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Ten Tips for Randonnee AT Backcountry Skiing Newbies

By Lou

Doing some big backend changes here with our content; converting, editing and modernizing a few buried articles into blog posts that’ll be available under our categories. Here is one. Am thinking you WildSnowers could bring it up to 15 or 20 tips? Leave comments, I’ll add your best tips to the list (remember, this is tips for newbies). Also, if you see anything that looks dated, help me edit. The idea is to make something you’d give a friend to read when they’re starting out in the sport. A service project for the tribe, if you will…

Converting to modern AT gear from a resort skiing setup is like moving from from a bicycle to an MTT Turbine Superbike motorcycle (well, maybe not that radical, but you get the idea.) Alpine touring (AT; randonnee) ski gear is sophisticated. It is designed for expert or advanced intermediate skiers who are not afraid of technical gear, and who demand the most of their equipment. If you’re new to AT, ten tips to help your transition:

1. If you’re a good or great skier at the resort, AT gear will help you do the same in the backcountry (provided you can handle natural snow). BUT, converting to alpine touring gear will not make you an instant ski god. If you’re an intermediate skier uncomfortable in crud and crust, you’ll flail no matter what gear you’re on. As a corollary, don’t expect converting from telemark to AT to make a huge gain in your ability to handle difficult snow. Switching helps most skiers, but only after they spend time mastering fixed heel skiing and learning how to really “ride” their planks rather than depending on exaggerated movements to initiate a turn. (Don’t get me wrong, exaggerated movement can be fun, but that’s not today’s subject matter.)

2. Master your ski bindings. All AT bindings are technical and require user savvy. Practice at home and at a ski area before you hit the wild. If you’re a total newbie, ski the carpet in your living room before you hit the snow. Practice diligently with your heel lifters till changing them is second nature, and you don’t have to bend over to do it. With Dynafit, practice getting in and out of the binding (try with your eyes closed).

3. Learn the subtle tricks of setting release tension for your choice in bindings (see our binding how-tos in menu above, or get schooled by a friend). Start with a moderate setting, then dial up a hair if you pre-release often. No AT binding has the safety release of the latest and most protective alpine bindings (though bindings such as Marker Baron and Duke come close). Learn to ski with fewer falls. If you fall frequently, AT gear may not be the correct choice. Frequent fallers should consider using mid-weight telemark gear, which I’m convinced does cause fewer lower leg injuries in falls, especially if used with a telemark release binding. Above all, beware of using DIN binding release setting numbers as a sort of macho meter. Sheet time is not macho, and most nurses are middle aged, and quite possibly male (especially the one who catheterizes you after they put your leg back together).

4. Choose compatible skis/boots/bindings. Softer boots go with shorter more forgiving skis. If you’re hurling off cliffs or kissing avalanches, you’ll want the beefiest boots, skis, and bindings — perhaps even an alpine setup with Alpine Trekker plate adapters or Marker Duke bindings.

5. Work with a full service ski shop that provides boot fitting, certified ski technicians, and mechanized ski tuning. All AT systems are high-tech. They usually work well, but only when everything is properly installed, tuned, and maintained. Moreover, the system will not work unless you, the user, are educated. For example, mail order boots might be the ticket if you know exactly what you want, otherwise they can be a nightmare.

6. If you’re new to AT gear consider a ski mountaineering course or at least a few days with a guide (who uses AT gear). While AT and telemark gear are more similar than different, there are a number of cool techniques (such as the snap kick-turn ) that work best with AT gear and are best learned from a teacher.

7. Carry a repair kit with the proper driver bits to tighten your binding screws and adjust release tension. In our albeit controversial opinion, aggressive skiers should have bindings professionally mounted with epoxy (soften epoxy with soldering iron for screw removal). On remote trips carry binding parts essential for travel (e.g. spare Dynafit toe and heel, or Silvretta plate). For big trips such as ski traverses or Denali expeditions, try to standardize bindings within your party so you can carry fewer spare parts.

8. It’s cruel and politically incorrect, but some plastic booted telemarkers in their camouflaged AT gear delight in out-skiing us latched heel rando kiddies. Unless you’re a ski diety, you’ll have a lot more fun if there is at least one other fixed heel anachronism in your group so you have someone to relate to (and compete with?). As revenge, remember that lightweight AT gear is more efficient on the uphills than huge cabled plastic and thus more fun, so get fit and work your tele-mates on the climbs.

9. When using lightweight AT bindings and boots, pick skis based on downhill performance rather than weight (within reason). Don’t compromise ski performance to save a few ounces — you’re probably there to make turns, not cut 10 seconds an hour of your ascent.

