We all love first tracks on a ribbon of freshly groomed corduroy first thing on a bluebird morning, but ski areas also draw crowds and traffic that detract from the illusion of wilderness skiing can provide.
The place to find that is in the backcountry, via ski mountaineering or through powder operations involving snowcats or helicopters.
There is nothing quite like the freedom of skiing vast panoramas of untracked powder with a few friends — and doing it safely with guides trained in avalanche safety. Here’s a rundown of Colorado’s snowcat and heli operations, most of which include the use of avalanche beacons and the use of fat backcountry skis in the price.
Know before you go
The first thing to remember about backcountry skiing is the need to avoid avalanche danger. Backcountry operations employ guides who are trained to recognize avalanche potential, which can vary greatly depending on snow conditions. Sometimes a steep slope offers backcountry bliss, but that same slope can be a death trap with different snow conditions. Snowcat operations supply avalanche beacons to their customers and begin the day by training the group how to use them should a slide occur.
Another thing to consider is that skiing ungroomed terrain is very different from carving turns at a ski area in terms of technique. It may take some effort to grasp how to ski powder, but your guide can help you there, too. You also may want to leave your skis at the hotel and use the fat backcountry boards that most snowcat operations offer.
Snowcat and Heli-skiing options in Colorado
