the type of skiing and terrain that will be encountered by an individual skier.

Having said that, when I purchased a touring system for my wife, I bought the following setup.

Skis

As a beginner, my wife did not want to bother with waxing skis. She simply wanted to “ski and go”. The ideal ski would be wider with good flotation and a bit of shape to them that allowed for easier turning, if with a compromise in gliding speed. Basically, an all-around mountain ski was desired. I settled on the Rossignol BC series of skis. These waxless skis are less than $500, versatile, and wide enough to handle turns on moderately steep terrain. Overall, an excellent ski if starting out with a “quiver of one”.

Bindings and Boots

As mentioned, I am not a fan of the NNN-BC system overall. Though lighter than the older 75mm three-pin system, I find that the NNN-BC is prone to icing up and gives less control when making turns.

A versatile, all condition binding is the Voile 3-Pin Cable Telemark binding. Simple and bomber. The removable cable allows for more control on steeper downhills, especially with a heavier overnight pack, but better gliding ability is obtained if the cable is removed. My wife skis with the cable attached almost all the time as the better control and turning ability is more of a concern for her than gliding speed. Many beginners feel similar.

Finally, a boot that works well for all-around touring, be it day use, winter overnights and even some steeper terrain, is the Crispi Mountain Boot or the classic Asolo Snowfield boots. Snowfields can often be found online for $75 or less and still in very good condition. An excellent option for the bargain shopper. Both of these boots have however, become very hard to find. For currently available options, you can see a selection of ski boots here at REI Co-op.

This backcountry Nordic touring kit is not terribly expensive, is versatile enough for many different types of backcountry skiing conditions, and is good enough to use even when a person’s skill set expands. At less than $1000 for a complete kit, it’s not terribly expensive overall and will last a while.

As a side note, another way to bargain shop, besides buying used boots, is to buy gear at the end of the season. Brand new skis and bindings are often steeply discounted by March. An excellent way to get into skiing if a person wants to save money and is patient. Also consider renting a ski kit first to try some different skis, boots, and binding combinations. Some stores are generous and allow part of the rental fee to go towards the purchase of a new ski kit.

Skiing vs. Hiking vs. Snowshoeing Speeds

A common question asked by many beginning skiers is “How much faster will I go compared to hiking or even snowshoeing?” There are many variables that have an effect on this number: Fitness and skill level of the skier, heaviness of pack, new snow or a packed-down trail, steepness of terrain, etc. In general, I find that on moderate terrain with a packed-down trail (no fresh snow), I can climb about as fast as I hike or snowshoe. On flat terrain, I glide about 1.5 times as fast, if not more, compared to my hiking and snowshoeing speed. And for downhills? I am flying!

As a more concrete example, a favorite ski tour of mine is about twelve miles and has approximately 2000 feet of elevation gain over rolling terrain. This usually packed trail takes me 3-4 hours to ski. If I were to hike or snowshoe this trail, it would take me 4-5 hours. A similar loop with a lot of fresh snow and no previous ski traffic may take me 4-5 hours, however. This same loop would still take longer on snowshoes vs. skis. I also find that breaking trail with snowshoes can be more tiring than breaking trail on skis.

Exploring the backcountry in winter provides a completely different perspective than the other 3 seasons.

Other Gear for Backcountry Skiing

When backcountry skiing, other gear may be need to be brought vs. three-season hiking. Some essential pieces of gear I find useful are:

• A set of ski poles, of course! Trekking poles can sometimes be used if snow baskets are attached. They do however, tend to be less robust than ski poles, and can bend or even break. As more aggressive skiing is done, it may be better to have dedicated ski poles.
• Compact Snow Shovel: A small shovel that often splits for easy transportation in a pack. Useful for digging a snow shelter, making backcountry “furniture” when backpacking and getting the car out of the trailhead if it snowed while in the backcountry.
• A Pair of Tall Gaiters: Helps keep the snow out of your boots when skiing through deep powder.
• Insulated Water Bottle: Not absolutely essential, but a hot drink while overlooking the valley below is always nice.
• Backcountry Repair Kit: A simple repair kit is a “must have” when backcountry skiing. A multi-tool, duct tape, baling wire, steel wool, zip ties, ski straps and parachute cord are in my kit. If a binding becomes loose or a boot sole delaminates, I can make some emergency repairs to help get back to the trailhead.
• Reflective Bivvy Shelter or alternative: More so for day skis than overnights (when a person has a shelter, sleeping bag, a stove, and so on), on these excursions I like to pack something of this nature. An uncomfortable night in the backcountry for example, is preferable to a potentially more complicated situation if something unforeseeable happens. An aluminized blanket, a small tarp, or a poncho all can help.

Need to Know More?

This article only looks at the very basics of backcountry Nordic touring. If a person has more interest in this wonderful type of outdoor experience, more information should be sought. First, find an outdoor shop that has a good selection of these types of skis. If no stores are found locally, there are now multiple stores with an online presence. Call up or visit the store, ask some questions, and the often knowledgeable staff will help pick a ski, boot, and binding system that will fit well and work for the type of skiing that’s desired. If a store is local, consider renting some gear first to figure out what equipment may work best for your skiing style.

Next, get some practical know-how. Going out and, to paraphrase a well-known sneaker commercial, “just doing it” is not necessarily the best idea. Exploring the backcountry in winter requires more preparation, gear, and consideration when compared to the other seasons. If a friend who is an experienced skier and winter trekker is not available easily for personal lessons, all is not lost. Many local outdoor groups offer low-cost or even free classes, workshops, trips focused on backcountry Nordic skiing / winter backpacking, and sometimes even avalanche safety classes.

And, finally, do some reading. Not quite as good as talking to someone directly for many, but doing some reading and applying that knowledge can work for the right person. For more on winter backpacking technique, you can read this article in Issue 26.

Allen & Mike's Really Cool Backcountry Ski Book is also an excellent resource. A short, informative, and humorous read, the book covers not only backcountry skiing but also details winter camping information in a concise and very readable form.

In Conclusion

Backcountry Nordic skiing is a wonderful way to explore the natural world. Winter is not a time to hibernate and have endless gear discussions online. Rather, winter is a time to see nature in a different way: The winter alpenglow on the mountains is a photographer’s delight. The well-known sights become something new and different in the winter landscape. And nature reveals herself in way seldom experienced by many. Glide on the snow, experience the fresh powder, delight in the cold air and enjoy the wonder that is the winter landscape. Grab a pack, get on the skis and go!

Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in Issue 20 of TrailGroove Magazine. You can read the original article here for additional photos and content.