off-piste
Beyond marked trails
Off-piste describes skiing or snowboarding on unmarked, ungroomed terrain away from designated runs: We went off-piste to find fresh powder.
The term extends figuratively to any departure from established paths or conventional approaches: The conversation went off-piste when she started talking about conspiracy theories.
Primarily British usage.
Sparsely populated wilderness areas
- powderFine dry particles
- gladesOpen forest spaces
- chutesInclined passage for conveying
- steepsSoaks to extract flavor
crud · moguls · cornice · snowpack · ungroomed · variable · bowls · unmarked
Traveling through unknown regions
- expeditionOrganized exploratory journey
- freerideUnearned benefit from others
- heliskiingAircraft-delivered backcountry descent
- untrackedHaving no recorded path
wilderness · discovery · trailblazing · pioneering · solitude · escape · freedom · thrill
Rapid mountain snow collapse
- crevasseDeep glacial fissure
- exposureState of being unprotected
- cliffVertical rock wall
- fallDescend under gravity
injury · steep · unpredictable · rescue · frostbite · hypothermia · whiteout · buried
Snow-gliding footwear
- polesLong sticks or extremities
- beaconGuiding light source
- probeThorough examination or tool
- shovelTool for moving earth
airbag · skins · bindings · goggles · helmet · transceiver · harness · crampons
Departing from standard practice
- unorthodoxContrary to accepted practice
- nonconformistRejects prevailing social standards
- maverickIndependent-minded rule-breaker
- improvisedCreated without prior planning
unofficial · unsanctioned · freestyle · independent · rogue · rebellious · alternative · experimental
backcountry
Sparsely populated wilderness areas
steeps · crud · moguls · cornice · snowpack · ungroomed · variable · bowls · unmarked · unpatrolled
exploration
Traveling through unknown regions
- expeditionOrganized exploratory journey
- freerideUnearned benefit from others
- heliskiingAircraft-delivered backcountry descent
untracked · wilderness · discovery · trailblazing · pioneering · solitude · escape · freedom · thrill · challenge
avalanche
Rapid mountain snow collapse
fall · injury · steep · unpredictable · rescue · frostbite · hypothermia · whiteout · buried · stranded
skis
Snow-gliding footwear
shovel · airbag · skins · bindings · goggles · helmet · transceiver · harness · crampons · ice-axe
unconventional
Departing from standard practice
- unorthodoxContrary to accepted practice
- nonconformistRejects prevailing social standards
- maverickIndependent-minded rule-breaker
improvised · unofficial · unsanctioned · freestyle · independent · rogue · rebellious · alternative · experimental · rule-breaking
- skiingskiing, ski, ski resort, ski slope, ski slopes
- ski terrainblack diamond, blue run, green run, runs, trails
- winter sportsskiing, skating, snowboarding, hockey, sledding
- AlpsAlps, Swiss Alps, Mont Blanc, Matterhorn, Austrian Alps
- ski resortsVail, Park City, Jackson Hole, Chamonix, St. Moritz
- snow conditionspowder, packed powder, fresh snow, groomed, hardpack
off-pistepiste
Designated ski route
groomed trail · ski run · corduroy · bunny slope · green run
off-pisteby the book
Following established procedures exactly
conventional · within bounds · orthodox · mainstream · standard