How to start ski touring
More and more resort and recreational skiers are starting to look beyond the resort boundary to explore the mountains on their skis. Ski touring and ski mountaineering is currently the fastest growing sector within snowsports and it’s not hard to see why. Getting away from lift lines and crowded pistes to discover quiet summits and natural snow fields is surely what skis were originally designed for. But there are lots of new skills to learn before making this jump. If you’ve been wondering how to start ski touring, read on to find the answers to your questions from Instructor Alex Watt.
If you’d like to discover backcountry skiing here in Scotland, with the support of experienced Instructors, access to our kit stores, and the perfect playground to learn in, check out our courses.
Ski Ability
There’s no need to be a freeride professional to explore the mountains on a touring set up. But there are definitely some key differences to skiing out of resort. Snow conditions are going to be variable. It’s not always champagne powder like you see on YouTube, and you’re going to have to contend with wind crust, ice, deeper snow, and sometimes heather in Scotland.
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If you don’t already ski in variable snow at the resort, an off-piste lesson is worthwhile before you start ski touring out of bounds on your own. In variable snow, ski with a narrower stance. And most importantly don’t care too much about what you look like when the snow is difficult. Remember we are using the skis as a tool to access the mountains; our skiing should be functional not fancy.
Fitness
Everyone wants to go get those fresh turns in untouched powder away from the resort. But remember, you have to get there first. At least 70% of your time ski touring will be spent going uphill, so it helps to have some level of fitness. Plan your day according to what you’re capable of, so you can get the most out of your experience.
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That said, ski touring is a surprisingly efficient way of moving across snow. The rhythm of regular steps can make the climbs feel a lot easier than winter hiking. The weight of your setup and range of motion in your boots will make a big difference to the required effort of going uphill.
Equipment
When you want to start ski touring the extra kit requirements can be daunting, and we could write an essay just on the different types of bindings. They all have their own quirks, pros, and cons. The most important thing is to be well versed in how your particular kit performs. Ask in the shop, ask your guide before you head out on the hill. And sometimes a trusty YouTube video can help iron out some of the more fiddly issues.
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If you want to start ski touring, I always recommend a new pair of boots should have a walk mode and be compatible with tech bindings (pin bindings). The difference in performance between traditional alpine boots and touring boots is almost negligible these days for the average skier. Having that level of versatility in one boot is such an advantage, and a money saver down the line.
Below is a list of the kit I would use on a normal day out ski touring in Scotland or a spring day in the Alps:
- Skis (85 to 95mm underfoot) with tech bindings, skins, and ski crampons
- Boots light enough to walk comfortably but stiff enough to enjoy the descent
- Transceiver, shovel, and probe – must for any time you go off piste. Shovel should be metal, transceiver is always on and the probe is 3m long
- Ski specific pack (30 litres). It must be able to carry skis and equipment. Specially designed pockets are also helpful when organising your kit in bad weather
- Lightweight helmet, goggles with low light lens and sunglasses
- Beanie and a cap if it’s sunny. Balaclava lives in my pack
- Light gloves for the up, warmer gloves for the down
- Base layers, midlayer, insulated layer, shells. Emergency insulation in my pack
- Map and compass, mobile phone, personal locator beacon (or you can leave a route card with someone so they know where you’re going and when you’re expected back)
- First aid kit, group shelter, food, water, and a head torch
Lots of this kit is also relevant to other mountain and outdoor activities, so shop around for stuff you will get use out of. There are also great options for buying many things second hand.
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Safety out of bounds
When you venture off piste you are leaving the safety of the ski resort behind you. When you start ski touring you must become self sufficient in terms of your navigation and avalanche awareness. The crew you are skiing with are your safety net. Make sure everyone has the correct equipment, knows how to use it, and is capable of executing your desired plan.
Understanding how to use a map to plan a safe route and being able to read terrain to identify avalanche risk go hand in hand. If you are in any doubt about your abilities in either, it is important to seek out professional education.
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Once you have a grounding in these areas and are planning to head out ski touring on your own for the first time, there are some great resources out there to help you stay safe:
- Avalanche forecasts. Most major Alpine areas at home and in Europe will have an official avalanche forecast that gives you daily updates. Follow these in advance of your trip and make sure you understand the detail, NOT just the numerical rating. Remember most accidents happen on category 3 days. In Scotland this is provided by the Scottish Avalanche Information Service
- Weather forecasts. Find a mountain specific forecast and again monitor it prior to your trip. Understand how it has affected the snow. Check that the weather won’t deteriorate during your trip. In Scotland your best sources are the Mountain Weather Information Service and the Met Office, which offers both regional and summit-specific forecasts.
- Mapping software. In Europe lots of the mapping software is free to use and accessible via an app or online. They often show you slope angles as well which can help with the interpretation of the avalanche forecast.
Its worth noting here that to get out of bounds we sometimes need to go through a ski area. This can cause dangers in itself. Respect the resort signage and don’t enter closed areas. Avoid skinning on marked pistes if at all possible and if you must, stay to the side in single file. Never skin up lift lines.
Now you’re ready to explore!
Scotland has such great mountains to explore on skis when the coverage is right. Even when the snow is not incredibly deep skis provide a great way to access some less well travelled areas of our hills. A great tour to start with in the Northern Cairngorms is the loop of the Northern Coires. Lift access can make the start of the day less strenuous than a series of descents and climbing in a clockwise direction takes you ultimately to the summit of Cairn Lochan and the options of descending Lurchers Gully or Twin Burns down off the summits. This tour is very manageable from a safety perspective and gives great views in all directions. A sneak peak at what else can be done in this region.
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