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10 Tips for Spring Backcountry Skiing

Bookmark and Share            By Lou

There is nothing that can improve your backcountry skiing day more than copious and frequent use of ski wax. At home, hot-wax and scrape your skis as frequently as possible if you’re skiing lots of abrasive corn snow. In the field, after your skins are on, wax them by rubbing a block of wax in the direction of the fur nap. Waxed skins glide better and pick up less gunk during icing conditions while backcountry skiing.

While waxing skins, hit any exposed Ptex and give your edges and sidewalls a hit as well to prevent icing if temperatures vary. Rub wax on the top of your skis or board to prevent icing, especially under the binding area. Bonus tip: Alpine wax is expensive, for budget backcountry skiing wax buy paraffin at the hardware store and use a chunk of it for your field wax (it works fine in warmer temperatures). At home, to save money mix paraffin with alpine wax while hot waxing, (only do this for use with warmer snow conditions — it’ll make your skis feel like velcro if you try it for cold powder).

Posted by Lou on March 17, 2005 | Filed Under Technique 

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Welcome to Louis (Lou) Dawson's backcountry skiing information and opinion website. Lou's passion for the past forty years has been alpinism, climbing, mountaineering and skiing -- along with all manner of outdoor recreation. He has authored numerous books and articles about backcountry skiing and is well known as the first person to ski down all 54 of Colorado's 14,000-foot peaks, otherwise known as the Fourteeners! Books and free back country information here, and tons of Randonnee rando telemark info.

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Backcountry skiing is a dangerous sport. You may be killed or severely injured if you do any form of randone, randonnee and randonnée skiing. The information on this website is intended only as general information. While the authors and editors of the information on this website make every effort to present useful information, due to human error the information, text and images contained within this website may be inaccurate, false, or out-of-date. By using, reading or viewing the information provided on this website, you agree to absolve the owners of Wild Snow as well as content contributors of any liability for injuries or losses incurred while using such information. Furthermore, you agree to use any of this website's information, maps, photos, or binding mounting instructions or templates at your own risk, and waive Wild Snow its owners and contributors of any liability for use of said items for backcountry skiing or any other use.