Ski Mountaineering Essentials: What Your Need to Take Your Backcountry Skiing to the Next Level

Critical Items for Ski Mountaineering

1. Lightweight Ski Touring Setup

2. Ski and Boot Crampons

3. Ice Axe

4. Harness

5. Glacier Rope

6. Lightweight Helmet

7. Education

Lightweight Ski Touring Setup

Typically, spring skiing and ski mountaineering means long approaches and several hours in ski boots. This means lightweight gear will make the difference when you’re on hour 6 of an 8 our day. Most people opt for a skinnier ski in the spring and ultra lightweight touring bindings. Thanks to innovation in the ski industry, many companies are building uber-light skis with the stability and capability to give you the confidence of conquering big mountain terrain. Lightweight chargers like the Blizzard Hannibal are a good option for cutting weight and getting optimal performance.

Ski Mountaineering: Photo by William Berger

Ski and Boot Crampons

When it comes to steeper terrain, crampons can be a game changer. Early starts are a must and the snow is usually still frozen, ski crampons give you the edge you need to make it up steep, icy terrain where your skins would slide backwards. Ski crampons clip onto the toe piece of your touring binding and make your day easier when the going gets rough.

Once the terrain gets too steep for your skis, boot crampons come into play. Boot crampons clip to the bottom of your boot and make the steepest terrain feel like a sidewalk. Crampons like the Petzl Leopard are a good option for cutting weight and optimizing performance.

Boot Crampons: Photo by William Berger

Ice Axe

As an extra safety feature and to give you confidence on extra steep terrain, an ice axe is necessary. Black Diamond and Petzl make lightweight and well designed ice axes perfect for ski mountaineering. It’s important to get the right size axe to fit on your pack and to not become cumbersome on steep boot packs. Learning how to self arrest and ski safely with an axe is also a must.

Ice Axe: Photo Alex Ekey

Harness

Light. Light. Light. Blue Ice makes the perfect lightweight harness and should be on everybody’s list for ski mountaineering essentials. With adjustable leg loops, the ability to put on without lifting your feet off the ground, this harness is a must.

Climbing Engineer: Photo by Alex Ekey

Glacier Rope

A rope with dry treatment is key for ski mountaineering. The ability to work in ice and cold conditions makes glacier ropes easy to use for ski mountaineering. Ropes from Edelrid, Black Diamond and Blue Water are what we recommend. It might be a good idea to go with a smaller diameter rope than normal to help cut weight and make the uphill a little bit easier.

Climbing Engineer: Photo by William Berger

Lightweight Helmet

A climbing helmet is a ski mountaineering essential. You don’t want your winter ski helmet with extra padding and ear flaps heating your head on the way up a couloir. Climbing helmets offer perfect safety and are breathable and light to keep you happy all day long.

Skiing with a Climbing Helmet: Photo by William Berger

Education

The best way to learn is through taking a course from a reliable ski guide service. It is important to have the skills, knowledge and protocols before ski mountaineering. Once you find a course, remember to practice, practice, practice. Just like any technical activity, practice is one of the most important factors keeping safety in mind.

San Juan Expeditions: Ski Mountaineering Course

Always remember to check CAIC before heading out into the backcountry.

Backcountry Skiing and Avalanche Safety

Tips and Tricks for Backcountry Skiing and Avalanche Safety

1. Gear and Training

2. Get the Forecast

3. Terrain Management

4. Parking Etiquette

5. Backcountry Etiquette

Our partner and non profit organization, Friends of the San Juans, started producing video shorts this year about what it takes to travel safely and stay smart in the San Juan backcountry. We encourage everyone to get out and explore the backcountry. Before you go out, make sure you know what it takes to do it safely.

Episode 1: Gear and Training

Backcountry Skiing and Avalanche Safety Gear and Training

What do you need while out in the backcountry? The three main pieces necessary for backcountry travel are beacon, shovel and probe. Once you have the gear, get the training. Keep backcountry skiing safety a main priority. Check out these local options for backcountry training and courses.

