(I’m sick, so my voice sounds bizarre. I’m sorry!)
What is Ski Touring?
For those of you who have never tried it, here’s a simplified description of the sport. Basically, you have skins that you put on the bottom of your ski touring skis to help you walk up the mountain. You have special ski boots and bindings that attach the toe of your boot using a pin. This allows your heel to be free or unattached as you walk up. Once you arrive at your destination, you take the skins off your skis and attach the heels of your boots to their bindings. Next, you ski down either a piste or the backcountry, or a combination of the two.
Is this article difficult to understand? Go to the adapted version!
If you’re undecided about trying this sport, let’s look at some pros and cons.
Pros:
No long hike down the mountain! Ski touring is like an upgraded version of snowshoeing. You walk/slide up the mountain, and instead of walking back down the mountain, you ski! Going downhill is fast and it’s like combining two sports in one outing.
No waiting in line! One of the most annoying things with downhill skiing is waiting in line for a lift. You’ve probably seen photos from Vail in the United States where there are thousands of people waiting in line. With ski touring, there are no lines!
No lift ticket to purchase! You can put your skis on and go! Some ski resorts offer ski touring itineraries that are within the ski resort, so snow mitigation plans are in place. This reduces your risk of venturing somewhere that has a high risk of avalanche. It’s free and safe!
No boring itineraries with hundreds of other skiers! When you’re not obligated to stay on ski runs, it opens up many opportunities to explore the mountains, but be careful! You need to pick an itinerary that matches your fitness level, your ability level, and does not put you in the path of a possible avalanche.
Cons:
You probably need to rent skis and boots. It’s possible to use special bindings so you can use your regular downhill skis, but your downhill skis are generally heavier than ski touring skis. It will be easier and less painful if you rent the correct skis and boots. Depending on the price of lift tickets in your area, renting ski touring material is still probably less expensive.
You must plan your itinerary well. When you start ski touring, you’ll want to go up an easy path and ski down a groomed slope. If you are going to go down the mountain off-piste or through the backwoods, you need to know the itinerary and make sure you will not be in danger of triggering an avalanche or be swept away in an avalanche. Ideally, you should start with a guide. They will help you learn the correct technique and make sure you are on an itinerary where you will be safe.
You must rent avalanche search and rescue equipment AND know how to use it correctly. Avalanche risk levels can be deceiving. Even if the risk is fairly low, avalanches can be triggered by inexperienced or oblivious skiers. You need to know how to keep you and the other members of your group safe.
You need to be a good skier. Ski touring is not for people who do not have a lot of experience skiing. It requires a higher level of technique to be able to maneuver in ungroomed areas and around trees. Depending on your area, this also means you need to understand the risks of tree wells and know how to avoid them.
You need to be in good shape. When you start ski touring, your technique is not going to be perfect. It will take time and practice for you to master gliding your skis on the snow instead of picking them up and walking with them. What does this mean? You’re going to lose energy while going up, even when you’re in good shape. When you get to the top, your legs will be tired. It might not be noticeable, however, until you start your descent.
Ski touring is definitely not for the faint of heart. It is a beautiful sport, but it is not an easy sport. You need to know about avalanche risk and rescue. You need different ski equipment and learn how to use it. You need to be athletic. You need to be mentally prepared. This is no cakewalk.
What do YOU think about ski touring? Have you tried it before? Can you think of additional pros and cons? Share them below! And above all, be safe!!!
Adapted Version
In parenthesis () there are explanations of words and phrases. These explanations are in italics.
Tired of (Do you want to stop paying for) Expensive Lift Tickets? Try Ski Touring!
What is Ski Touring?
For those of you (For you) who have never tried it, here’s a simplified (simple) description of the sport. Basically (In very general terms), you have skins (the things like animal fur) that you put on the bottom of your ski touring skis to help you walk up the mountain. You have special ski boots and bindings (this connects your boot to your ski) that attach the toe of your boot (where your toes are) using a pin (a thin piece of metal). This allows your heel (the side opposite your toes) to be free (they can move up and down) or unattached as you walk up. Once you arrive at your destination, you take the skins off your skis (remove the skins) and attach (connect) the heels of your boots to their bindings. Next, you ski down either a piste or the backcountry (an area that is not groomed by machines on a ski resort), or a combination of the two.
