How to… Ski Touring in Australia
Where do you start? Where are you at? The following are some thoughts and observations on the Australian backcountry skills development culture. Backcountry pursuits, areas and participation is developing at such a rapid pace that there is a need to collaborate and compile meaningful and vetted recommendations. From snow safety professionals, pro riders and skiers and good ol hard earned local knowledge, we aim to compile it all here. The original plan was a printed volume, yet with the dynamic nature of pretty much all things backcountry we felt such an avenue would fast become outdated and or just plain wrong. The outcome for this is to create a national activity standard that is up to date and highly relevant.
Where do you start? Where are you at? It’s not our intention to be prescriptive about your progression. The following are some thoughts and observations on the Australian backcountry skills development culture. Backcountry pursuits, areas and participation is developing at such a rapid pace that there is a need to collaborate and compile meaningful and vetted recommendations. From snow safety professionals, pro riders and skiers and good ol hard earned local knowledge, we aim to compile it all here. The original plan was a printed volume, yet with the dynamic nature of pretty much all things backcountry we felt such an avenue would fast become outdated and or just plain wrong. The outcome for this is to create a national activity standard that is up to date and highly relevant.
The goal is that with collective feedback from that community we can create a resource that you could share with entry level participants to help them make solid decisions both, in the backcountry, also at the retailers and around the interwebs.
The inspiration comes from the original ‘Ski Touring In Australia’ from the early 1970’s. The publication dates back to a time when backcountry skis were fat and people were fit. Lift companies didn’t have wholesale ownership of ski participation, meanwhile exploration and adventure was a strong motivation in the hills. On reading it, the information and tour notes felt as though we have come full circle. Some things have changed, some has stayed the same. These pages are a contemporary review of this original tome. Now, as a live document which we can shape and develop over time.