10. Work with an experienced boot fitter and tweak your shoes like you’d baby a Ferrari engine. For cold climes — or the apex in comfort — fit your boots with heat-molded closed cell foam liners such as the Thermoflex. Buy a shell with enough length for toe room and mold the liner with a roomy toe box, but go for a glove fit around your mid-foot, ankle, and leg. Above all, don’t be afraid of boot modifications — they’re key to the perfect backcountry skiing experience.

Posted by Lou on August 4, 2009 | Filed Under Technique, Tips & Tricks

Comments

26 Responses to “Ten Tips for Randonnee AT Backcountry Skiing Newbies”

Scott Portnoy August 4th, 2009 10:27 am

Hey great tips. Any suggestions for good terrain for a beginner backcountry skier in Colorado? I’m solid at the resorts and am trying to make my way into the backcountry scene. Also, is buying lightly used AT bindings a big mistake? Thanks.
El Jefe August 4th, 2009 11:13 am

skin up west butttermilk to the gate…through the gate along the ridge to “sugar bowls” With an experienced partner of course. Or, buy lou’s book. everybody should have it.
Mike August 4th, 2009 12:16 pm

Marker Joker? Did you mean Baron (as the Jester is not an AT binding)?
Lou August 4th, 2009 1:22 pm

Yeah, I meant the Baron, wow, Freudian slip! Thanks for the help.
Jon Jay August 4th, 2009 1:56 pm

@Scott- Berthoud Pass is where I take all my new-at-AT friends if you’re closer to the Denver side and don’t feel like the 3+ hour to Marble is worth it. Don’t let the parking lot fool you either, I’ve seen it more crowded than Keystone on President’s Day weekend, but maybe saw a half dozen people actually skiing all day. With that being said, Marble and the rest of the terrain in Lou’s book is probably the best in the state when the avy danger is down and definitely worth checking out when you can.

Great stuff Lou, I wish this was around when I got started on AT. The best tip is definitely to go with someone who knows.
Matus August 4th, 2009 3:29 pm

TIP: Discuss any questions with real experienced individual before going anywhere for the first time with your brand new AT gear. Internet is a good source of information, but it it is good to talk about the things face to face. The same for buying AT setup – ask as much as possible.
Dan August 4th, 2009 3:32 pm

The tech tips are great, but what about “ethics”? Little things such as not jumping somebody else’s line, or not trashing an obvious descent slope/lines while skinng up, showing up at the trailhead ready to go and on time (no waxing, adjusting bindinds, etc)…it gets cold standing around waiting for unprepared partners, and then there is the minor matter of the exchange…again, it gets cold waiting around. Of course there are safety issues too, such as not skiing off into oblivian when your partners went in another direction, keeping an eye on your partner or partners, getting some avy awareness/rescue/avoidance training, getting your ass in shape, being prepared/packed so as not to have to mooch whatever off your partners. Certainly, the crowd that reads the Wild Snow blog can think of a lot more issues than I just listed.

Happy skiing to you all.
Lou August 4th, 2009 4:24 pm

Hmm, good point Dan, I’ll dig up the old code of ethics for tomorrow and see if we can improve it!
Dostie August 4th, 2009 5:46 pm

This tip is embedded between the lines of #1 and #2, but needs to be stated plainly.

Take time to adjust your ski technique to your AT rig by skiing with it at a resort until you are comfortable on all the runs you are normally comfortable on.

I’ve seen far to many friends who are awesome skiers be reduced to frustrated hacks because their backcountry rig was different enough that it required significant changes in their skiing technique. When combined with wild snow, they swore at their gear and the experience. Just a few hours dialing the backcountry rig would have cured that.
Dostie August 4th, 2009 5:48 pm

Re: Code of Ethics.

May I suggest you simply link to Andrew McLean’s classic “Ten Knots.” If he needs a PDF copy, have him send me a bribe. ;)
Mark August 5th, 2009 6:14 am

Craig’s comment bears repeating. Skiing your AT setup at the resort to adjust to it’s undoubtedly different feel is important. I spent a most of a season cranking my very lightweight AT boots at a PA ski area before hitting the wild slopes, and it helped a great deal. Transition was fairly easy. I pitty anyone new to the sport who ignores such advice.
Lou August 5th, 2009 8:01 am

Indeed, I’ve seen some real horror shows when folks just grab AT gear and head for the backcountry without getting used to the different bindings/boots/skis. When guiding intermediate skiers on AT gear, I usually include a day at the ski resort so I can evaluate their skiing and do a bit of instruction, while they get used to the gear.
Jon August 5th, 2009 10:53 am

bring up something about how skins are very important and keeping the glue sticky helps alot.

