Ski mountaineering

Examples of ski mountaineering
Backcountry, Colorado
Mountain, Norway
High-altitude, Everest
Couloir, Chamonix

Ski mountaineering (abbreviated to skimo)[1] is a skiing discipline that involves climbing mountains either on skis or carrying them, depending on the steepness of the ascent, and then descending on skis. There are two major categories of equipment used, free-heel Telemark skis and skis based on Alpine skis, where the heel is free for ascents, but is fixed during descent.[2] The discipline may be practiced recreationally or as a competitive sport.[3]

Competitive ski mountaineering is typically a timed racing event that follows an established trail through challenging winter alpine terrain while passing through a series of checkpoints. Racers climb and descend under their own power using backcountry skiing equipment and techniques. More generally, ski mountaineering is an activity that variously combines ski touring, Telemark, backcountry skiing, and mountaineering.[3]

  1. ^ Editors (2018). "Definition of "skimo"". Oxford Dictionaries | English. Archived from the original on September 28, 2016. Retrieved 2018-12-27. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  2. ^ Havell, Kim (March 6, 2002). "Find the Right Gear—Tip from Walter Laserer". Outside Magazine. Retrieved 2016-01-30.
  3. ^ a b Volken, Martin; Schell, Scott; Wheeler, Margaret (2007). Backcountry Skiing: Skills for Ski Touring and Ski Mountaineering. Outdoor Expert Series. The Mountaineers Books. p. 339. ISBN 978-1-59485-038-7.