Ski vacations: The Backcountry skiing, also known as ski touring or ski mountaineering, is a popular winter activity that involves skiing either uphill or downhill through wilderness areas, over nongroomed trails. Backcountry skiing is a fun, yet challenging pastime that requires good physical conditioning, technical skills and a knowledge of outdoor safety rules and precautions. To get the most out of your backcountry skiing experience, and to be as safe as possible, wear appropriate clothing, use an avalanche beacon and the buddy system.
Wear Appropriate Clothing:
Generally, wearing the appropriate clothing is important when you are doing the backcountry skiing. So, you should wear a sufficient number of layers when you're exercising outdoors in winter. Wearing too many layers is a common mistake among beginner cold-weather exercisers, including backcountry skiers. Excess layers create excess sweat, and when your sweat begins to evaporate, you may become chilled.
The Backcountry skiing generates enough heat to make you feel as though the air temperature is 30 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than it actually is. Consider wearing removable layers and a polypropylene base layer that wicks sweat away from your body, along with a fleece layer for warmth and a waterproof shell for protection from wind and external moisture. A down jacket may be helpful if you are breaking from skiing for an extended period of time and it can be olded into a small pouch or bag and stowed in your pack without taking up too much space.
Use an Avalanche Beacon:
According to an online resource for telemark and backcountry skiing, avalanche beacons or transceivers are one of the most important pieces of backcountry gear. Each member of your backcountry skiing party should carry an avalanche beacon, as it can significantly improve your chances of being rescued from an avalanche if it's used quickly and properly.
When your avalanche beacon is transmitting, it sends out a pulsed signal which another transceiver can pick up. Because of the nature of the pulsed signal, if you're holding the receiving beacon, you can orient yourself to the signal and home in on the transmitting beacon's location. Once you have located the avalanche victim, you can use an avalanche probe to pinpoint his exact location and an avalanche shovel to dig him out. An avalanche shovel is made specifically for shoveling snow and it will increase your speed of digging by a factor or four.
Use the Buddy System:
According to Eastern Mountain Sports, a retailer of outdoor sporting equipment and apparel based in New Hampshire, it's important to use the buddy system when you go backcountry skiing. Although the very nature of backcountry skiing attracts individuals seeking solitude, you should never go backcountry skiing alone.
Some of the best Backcountry skiing is in remote wilderness areas where there are few other people or rescue services available to assist you should you injury yourself and require medical intervention. Consider skiing with at least two other people, preferably three or more. A four-person backcountry skiing party is optimal. If you or one of your other fellow skiers suffers an injury, one person can stay with the injured skier while the other two leave to get help. The two skiers that leave to get help can then assist each other. Consider also leaving a detailed itinerary and route map with friends or family at your base or lodge before your outing. dimaro
