The World of Ski Mountaineering

Ski touring and ski mountaineering have become popular with mountain lovers as a way to spend time in the hills. It is being adopted by alpinists. Ski touring can also be easier than the summer hiking in some mountain terrains.

Mountaineering

Mountaineering can be taken as an extreme sport, or an exhilarating pastime that requires strength and endurance. This can be dangerous sometime even fatal, especially when the climber gets into unruly weather, ice, terrain, or any other difficulties in the mountains.

Lack of experience and inadequate equipment can be the reasons for injury or even death sometime. So to have some rewarding experience, the climbers need the right mountain gear.

Mountaineering is a recreational outdoor activity of walking in natural environments on known paths, that are called hiking trails. It depends on the weather whether a day or an overnight walk can be planned. Sometimes it is a longer journey that is to be undertaken on in the areas where usually no means of transport available. It can last for a long time in terms of a number of days or weeks.

Mountaineers usually walk in challenging environments in hills. Treks take longer than hikes. As a result of that, the environmental impact is much bigger. High boots, water, compass, and a pole can be suggested to be taken with the climbers. Light backpack with a survival kit, water, food, and medicine for overnight hiking should be kept well.

Ski mountaineering

Ski mountaineering is a type of skiing where both uphill and downhill travel are done follows a pre-defined trail through winter alpine terrain while passing through a the checkpoints without removing skis. Touring is done off-piste and outside. Tours are extended over a period of time of more than one day. Skis, bindings, and boots help for free movement of the heel to make a walking pace. Basically, ski mountaineering is an outdoor sport that combines ski touring, backcountry skiing, and mountaineering.

Mountaineering and Ski touring are immensely popular in the Himalayan foothills in Nepal. This is planned by the UIAA, to make ski mountaineering a part of the 2018 Olympic Games.

Ski mountaineering is grown in popularity to spend time outdoors. It has been adopted by skiers and alpinists to avoid the high costs of traditional alpine skiing at resorts.

Touring includes navigating through potential avalanche terrain, and requires familiarity with meteorology and skiing skills. Ski touring can also be easier than summer hiking in some of the terrains, helping traverses and ascents. Skis are used to access backcountry alpine climbing routes, where at times snow is off the technical route, but still covers the hiking trail.

When the slope angles increase, the climbers make switchbacks, using kick turns to change direction, resulting in a line that climbs at a angle of 20-30 degrees. Skin tracks can be seen as crossed trail while heading up a snowy mountain. A proper skiing track requires a great deal of skill and knowledge. Traveling fast to climb up the hill is important for safety as well.

Physical fitness is important for safe mountain travel in avalanche terrains. Ski mountaineering requires the ability to ski off-piste and good awareness of the risks of the mountain in winter.

Going uphill also requires grip for not to slide backwards. Touring skis may have a fish-scale pattern engraved into the base of the ski for a good grip. Most types of skis require the use of sticky wax for their smooth surface.

Ski tourist may choose to use ski crampons, which are like knives that digs deeper into the snow.

Alpine Touring (AT) equipment is specifically crafted for ski touring in steep terrain. A special alpine touring binding is used to help the heel to be clipped down for more support when skiing downward.

Alpine skiing equipment is used for ski touring with addition of a removable binding insert that helps for free heel swing on ascents.