By the way you spelt deity diety.
Randonnee August 5th, 2009 11:25 am

Be sure that you are seeking your goals, instead of following others’. For example, are you into mileage, shortest time to walk to a certain point, untracked turns, a summit regardless of conditions/ turns, kilovert per day, risk-taking or risk-aversion, or your perfect tour. For me, I am into an aesthetic and efficient approach, beautiful stopping points for tea or lunch (and out of the wind), quality snow and quality turns, and certain safety. As a former logger (baggage), I avoid skiing clearcuts (eg ski areas or logged areas) and prefer natural skiable terrain. A summit may or may not be a goal, depends on the plan for the day, and a day may be one of the best tours without a summit, conversely to find an aesthetic line to ski (turns, not a sideslip/ traverse for me) from a summit renders great satisfaction. Don’t just get dragged along on someone’s death march to ski chowder or death crust, unless that is what you like to do.
Chase Harrison August 5th, 2009 2:50 pm

More on etiquette in regards to skinning and skin tracks. As everybody knows skin tracks can get really slick after a lot of traffic and sun. So if you see this happening pull you your shovel out and do some excavation work on the skin track. Your good karma will come back to reward you.
Lou August 5th, 2009 3:23 pm

Thanks Chase, good stuff!
Dostie August 5th, 2009 4:58 pm

Chase et al,

If ya just laid a low-angle meanderthal track to begin with it wouldn’t matter if it iced up a bit. If you’re puttin’ in a macho neanderthal track, it only needs to be packed firm for lemmings to lose traction. Better to lay a new trench than waste time grooming the line that was too steep to begin with. IMO. ;)
Mark August 5th, 2009 6:16 pm

Low angle skinning works. I’ve caught people who started much earlier, lapped them and skied more runs with more energy at day’s end.
Malachi August 6th, 2009 9:10 am

Hello,

Not sure this is the right place to post this but, I am planning a trip this year for backcountry ski in the usa. Which is the better place for this, Colorado or Montana? Bozeman or around salida, Co? Theses are my two place to choose. Thank you.
m
Lou August 6th, 2009 9:19 am

I’d go for Bozeman over Salida…
Scott Portnoy August 6th, 2009 10:11 am

Thanks for the awesome tips and the beginner backcountry spots (jon jey and el jefe). I think ill have to pick up your book Lou. Randonnee, great point. I feel like this point can be applied to skiing backcountry or resort or whatever, it should be more about your full experience than pushing out as many runs as possible. I feel like my days are way better when its about enjoying the skiing.
shoveler August 6th, 2009 12:22 pm

Hey, the ‘tude thing is right on. Amazing how people go out there then start whining and moaning about stuff. Too many people, too many dogs, too many this, not enough of that. Leave the *itching for when you’re writing letters to your Congressman, wear a smile when you’re out there!
Malachi August 6th, 2009 3:29 pm

Thank you lou, for the advice.
Paul January 10th, 2010 9:11 pm

I’ve always skied basic downhill, I’m getting interested in doing some back county skiing. I’m wondering whats the best way to get started.

I was initially interested in tele skiing but your site makes some good points towards AT. Would it be feasable to ski only on an AT setup for both lift assisted and BC skiing? The thing that really sells me on AT is that they release in a crash.

Is AT gear too burly for off track tours where only minor downhill runs would be expected?

I’m 30 and have a family so getting laid up is not a good thing. In the past I’ve always snowshoed and downhill skied. AT skiing looks like a good way to go up and have a lot more fun getting down.

Could any one offer advice on skies boots and bindings?
paulvannoy@gmail.com
patb February 5th, 2010 3:14 pm

Lou and community,

I have been a climber and snowshoer in the backcountry for a few years now. I just bought an AT setup with goals of getting farther out in the backcountry than snowshoeing as well as increasing my skiing ability. I don’t like skiing in resorts because they are too expensive for me and I love the backcountry too much to spend time in the mall-like setting of a resort. I am originally from the Midwest and now a transplant in Seattle. I have downhill skied a total of about 10 times at a resort and cross country/skate skied about 5 times on groomed trails.

I read a lot on your site about more difficult snow conditions in the backcountry than in the resort. The resort skiing I’ve done in the Cascades has mostly been in the rain and on HARD snow/ice. Am I crazy to think I can start learning to become a competent skier in the backcountry?

I mostly want to start AT skiing by moderate terrain touring and easy descents; mainly as a quicker mode of transport in the backcountry than snowshoes. Do I stand a chance of picking up the skills of skinning and natural snow turning without having a resort/downhill background?

Thanks for your help!
Chris February 5th, 2010 3:17 pm

patb,
This is a tough winter for washington. But you can do it if you have patience and determination. There are numerous places that offer mellow terrain and lower avalanche risk. I would recommend the Mazama ridge at Paradise to start. Remember to always have a buddy and all your avalanche gear with you. Have fun.