Backcountry might just be the biggest ski industry buzzword of the last few years.
This article will be peppered with random backcountry shots of my friends and myself to keep your attention.
Nobody hit any jumps this day, but I did ski switch a little.
And the views were nice.
Those general comparisons will usually translate to shorter and longer models as well.
Safety and Education
Backcountry skiing is dangerous.
Get educated, take an avy class and stay up to date.
Practice with your beacon, shovel, and probe regularly.
Read the avy bulletin for your ski area every day.
Be smart, stay alive.
Beacon, or Bacon Search?
Your Mind
Use your head.
The only way to stay completely safe from the risk of avalanches is to stay out of the backcountry.
A clear head makes good decisions.
Dont let powder frenzy push your risk tolerance.
Learn good decision making from more experienced backcountry skiers.
Theres a bunch of good articles about this out there.
The Backcountry SOS App
If you ski in the US, download this free app.
There are a ton of options on the market.
confirm youve got a three-antenna beacon, most new ones are.
BCAs beacons are very beginner-friendly and are often easy to get a deal on.
The Tracker 2, Tracker 3, and Tracker S are all fine beacons.
Personally, I really dont get along well with BCAs transceivers though.
Im a huge fan of the Mammut Barryvox series and BDs new beacons.
But thats just anecdotal evidence.
It doesnt matter how fancy your beacon is if you dont know how to use it quickly and accurately.
Shovel
Get the biggest one that can fit in your pack.
If you have a little pack, get a bigger one, and put a bigger shovel in it.
A D handle and/or a hoe mode makes it easier to move a bunch of snow fast.
Bigger shovels make it easier to build booters and to dig out friends.
Dont get a collapsible shovel from your hardware store.
Ive seen a couple of those break catastrophically.
Probe
Get a longer one than you think you need.
They all pack down small and dont take up much room in your pack.
Landings are softer in the backcountry, but my form isn’t any better.
Skis
Now for the fun stuff!
Throw some touring bindings on it and haul it uphill.
Dont freak out that your ski is too wide, or too heavy.
you’re free to always upgrade easily in the future.
1800-2100 grams per ski:This is prime 50/50 territory.
There are a bunch of good options in this weight range.
2200 plus grams per ski:Fine as a first touring ski, pretty heavy otherwise.
Inserts
Most folks getting into backcountry touring are doing so on a budget.
Boots
Go see a bootfitter nerd!
But seriously, fit is even more important with backcountry boots.
Dont buy the newest and lightest if it doesnt fit.
Roxa R3 130 TI
This boot fits like a Full Tilt Classic shell.
And its got swappable soles, a heat-moldable liner, and tech fittings.
This is as close to the ultimate NS touring boot as I can imagine.
Full Tilt Ascendant
Of course, Full Tilt makes their own touring boot, the Ascendant.
That means your boots with work with CAST, or Shift.
This is really awesome for already light boots like Atomics Hawx Ultra.
Dogs are not allowed in ski resorts unless you skin up.
Another reason to get touring gear.
Bindings
This is where things get really complicated.
They offer downhill performance and safety at a significant penalty of weight and inefficiency.
The biggest pro is that theyll work with your inbounds boots.
-They really suck to do long tours with.
you might do big days on them (I did Mt.
CAST Freetour
CAST has been leading the way with jib-friendly bindings for years.
For most of the NS crowd CAST is the best touring binding Ive found.
Marker Duke PT
This binding is new this year, and its basically Markers version of a CAST setup.
It seems sorta cool, but there are no real-world reviews out yet, so only time will tell.
Marker Kingpin
This is sort of the OG of huck-friendly tech bindings, and its still a decent choice.
It skis really well and tours well too.
Just confirm yours arent affected by any of the recalls or warranties.
So uninformed folks charge too hard on them inbounds and either break their bodies or the bindings.
It doesn’t have the release characteristics of an inbounds binding like Shift or CAST.
Black Diamond Tecton
This one flies a little under the radar with the NS crowd, but shouldnt.
Its light, skis about as well as a Kingpin, and is probably a little safer.
Its a great option for someone who wants to walk long days but also go big and fast.
Personally, I tour most days on its little brother, the Vipec.
Daymakers
Daymaker makes a touring adaptor that fits in just about any boot/binding combo.
I don’t see any reason to carry big adaptors in your pack in 2020.
Skins
For most folks starting out, a nylon climbing skin is your best option.
Big Sky Mountain Products makes the best value climbing skins Ive found.
(and I said that before I started working with them.)
Theyre affordable and really durable.
Otherwise, BDs nylon skins are good to start out.
Anecdotally I, and a bunch of friends have had negative experiences with a range of G3s skins.
They just arent that durable.
Id recommend spending your money elsewhere on skins that will last longer.
This guy makes BSMP Skins.
He’s pretty cool.
Dont listen to the crotchety old men who will give you a hard time on the skin track.
check that youve got a separate compartment for your avy tools, and a good way to carry skis.
Also, ensure that your pack can fit all your gear, and your skins at the same time.
Otherwise, the Dakine Heli Pro you used to carry books in highschool will be fine to start out.
That was a lot of info!
But hey, backcountry skiing is really fun, and having the right gear makes it way more fun.
Stay tuned for some less drawn-out articles breaking down technique and tips.
Get into touring so you might build jumps with powder landings.
Keep doing it so you’ve got the option to go ski stuff like this.