Silverton Avalanche School

San Juan Expeditions

San Juan Mountain Guides

Episode 2: Get the Forecast

Get the Forecast with Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC)

Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) is the place to go for avalanche forecasting. Make sure you check the avalanche forecast everyday before you head into the backcountry. CAIC gives avalanche forecasts, field reports, weather forecasts, and live weather data to help with your backcountry skiing and avalanche safety.

Episode 3: Terrain Management

Terrain Management and Avalanche Safety

Terrain management is key in backcountry skiing and avalanche safety. It is the only factor you can control while in or around avalanche terrain. Keep an eye out for the five red flags while backcountry touring.

1. Recent Avalanches

2. Cracking and Whumphing

3. New Snow

4. Rapid Warming

5. Recent Winds

Episode 4: Parking Etiquette

Backcountry Skiing and Parking Etiquette

During winter storms make sure to stay out of the Colorado Department of Transportation. Park in established parking areas, don’t stop in designated avalanche areas, be aware of your surroundings. CDOT is trying to maintain avalanche safety for everyone, do your part. Also make sure to check COtrip for road closures and highway information before driving over the passes.

Episode 5: Backcountry Etiquette

Backcountry Etiquette

Everyone is in the mountains to explore and have a good time, including you. Make sure to treat others with respect in the backcountry. If using a radio, keep chatter to a minimum and be clear and concise. While setting a skin track, keep it safe, accurate and efficient. Things to consider while digging a pit, dig in a safe location and fill in your pit when finished. Remember, we are all there to have fun!

How to Choose the Perfect Backcountry Ski

New Backcountry Skis

Everyone likes new skis, but how do you choose the right ski? Here at Pine Needle, we specialize in backcountry touring gear and offer a demo fleet to make sure you get on the perfect backcountry ski at the right price. With so many options these days and company’s claiming they have the “best” backcountry ski, it’s hard to know where to start. How do you know which ski is your ski? There are online reviews of every ski on the market, though most reviews will say every ski is a good ski. Getting a ski under your feet is the number one step in shopping for a new backcountry ski.

Choose the Perfect Backcountry Skis: Photo by William Berger

What We Offer

We offer an array of the best backcountry skis on the market including skis from Voile, Blizzard, and DPS. These range from deep backcountry powder skis to narrow ski mountaineering skis. Whatever your style is, we have the ski for you to test. When it comes to shopping for a new backcountry ski, knowing how the ski performs is key to success. The best way to get an understanding is to get on the ski and see how it feels. Finding the right backcountry ski can be the difference between loving the up, the down and every turn in between or despising the ski every-time you’re out.

Ski Testing

We suggest testing multiple skis before you buy. We’ve partnered with Purgatory Resort to offer demo days throughout the year. This gives you the opportunity to test multiple skis in a day. We make sure to tune every ski and have them dialed for you on our demo days. We believe a well-tuned ski helps you, the skier, make the right decision. Our demo days allow you to take two or three runs on each ski to help get a better understanding of each ski’s feel and helps narrow down which ski is right for you. After testing during our demo days, and you have two or three skis you think could be the one, it’s time to take skis out for a full day and truly discover what the ski is capable of.

If you are in the market for a new backcountry ski, we think it is a good idea to test skis in the backcountry. Test the ski where it will be used the most. You will be using the ski for several hours a day in variable conditions and want it to perform at its best. Our line of skis have Dynafit demo bindings to give you the full backcountry testing opportunity.

The Perfect Backcountry Ski For You

Powder

Photo by William Berger

We offer skis for any snow condition. Looking for a backcountry powder ski? For men or taller women, our 178cm DPS Pagoda Tour 112 would be a great ski to test. It boasts lightweight tour construction with a carbon laminate combined with ash and paulownia woods and aerospace grade foam. The strength of an airplane and light as a feather. The DPS Pagoda Tour 112 offers a smooth ride with its 15 meter turn radius and 140mm tip, 112mm waist, and 125mm tail. For a total weight coming 1480g per ski. For a women’s specific powder ski we offer the DPS Yvette 112. This 168cm ski gives you a carbon and aspen core for a lightweight but damp ride for choppy snow at the resort or deep backcountry ski days. With a 15 meter turn radius and a 139mm tip, 112mm waist, and 124mm tail the DPS Yvette 112 makes you the ultimate mountain taming machine.

