Backcountry Ski Touring 2024-2025
For the 2024-25 season, backcountry ski touring is being organized by Don Campbell, Erica Lindemann, and Karen McNish.
Contacts for
Don: ssothg.backcountry.ski@gmail.com ,
303-888-0811 voice or text).
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On our backcountry trips, we typically drive to Rabbit Ears Pass and park at one of the winter trailheads. Then we head off on our own instead of sticking to the marked trails. Occasionally, we go to North Routt, Pleasant Valley, or another area. Over time, we have skied many beautiful routes and destinations, and we enjoy sharing them. The credit for discovering and refining most of these routes goes to Harry Zinn, who has inspired and led the group for the past 5 or 6 years. (Harry also authored most of this text.)
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This is backcountry touring: We seek rolling terrain with moderate climbs and downhills. Avid backcountry downhillers are likely to find our trips insufficiently challenging. Cross-country skiers on narrow, lightweight gear designed for groomed trails are likely to be frustrated by the deep, soft snow. Our leisurely pace is inadequate for anyone who wants a challenging workout.
Tom Baer photo
You do not need to be an expert to participate: You should be comfortable skiing 3-4 miles of moderate up-and- down terrain at a leisurely pace. If you are comfortable skiing any of the Rabbit Ears Pass winter trails, you will be comfortable on these trips.
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When and where: Every other weekend on Saturdays. Meet in the parking area at River Creek Park at 9:20 am, confirm the destination, check equipment, arrange ride-sharing, etc., and leave at 9:30 am. Return to River Creek Park between 1:00 and 2:00 pm.
Safety and What to Bring
Even though our trips are introductory, safety is the first and biggest concern. In winter at high elevation and away from roads, events like breaking a piece of equipment, getting injured, experiencing a medical emergency, or getting lost present immediate, serious challenges. Even near the highway, rescue typically takes more than an hour. A mile or two away from the highway, rescue often takes several hours, and it is possible to get caught out overnight. In addition to appropriate skis, boots, and poles (see below for more information), each skier needs to carry the following basic safety and survival gear.
- Sunglasses or snow-glasses. Protect your eyes from sunburn/snow blindness and from getting poked or slapped by a tree branch or bush.
- Layered clothing you can adjust for changing conditions and exertion levels.
- At least 16 oz. of water in a container you can protect from freezing.
- A generous supply of easy-to-carry food—energy bars, protein bars, nuts, dried fruit, dried meat, etc.
Bring twice as much food as you think you need in case we are caught out longer than expected.
- A rescue whistle, an inexpensive compass, and a little toilet paper.
- An extra layer of protection for emergencies. A small tarp, an “all-weather thermal blanket,” or an
emergency “breathable bivy” is best, but they are expensive and bulky. A “space blanket” is small,2
lightweight, and inexpensive, but it tears easily and does not breathe—when you wrap up in it,
condensation will soon get you wet.
- You do not need to carry an avalanche beacon or a metal avalanche shovel, but you may want to carry a “Snow Claw” shovel . A Snow Claw weighs less, is more compact, and costs less than a metal shovel and is particularly effective for helping someone caught in a tree well.
Trip organizers carry a basic first aid kit and gear for patches, repairs, and fire-building. They are experienced backcountry navigators and carries maps, compass, and some carry a satellite communicator that can contact search and rescue services, even without cell service. (On our trips, cell service is inconsistent. Near the top of ridges or peaks, service is sometimes pretty good, but in valleys between ridges or peaks, service is usually non-existent.)
A note about avalanche danger: For many of us, avalanches are the first backcountry safety concern that comes to mind. We do not ski in terrain that is prone to avalanches, but if you ski anywhere in the backcountry it is prudent to have some basic knowledge of avalanche safety.
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MORE ABOUT SKIS, BOOTS, AND POLES
Nearly all of us use metal-edged “wax-less” skis with fish-scale bottoms, and the fish-scales are generally adequate for the climbing we do. Equipment options include:
- Traditional 3-pin cross-country boots and bindings with wide cross-country skis.
- Modern NNN (New Nordic Norm) boots and bindings with wide cross-country skis.
- Modern AT (Alpine Touring) boots and bindings mounted on wide cross-country skis or lightweight
downhill skis.
- Lightweight Telemark gear.
- Note: Rottefella of Norway recently introduced a new backcountry boot and binding system called
“Xplore.” To me it appears to be a hybrid between lightweight Telemark and AT systems. It looks
promising but has not yet had stood the test of time in the field.
Each equipment style has its advantages and disadvantages. If you are thinking about buying equipment, it is very valuable to try two or three different styles and brands before buying. In soft snow, adjustable-length backcountry poles with large diameter “powder baskets” are more useful than
resort-style poles.
Equipment rental: At least three shops in town rent backcountry touring gear. Backdoor Sports rents both traditional 3-pin cross-country gear and modern AT (Alpine Touring) gear. Straightline Sports rents modern NNN cross-country gear. Ski Haus rents both modern NNN cross-country gear and modern AT gear. At all three shops, ask for a ski package for the Rabbit Ears ski trails, and they will know how to outfit you. DO NOT just ask for “backcountry ski gear,” because you are likely to be given equipment that is far heavier and more expensive than you will need.
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