Backing up for an uncertain season

So, you’re thinking that the ski season seems unlikely to kick off this year and you’re at home thinking, “man, I just need to ski! I know, I’ll go backcountry! Simple.”

There’s a back country or side country in the high country for almost everyone, so let’s look at your options. We completely understand the need to click into your skis and fly down the hill. The decompression and freedom you get is more than just enjoyment, it’s important for your mental health, especially in the strange times we’ve been living this year.

The mountain communities are all too aware of the strain that has been placed upon Australian’s this year. With the “unprecedented” damage and trauma from Australia being on fire throughout the summer and preventing businesses from trading as usual – decimating the finances of many. The loss of an Aussie winter season will be tragic for these communities and individuals who rely on the ski and boarding visitors for their livelihood.

The season could end up going a bunch of ways – it might mean complete banishment from Thredbo or backcountry in the front country in Falls Creek, touring around but not in Perisher, or day trips only to Mount Buller. Who knows? Whatever it looks like, we might be talking about life without lifts. As such, let’s take a look at what you need to consider if this is the path you’re going to take (if you haven’t done it before).

Firstly, we’ll start with the safety aspect and a big shout-out to ski patrollers who usually regulate the level of risk we’re exposed to in resorts. They won’t be there if the resorts aren’t open or if you’re in the backcountry, so you won’t know if there’s a hole or a drop, or hidden rock until it’s too late. More importantly, you may not recognise the signs of avalanche or snow slides.

Many people don’t realise how common these are in Australia and that they are a true risk. Yes, our snow has a higher moisture content than say, Colorado, meaning you think the snowpack will hold better. But warm days melting the top and then a freeze overnight and fresh snow falling later can be very common in our beautiful land and lead to very unstable layers. You can do some more reading about avi’s and find a course here (if they’re running them this season).

Weather in the mountains can be very unpredictable and can come in very fast, leaving you easily disoriented and lost. Don’t let the emergency services risk their lives trying to save you because you decided to go out of your depth. There may be backcountry tours going on that you can join. Try these guys to see if they are running anything this season Steve Lee, Mike Edmonson, Jennie Milton.

Safety gear is imperative when heading into the mountains. You should always carry a shovel, a beacon, and an avalanche probe, and be sure to check for avalanche warnings in the area and check the weather before leaving. But before you arm yourself with the latest back country toys, arm yourself with knowledge. Do some extra reading here, and join a forum or two – see what the man/woman on the street(mountain) is talking/thinking about.

Now we have some of the serious stuff covered we can look at the practicalities of what you’ll need. There are a few different ways you can go about your equipment.

Set-up 1: Cross country/Classic (skating would be damn hard work without groomed trails)

This is gear that is extremely light and is focused on skiing in the flatlands. Classic skis have fish scale patterns on the base to prevent you slipping backwards when going up inclines. If the terrain is steep, you’ll still want to do switchbacks (zig-zag up the hill). Skiing downhill on classics is a true skill. With no heel attachments and no hard metal edges to get a grip, it’s a challenge and can make any experienced downhiller look like a total gumby. Good luck with that. But this gear is great for covering some distance and getting into them thar hills. Classic cross-country boots have minimal ankle support compared to downhill ski boots and are super light. Definitely get a lesson as it will jump you forward in your ability much faster.

Set-up 2: Telemarking gear – the original backcountry

Tele touring gear shares the same tilt of features that happen between Alpine and Alpine Touring gear (see below). Lighter, good for up as well as down. With a few tricks to get to learn to make them easier to use (getting skins on and off, actual skinning, back step etc), tele skiing in the mountains can really free your mind – or so those with a free-heel say. For some good tele gear, check out this lot or this lot.

Set-up 3: Alpine-touring (AT) gear

A.K.A, The fun stuff!!! An AT set-up will allow you to actually do proper downhill, aggressive turns and can easily be used inbounds with minimal performance reduction, but will allow a free-heel to walk up hill. But, they’re the heaviest of all the touring gear set-ups.

You can really use any downhill ski you like – most people opt for a slightly wider, softer and lighter ski, you could check out something like the Black Crows Navis Freebird – but it’s the bindings that are most different. There are a variety of different AT bindings, but their key purpose is to allow your heel to be free and lift-up when walking uphill whilst keeping your toes firmly attached. The Marker Kingpin and Salomon S/LAB Shift are just two examples.
To go uphill on these, you need to attach skins (durable, heavy duty long strips of nylon with what’s basically carpet on one side and reusable adhesive to attach to the bottom of your skis in the other). These allow you grip to walk up the hills. A whole lot of different brands do skins.

AT boots look similar to downhill ski boots, but have a walk mode which allow for movement of the ankle and sometimes a removable hard plastic tongue on the front to decrease weight and for further movement, and often have “grip walk” – a rubber sole for a bit of grip and rocker for scrambling over boulders or creeks if you feel so inclined (or if your fearless leader takes the wrong path).

And there’s a couple of key differences in fitting a good AT boot. More toe space for walking, a more upright stance, slighty softer flex, plastic is a little trickier to work with and the liners are more often than not made for light-weight not performance, so they don’t usually offer the same hold as resort liners.

There’s a lot of depth to go into in all different levels of touring gear, too much to cover in one blog. If you’re serious about trying this for the first time, find a tour guide to take you and ensure you have all the right gear. Loving skiing is one thing, walking uphill is another, but keeping safe is paramount. The last thing we want is for emergency services to be stretched this season searching for backcountry skiers. But if you’re rearing to go and looking for the right gear, give us a buzz as we have a range of AT boots to get you out there.