In comparison, an alternate backcountry powder ski is the 178cm Voile HyperDrifter. The ultimate powder ski from Voile. This ski offers a carbon weave construction with a paulownia wood core. It may not have a foam core, but the HyperDrifter provides a 155mm tip, 121mm waist and 138mm tail. This ski gives you the rise and stability on the deepest days. It comes with a 19 meter turn radius and weighs in at 1,555g per ski. The women’s Hyperdrifter (164 cm) offers the same carbon and paulownia wood construction with a 149mm tip, 115mm waist, and 132mm tail. Altogether, the women’s HyperDrifter has a 17.6 meter turn radius and weighs in at 1300g per ski. The lightweight construction and powder design helps you stay afloat and ski all day long.

If you’re looking for a ski with a little less underfoot but still a perfect backcountry ski for powder days, look no further than the Voile V8 and HyperV8. The 176cm Voile V8 comes with an aspen and carbon core giving you a lightweight and damp ride for a variety of snowpack’s. It has a 141mm tip, 112mm waist, and 123mm tail. With a 17 meter turn radius and weighing in at 1750g per ski, the V8 helps you float on the deep days and keep your legs functional all day. They 176cm Hyper V8 has the same dimensions as the V8 but is a little bit lighter, weighing in at 1400g per ski. They Hyper V8 is for skiing the most vertical and getting in as many turns in as you can to maximize every powder day.

Variable Conditions and Spring Charging (San Juan Masters)

Spring Skiing in the San Juan Mountains: Photo by William Berger

For conquering any conditions we offer the 184cm DPS Pagoda Tour 106. Offering the same construction as the Pagoda Tour 112 but more nimble for skiing everything from powder in the trees to sun cups and wind crust. The Pagoda Tour 106 is one of the most versatile backcountry skis on the market. With a 19 meter turn radius and a 138mm tip, 106mm waist, and 122mm tail this ski will help you perform on any terrain with any snow conditions. Made for powder skiing all winter to tackling big lines in the spring. The DPS Pagoda Tour 106 will carry you everywhere you need to go. We also have the 163cm DPS Pagoda Tour 100. This ski is perfect for women looking for a lightweight easy to ski all mountain ripper. With the same construction, the Pagoda Tour 100 offers a 15 meter turn radius and a 130mm tip, 100mm waist, and 115mm tail. This ski comes in a 1280g per ski, making it easy on the up and fun on the down. You’ll end every day with a smile on your face.

Skiing Grand Turk: Photo by William Berger

Alternatively we carry the Blizzard Zero G. This 172cm ski offers a 3D uni-directional carbon frame and paulownia wood core. Blizzard shapes the wood of every ski rather than bending the wood in a gig. This helps extend the life of the ski and keeps you sliding down snow and flying through the air all year long. With a 20 meter turn radius and a 131mm tip, 103mm waist, and 117mm tail, the Blizzard Zero G is a lightweight, big mountain performer. The Zero G weighs in at 1450g per ski. This ski will keep you smiling all day on powder days and keep your legs and body feeling strong and confident when the mountains open the door for big mountain lines. This ski is perfect for both men and women who want a lightweight powerful ski.

From Voile we offer the Voile Manti. This spring skiing masterpiece is for tackling the big lines you’ve looked at all winter. The 181cm Voile Manti comes with an aspen core and a fiberglass and carbon weave to help it stay damp at high speeds and keep your ride smooth with any conditions. With a 138mm tip, 104mm waist, and 124mm tail the Voile Manti has the design for you to excel on spring missions. With an 18 meter turn radius and weighing in just under 1750g per ski, the Manti will help you charge from the first day of the season to the last.

