Ski touring (alpine touring, randonee) ascends mountains on skis with climbing skins, then descends backcountry powder. The European-rooted discipline (Alps, 1800s) surged globally (2010s) through Instagram powder porn, lightweight gear, and pandemic outdoor escapes.

Equipment & Technique

AT Setup:

• Bindings with walk/ski mode (Dynafit, G3, Marker), heel lift
• Lightweight skis (<1,500g), carbon boots, collapsible poles
• Climbing skins (mohair/nylon blend) attach to ski bases for uphill grip

Kick Turns:

• Switchback technique on steep skin tracks, awkward but essential
• Downhill transitions: rip skins, lock heels, descend

Alpine Touring Mecca

Chamonix (France):

• Vallée Blanche (20km descent from Aiguille du Midi)
• Haute Route (170km Chamonix → Zermatt, 7-day hut-to-hut)
• Birthplace of ski touring culture, guiding tradition

Dolomites (Italy):

• Sella Ronda circuit, Alta Via routes, limestone spires
• Rifugio system (mountain huts), pasta + wine mid-tour

Swiss Alps:

• Zermatt, Verbier, Engadin — endless couloirs, glaciers
• Professional guiding infrastructure, avalanche education

North America:

• Rogers Pass (BC), Wasatch (UT), Tetons (WY), Chugach (AK)
• 10th Mountain Division Huts (Colorado) — hut-to-hut ski network

Instagram Trends (2012+)

Powder Lines:

• Wide-open alpine bowls, first tracks, face shots
• Drone footage, GoPro follow cams, sunset descents

Hut Life:

• Rustic mountain refuges, communal meals, sunrise departures
• 10th Mountain huts, European refugios, Canadian Alpine Club

Ski Mountaineering:

• Summit-focused tours, couloir skiing, exposed ridges
• Mont Blanc (4,808m), Shasta (4,322m), Rainier (4,392m)

Risks & Safety

Avalanche Terrain:

• 90% of ski touring in avalanche zones, AIARE courses essential
• Beacon-shovel-probe trinity, partner rescue drills

Crevasses:

• Glacier travel requires rope teams, probe poles, anchor skills
• Hidden crevasses under snow bridges, fatal falls

Weather Windows:

• Alpine storms, whiteouts, navigation challenges
• Trip planning, weather apps (Mountain Forecast, Avalanche.org)

Pandemic Boom (2020-2021)

• Resort closures drove gear sales spike (30%+ growth)
• Backcountry crowding, parking lot chaos, user conflicts
• “Earning your turns” ethos vs. Instagram trophy hunters

Sources: Backcountry Magazine, Couloir Magazine, American Avalanche Association