Do double black diamond trails look like bunny slopes to you? Are you an insatiable fiend for fresh powder? Hate crowds?
It might be time for you to start exploring your off-piste options at your resort of choice. Most resorts don’t allow you to go off-trail without a guide or special permit, but arranging an off-piste tour is absolutely worth it if you want to take your alpine skiing to the next level.
Going off the beaten path carries with it some considerable additional risks. You’ll be outside the regular paths of the ski patrol. It can be easy to get lost, or find yourself at the bottom of the mountain with no lift for miles around if you don’t plan out your route.
Hidden hazards can threaten even experienced skiers, and the risk of avalanches is very real even in good conditions. Know your risks, consult with experts who know the terrain, and make sure that you’re not breaking any rules and regulations.
Losing your ski pass isn’t worth a single off-trail lark.
Before you embark on an extended off-piste expedition, be sure to gear up with important safety and performance equipment designed specifically for the needs of extreme off-piste skiers.
1-4. Avalanche Safety Equipment
These items aren’t very expensive, but they can save the lives of your entire skiing party. If you’re going off-piste, make sure that everyone carries avalanche transceivers with them. This is the most fool-proof way to survive an avalanche, although you need to be conscious to activate it if you become buried in snow.
Any modern ski patrol will be well equipped with them, so you can be confident that you’re managing your risk effectively.
At least one person in your party should also carry avalanche probes and a small shovel, although it is preferable that everyone brings their own. The mountains don’t distinguish between the people they decide to bury. It’s better to carry a little extra weight than to end up dead and buried.
5. Two-Way Radios
Cell phone coverage is improving all around the world, but anyone who’s been skiing for very long – particularly in the back country – knows just how unreliable they can be. Injuries can happen at any time, and when you’re in the back country, it can save hours – and lives – if everyone comes equipped with effective two-way radios. A General Mobile Radio Service radio is a good choice for a back country skiing group.
One common such radio, the Motorola Talkabout FV700R, costs only about $35 from most online retailers. Be sure to bring spare batteries in case you end up spending more time out in the snow than you anticipated.
6. Performance Wax
Downhill skiers accustomed to groomed trails often find themselves stymied by sticky snow when they go off-piste because they have not waxed their skis sufficiently. The amount of powder that you’ll be plowing through wears down the waxy surface of your skis quickly, and you’re also likely to be hitting more patches of rough ice and rock than you would be otherwise.
Don’t just get waxed at the ski shop – bring some with you when you’re going out in the field.
If you’re planning on a group trip, have everyone chip in for a bulk order of some Hertel Super Hot Sauce ski wax for around $170 to keep you going downhill all season.
7. Ski Helmet
You might be able to get away just fine without a helmet on marked trails, but when you’re in the back country, the wipeouts are especially spectacular. It’s impossible to know what’s in front of you when you’re going off-piste, so it makes sense to do your best to protect your head.
Helmets from vendors like Giro, Smith and K2 are specially designed for skiing, with heavy-duty straps to prevent it from becoming a part of one of your inevitable “yard sales.” If you’re going to go back country, you’re going to fall – hard. It’s virtually guaranteed.
8. Backcountry Skis
Ordinary skis are designed for the hard packed conditions of most groomed trails, or are designed as a compromise between powder and ordinary snow. It can occasionally be an exercise in frustration to carve off-piste with those kinds of skis.
If you’re planning on spending a lot of time off-piste, it’s a good idea to rent or buy a set of backcountry skis – often referred to as Freeride Skis.
These are designed to cut through all types of snow and difficult conditions. They are heavier relative to normal alpine skis, so they require more strength to carve with effectively. Manufacturers like Rossignol, Salomon, Scott and K2 all release excellent lines of these ski types.
6 Comments... join the discussion!
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It's obvious that the author of this, John, lives in Brooklyn, far from any real "off-piste skiing" (backcountry will do just fine next time, thanks). A beacon, or transceiver as you call it, is always transmitting. When a member of your party becomes buried, all other members switch their beacons to "recieve" mode, while the buried person's will remain on "transmit". One does NOT need to be conscious in order to switch it over. That's probably the most obvious design flaw the makers of the product thought of right off the bat. Avilungs are a very good piece of equipment, but you must have no idea how they work, seeing as you didn't even begin to describe it. Wax is hardly a necessary item for BC riding. While it can be beneficial, you'll be just fine without it. Don't ruin your day because you think you need wax for good riding. "Freeride" skis refer to sticks that can be used all over the mountain. For those serious about backcountry skiing, powder-specific skis are much more beneficial. Do some research before writing an article like this, backcountry skiing is serious shit, and not having information, or worse, not having proper information, can be fatal. Smarten up Hewitt.
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Well, the guys above me skewered you pretty well, rightly. I don't think you have ever been any where near avalanche terrain and I hope for you sake and that you never do with out learning a LOT more! Anyway, the only point I missed is that you have to have your beacon on before it transmits any signal, which is kind of a no brainer. For Christ sake, take an avalanche class if you ever want to go out of bounds.
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The most important thing to take off piste is knowledge! Avoiding a slide in the forst place is 90% of avalanche safety. Also no good taking a shovel, probe and shovel out if you have no idea how to use a beacon, don't know proper probing technique or how to dig someone out without crushing their air pocket! Everyone in a party should have a full set of avvy kit and everyone should be well practiced in how to use it!
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looks like people beat me to the comments on this!
beacon is always transmitting otherwise it would be useful. if someone gets buried, everyone else switches their beacon to receive instead of transmit (very important that everyone does this) and then you can track the person under the snow.
my first time learning this stuff, my friend showed a group of us how it works. we all start with beacons transmitting then turn around so we cant see, he sticks his beacon in his glove then buries it. then we all have to make sure we switch over, and then find the glove as quick as possible. was a good intro, id definitely suggest taking an avvy class and playing around with this stuff so you know exactly what’s going on in the event of something serious.
peace, keep on transmitting
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Hey I think the most important thing that anyone should bring into the backcountry is KNOWLEDGE…of the terrain, of weather, of avalanche safety and most importantly of your own ability. All those consumer trinkets you mentioned above are as useless as a set of flippers and snorkel would be if you were out of bounds and a situation arose in which would require their use them…this article is an insult to anyone who knows anything about the mountains.
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