Time to Test You’re Perfect Backcountry Skis

Now that you have an idea for what skis we offer, it’s time to take some out to test. Finding the perfect ski takes time. If you are spending $1000 on a new pair of skis you want it to be something you will love, day in and day out. There is nothing worse than buying a pair of skis you hate. Next powder day make sure to swing by our shop at 835 Main Ave and grab a pair of skis to make every ski day the best ski day. In case you don’t have backcountry touring ski boots, we also have demo boots and all or our skis come with either Pomoca or Black Diamond skins. We want to offer you the best experience to find the perfect backcountry ski you will love. From skiing deep powder days to conquering steep lines, there is the perfect ski out there for everyone.

Mark Your Calendar

Our end of season sale starts on March 4th. This means you need to test skis before then to maximize the potential of finding your perfect backcountry ski. If you are eager to find your perfect ski, we have our demo skis available starting at $30 a day. To help you choose the right ski, we take two days of demo pricing of the purchase of a new ski. This means, if you demo two skis you will receive $60 of the purchase of new skis.

 If you want to try multiple skis throughout the day, the next Demo Day at Purgatory Resort  is March 21st. It is $20 for an entire day of testing unlimited skis. This should help you get a better understanding of which ski is right for you.

Avalanche Education

Before you take skis to the backcountry we ask that you have at least an AIARE Level 1 certification. This year is more dangerous than years past and skiing backcountry comes with a huge risk. With five deaths in the San Juan Mountains this year we encourage safe backcountry practices. Check the forecast from Colorado Avalanche Information Center every day before going into the backcountry. It is your responsibility you and your friends have the education and gear to be safe while backcountry touring. Utilize tools like CalTopo to help with route planning. Remember the five steps to stay safe; get the gear, get the training, get the forecast, get the picture, get out of harms way. The backcountry community has experienced a lot of tragedy this year. We don’t want you to become the next victim.

If you are looking to take backcountry awareness classes, a Companion Rescue Course or either an AIARE Recreation Level 1 or AIARE Recreation Level 2 certification check out these local companies.

Silverton Avalanche School

San Juan Expeditions

Friends of the San Juans

San Juan Mountain Guides    

Backcountry Maintenance and Repair Kit

Repair Guide

The ability to fix and maintain your ski equipment in the backcountry will save you time, hassle, and personal anguish. At under one pound, the suggested list above will enable you to improvise in most repair situations and help get you off the mountain in one piece.

Depending on the length and commitment level of your ski tour, you may want to add or subtract from the items listed above. 

Maintenance

1. Glide Wax:  A quick fix for a faster glide, and will help prevent snow from freezing to the base of your skis.

2. Plastic Scraper: Scrape sticky snow & ice from the base and top-sheets of your skis. 

3. Skin Wax: Apply liberally to maintain your climbing skin's hydrophobic properties and prevent them from glopping up with snow.

Repair

4. Rubber Ski Straps: The longer the better. You can secure a rescue sled, a broken boot cuff, or splint an injured extremity. The options are endless. 

5. Quick Curing Glue: If you’re binding strips off of your ski, a strong, fast-curing glue or epoxy will help to secure binding screws to the ski-- hopefully long enough for a successful retreat.

6. Bailing Wire: Offers endless options for boot & binding repair.

7. Cloth Tape: Another go-to repair/first aid item that is multi-functional. 

8. 5mm Cord:  Cord is always useful and can supplement the use of ski straps, bailing wire or rigging scenarios.

9. Lighter: Mold pesky boot plastic or build a fire.

10. Zip-Ties: Feather-weight and useful in almost any repair scenario.

11. Binding Screws & Bits: A few binding screws and bits to will allow you to adjust or re-mount a binding that has stripped off the ski. 

12. Break-Down Screw Driver: I prefer this driver over a "binding buddy". Binding screws are easier to access with a with a longer tool and will perform better if you really need some wrenching power.

13. Hose Clamps: Use to secure a pole splint to a broken ski pole. 

14. Multi-Tool with Pliers: Useful in almost all repair situations

15. Pole Splint: When secured with hose clamps, an old section of ski pole cut lengthwise will splint a broken ski pole.