Ski Touring

Ski touring, sometimes called ski mountaineering or alpine touring, uses special ski equipment that enables the user to climb then descend slopes without the aid of ski lifts enabling to enjoy some backcountry skiing. The principal differences are a binding with a free heel for climbing and skins that attach to the base of skis. The free heel makes for fluid, walking like movements when climbing or traversing flat slopes. The skin, usually made of Mohair or Nylon or a mix of the two grips the snow and prevents the ski from sliding backwards. Climbing on skins is usually referred to as skinning.