The Outmap Blog

Summer might feel like the off-season for skiers, but it’s actually the best training you’ll get all year. When the snow melts, the mountains stop hiding things. Everything that’s smoothed over in winter — cliffs, gullies, weird little rolls — suddenly becomes obvious. And that’s gold.

Ask a group of backcountry skiers what their favourite snow is, and you’ll hear plenty of votes for blower powder. But quietly, often with a knowing smile, experienced tourers will give a different answer: corn.

Every backcountry skier eventually faces the same dilemma - do you shave grams to make the uphill easier, or suffer a little to make the skiing more fun?

Backcountry skiers love to talk about slope angles, snow crystals, weather windows, and stability tests, yet most avalanche accidents have nothing to do with any of that - they stem from how humans behave in groups. The true risk in avalanche terrain isn't merely in the snowpack beneath your skis; it's in the invisible psychology travelling alongside you.

The journey from plotting a ski day to pulling on your boots and getting started is, or at least should be, super fun. Now, I’m not going to pretend that it’s as fun as the skiing itself... but it can still provide a lot of satisfaction - when done right.

Learning to read terrain is one of the most essential backcountry skiing skills. By studying slope angles, contours, and hazards ahead of time, you can move more efficiently and make safer decisions in real time. Whether you’re chasing powder, planning a traverse, or scoping a new line from afar, developing terrain awareness will elevate both your confidence and your safety in the backcountry.