Ski Touring

Ski Touring - Form of off-piste skiing, similar to mountaineering 

Ski touring is a form of travelling over snow using special equipment that enables the user to climb without the aid of ski lifts, in order to access slopes to descend in traditional downhill style. Ski touring is a form of off-piste skiing allowing skiers to reach otherwise inaccessible areas, and shares similarities with mountaineering, hiking and backpacking. Touring can take place over both steep terrain and very flat landscapes.

 
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Ski Touring - Challenging but rewarding form of skiing 

The main difference between ski touring and downhill skiing is the fact that the skiers' heel is free to allow for a fluid natural movement whilst walking or climbing, and then locked down in order to descend. Special equipment is required for ski touring, which is carried in a touring rucksack. The skis need to glide forward whilst climbing, but not slip backwards, so climbing 'skins' are added - removable pieces of fabric, generally made of nylon or mohair. These allow for 'skinning', or climbing on skis, at an angle of up to 25 degrees. For steeper slopes or very icy conditions, tourers may use ski crampons - made of steel or aluminium and with a sawtooth pattern to stick into the slope. Once at the summit, skiers can remove skins or crampons, put them back in their rucksack, and lock down their heels into their skis in readiness for the descent in typical alpine skiing fashion. There is a wide range of performance touring skis on the market today, and in general they are shorter and not as fast as regular skis, but light and tough enough to cope with varied mountain conditions. Boots used are also light and very flexible, featuring both a ski and walk position, with contoured rubber soles to give plenty of grip.   

 

Ski Touring - Must be physically and mentally fit, practice mountain safety at all times 

This form of challenging but rewarding skiing allows access to excellent powder conditions, and gives skiers a true sense of achievement, solitude and tranquillity. Ski touring is for those that have the necessary level of both physical and mental fitness, and have extremely good navigational skills, as skiers spend most of the time climbing. Ski tourers must practice safe mountain travel, and have the knowledge to assess conditions at all times, as risk of avalanche is always present, with one member of a ski touring group always having avalanche search and rescue recovery equipment. On glacial or very steep slopes tourers may even wear a climbing harness and be roped together.

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