ski mountaineering
Uphill-downhill snow touring
Ski mountaineering combines backcountry skiing with mountaineering—ascending peaks on skis or with skis attached to a pack, then skiing down.
Unlike resort skiing, it requires climbing skills, avalanche awareness, and specialized equipment like climbing skins for uphill travel.
Routes may involve technical terrain, glaciers, or mixed climbing: They completed a ski mountaineering traverse of the Alps.
Steep mountain gully
- chuteInclined passage for descent
- gullyChannel carved by flowing water
- arêteSharp mountain ridge
- saddleMounted rider's seat
scree · cornice · crevasse · serac · icefall · moraine · snowfield · ridgeline
Removing outer covering
- switchbacksSharp reversing trail turns
- uphillToward higher elevation
- elevation gainTotal altitude increase traveled
- gradientRate of change across space
steepness · crampons · transition · herringbone · sidestep · ascension
Capacity for sustained effort
- fitnessGood physical shape
- conditioningLearned behavioral adaptation
- acclimatizationAdjusting to new conditions
- altitudeMeasured height above reference
perseverance · grit · pacing · nutrition · hydration · fatigue · vert · dawn patrol
Fine dry particles
Ankle-covering footwear
- bindingsThings that secure together
- polesLong sticks or extremities
- helmetProtective head covering
- gogglesSealed protective eyewear
harness · ice axe · rope · carabiner · backpack · puffy · hardshell · beacon
Rapid mountain snow collapse
- beaconGuiding light source
- probeThorough examination or tool
- shovelTool for moving earth
- airbagVehicle collision cushion
transceiver · snowpit · slope angle · aspect · rescue · decision-making · escape route · safe zone
Utmost height attained
- mountaintopSummit of a peak
- highpointMaximum achievement reached
- apexUppermost point or culmination
- summit bidEffort to reach peak
turnaround time · weather window · exposure · panorama · true summit · false summit · ridgeline · celebration
couloir
Steep mountain gully
saddle · scree · cornice · crevasse · serac · icefall · moraine · snowfield · ridgeline · col
skinning
Removing outer covering
- switchbacksSharp reversing trail turns
- uphillToward higher elevation
- elevation gainTotal altitude increase traveled
gradient · steepness · crampons · transition · herringbone · sidestep · ascension
stamina
Capacity for sustained effort
- fitnessGood physical shape
- conditioningLearned behavioral adaptation
- acclimatizationAdjusting to new conditions
altitude · perseverance · grit · pacing · nutrition · hydration · fatigue · vert · dawn patrol · bonk
powder
Fine dry particles
boots
Ankle-covering footwear
goggles · harness · ice axe · rope · carabiner · backpack · puffy · hardshell · beacon · probe
avalanche
Rapid mountain snow collapse
airbag · transceiver · snowpit · slope angle · aspect · rescue · decision-making · escape route · safe zone · trigger point
peak
Utmost height attained
- mountaintopSummit of a peak
- highpointMaximum achievement reached
- apexUppermost point or culmination
summit bid · turnaround time · weather window · exposure · panorama · true summit · false summit · ridgeline · celebration
ski, mountaineering, skis, skied, skiing, skier, skiers, mountain, mountaineer