If you’re undecided (you have not made a decision) about trying this sport, let’s look at some pros (positive points) and cons (negative points).
Pros:
No long hike down the mountain (It’s not necessary to hike down the mountain)! Ski touring is like an upgraded (better) version of snowshoeing. You walk/slide up the mountain, and instead of walking back down (walking up and down) the mountain, you ski (down the mountain)! Going downhill is fast, and it’s like combining (doing) two sports in one outing (session).
No waiting in line (You don’t have to stand behind other skiers in a line for a chairlift)! One of the most annoying (irritating) things (experiences) with downhill skiing is waiting in line for a lift. You’ve probably seen photos from Vail (a ski resort) in the United States where there are thousands of people waiting in line. With ski touring, there are no lines!
No lift ticket to purchase (You don’t have to buy a lift ticket)! You can put your skis on and go! Some ski resorts offer ski touring itineraries (routes) that are within (inside) the ski resort, so snow mitigation plans (plans to trigger/create avalanches to lower the risk of new avalanches) are in place (these plans are used by the ski resort). This reduces your risk of venturing (going) somewhere that has a high risk of avalanche. It’s free and safe (with less risk of danger)!
No boring itineraries with hundreds of other skiers (No uninteresting itineraries with a lot of other skiers)! When you’re not obligated to stay on ski runs, it opens up (introduces) many opportunities to explore the mountains, but be careful (do your research and don’t take unnecessary risks)! You need to pick (choose) an itinerary that matches (is equal to) your fitness level (physical ability level), your (technical) ability level, and does not put you (place you) in the path of a possible avalanche.
Cons:
You probably need to rent (pay a fee to use) skis and boots. It’s possible to use special bindings so you can use your regular downhill skis, but your downhill skis are generally heavier (they weigh more) than ski touring skis. It will be easier and less painful if you rent the correct skis and boots. Depending on (Basied on) the price of lift tickets in your area, renting ski touring material is still probably less expensive.
You must plan your itinerary well. When you start ski touring, you’ll want to go up an easy path and ski down a groomed slope (a slope that is flat with the help of a machine). If you are going to go down the mountain off-piste or through the backwoods (in the forest or any area not monitored by a ski resort), you need to know the itinerary and make sure you will not be in danger of triggering (starting) an avalanche or be swept away (moved down the mountain) in an avalanche. Ideally (The best option), you should start with a guide. They will help you learn the correct technique and make sure (verify) you are on an itinerary where you will be safe (out of danger).
You must rent avalanche search and rescue equipment (equipment to find and help avalanche victims) AND know how to use it correctly. Avalanche risk levels can be deceiving (can make you feel it is safe/okay but it’s still dangerous) Even if the risk is fairly (more or less) low, avalanches can be triggered (started) by inexperienced or oblivious skiers (not thinking about their safety or the safety of other skiers). You need to know how to keep you and the other members of your group safe.
You need to be a good skier. Ski touring is not for people who do not have a lot of experience skiing. It requires a higher level of technique to be able to maneuver in ungroomed areas and around trees. Depending on your area, this also means (signifies) you need to understand the risks of tree wells (the area around trees where skiers can fall and die) and know how to avoid them.
You need to be in good shape (have a good level of physical fitness). When you start ski touring, your technique is not going to be perfect. It will take time and practice for you to master gliding (moving) your skis on the snow instead of picking them up and walking with them. What does this mean? You’re going to lose energy while (when) going up, even when you’re in good shape. When you get to the top, your legs will be tired. It might not be noticeable (you may not feel you are tired), however, until you start your descent.
Ski touring is definitely not for the faint of heart (people who are weak). It is a beautiful sport, but it is not an easy sport. You need to know about avalanche risk and rescue. You need different ski equipment and learn how to use it. You need to be athletic (have a good level of physical fitness). You need to be mentally prepared. This is no cakewalk (not easy).
What do YOU think about ski touring? Have you tried it before? Can you think of additional (more) pros and cons? Share them below! And above all (most importantly), be safe!!!
