Ski touring

From Freepedia

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Ski touring, also referred to as ski mountaineering, ski randonnée, and alpine touring (or AT), is a form of backcountry skiing (off-piste skiing) involving trekking from place to place in the wilderness, that has parallels with hiking and backpacking.

1 Alpine ski touring
2 History
3 Nordic ski touring
4 Snowboard touring
5 See also
6 External links

Alpine ski touring

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While various types of ski can be used, it is most commonly carried out using Telemark or adapted Alpine equipment. In order to climb uphill, skins (synthetic or mohair rather than the traditional sealskin) and sometimes harscheisen (ski crampons - also called couteau or cortelli) are used on the bottom of the ski to provide grip. Due to the use of skins the uphill climbing part of a ski tour is usually called skinning.

When using Alpine skis, a special ski binding is used that allows the heel to be clipped down when skiing downhill, and allows it to be released when climbing. Special ski boots are also used, something of a cross between ski boot and a hiking boot, which are light and flexible enough to be comfortable to walk up in while still being stiff enough to provide good control when skiing down.

To ascend the ski tourer wearing using alpine touring puts on his skins and unclips his heel. The skins allow the ski to slide forwards but not backwards and so the ski tourer ascends by sliding first one foot forward and then the other. He typically chooses a line that climbs at an angle of 20 degrees, doing so-called "kick turns" to change direction, much like hairpins in a mountain road. If the snow is particularly icy or hard then he may choose to clip on his ski crampons.

On reaching a summit, the skins are removed, the heels locked down and the descent enjoyed in the same way as an off-piste route in alpine skiing.

Like mountaineers, ski mountaineers are exposed to serious objective dangers, the foremost being avalanche risk. A radio transceiver, probe and shovel should always be carried to give the best chance of locating and recovering a climber buried by an avalanche. The ability to assess and test snow conditions is critical to safety, as is the ability to ski to a high standard off-piste and a good awareness of the mountain environment. When skiing on glaciers it is often wise for the party to rope together to allow crevasse rescue techniques to be employed.

History

One of the earliest inspirations for the sport was the Englishman Cecil Slingsby, who crossed the 1,550m high (5,800 feet) Keiser Pass, Norway, on skis in 1880.

However, the "father" of the sport is generally regarded as the German Wilhelm von Arlt, who made the first ski ascent of over 3,000m, when he climbed the Rauris Sonnblick (3,103m / 10,180 feet high) in 1894.

Nordic ski touring

Nordic ski touring uses skis that differ from those normally used for cross-country skiing in that they are heavier, wider and have metal edges.

Snowboard touring

A variation of the activity is also possible using a snowboard, in which case snowshoes or a snowboard that can split in two pieces lengthwise and used like skis with skins are used to walk up.