Backcountry skiing is always the little secret of "in-the-know" locals. While
everyone else slides down packed hills and waits in lift lines, they're in a
backside bowl on a quest for a better run than yesterday.
There are no limits on where you can ski. Plus you inevitably find a run and
make first tracks.
The pursuit of virgin powder and the thrill of finding the perfect run are
what drive's the backcountry skier. This bliss does come at a price. A backcountry
skier always runs the risk of getting lost, getting caught in an avalanche or
getting hurt. Not to mention, it's possible to leap off a blind cornice, only
to find the slope steeper than your skills can handle.
This is why Backcountry skiing requires special skills, equipment and a keen
attention to safety.
Master these, and the mountain is your playground.
May 14, 2008
