Backcountry Skiing is Growing!

Backcountry skiing has been one of the fastest-growing sports for a while now, and it's easy to see why. One-day lift tickets for downhill skiing often cost over $200 and can even reach into the $300s. As a result, many skiers are thinking twice before heading to the resort. Even worse, once they get to the mountain, these customers are faced with incredibly long lift lines. Oftentimes, the mountain goers spend more time waiting in lift lines than actually skiing. On the other hand, backcountry skiing is becoming more accessible than ever. There are excellent resources online for learning where to go and how to use the gear. Additionally, the gear itself is both better and more affordable than it was in the past. All of these factors, and more, are likely contributing to why I am seeing more and more people in the backcountry. While I’m mostly excited about the growth of the sport, I’m also a little concerned, and here’s why.

First off, everyone has the right to enjoy backcountry skiing; most backcountry skiing takes place on public lands. We are fortunate to have, for the most part, excellent access to public lands here in the U.S., and it's great to see more people utilizing these areas. Ultimately, these public lands will likely face increasing challenges in the future, and the more people who are passionate about using them, the more people will advocate for their protection. This is the first reason why I’m excited about backcountry skiing becoming more mainstream.

The second reason I’m excited about backcountry skiing is that as the community grows, we’ll have more resources to do exciting things. One obvious benefit is that avalanche forecasting could improve in many areas across the country. Places like the High Peaks here in New York could greatly benefit from avalanche forecasting. In the past, the community here was simply too small to justify the cost of hiring an avalanche professional to provide forecasts. However, moving forward, if the skiing community continues to grow, shared costs will become more reasonable. This principle applies to more than just avalanche forecasting; better wilderness first aid education and avalanche courses are two other easy examples.

Another reason I’m excited to see backcountry skiing grow is that it will incentivize more innovation and competition in the gear market. Our gear is already highly effective, enabling us to do incredible things. However, with more people skiing, more brands will continue to innovate, making skiing easier, safer, and more fun. Additionally, this increase in competition will help drive down the prices of our equipment, which is a positive outcome for us the consumers.

Although, more is not always merrier; the backcountry is already overcrowded in many areas. There are few moments that I have enjoyed less than circling a trailhead parking lot, looking for an open spot. It is a reality that, if our sport continues to grow, we will encounter more and more issues managing crowds. Other people in the backcountry are more than just an annoyance; they can also lead to dangerous situations. In avalanche terrain, when one party is below another, they are at a much higher risk of being caught in an avalanche that has been triggered above them. Furthermore, with more people who are new to the sport and therefore have less avalanche training, there are more individuals who might not realize that the situation above is dangerous and should be avoided.

An increase in backcountry traffic is not only dangerous to other skiers but may also harm the environment. Backcountry skiing often takes place in relatively untouched wilderness areas. While backcountry skiing may not have as large an environmental impact as other sports, it can still add up, especially with more and more skiers venturing into the backcountry each year. Activities like cutting trees, contamination from ski wax and other debris, and increasing travel are all factors that can negatively affect the landscape we recreate in. As a community, we need to stay attuned to our surroundings, pay attention to the landscape, and react quickly when we observe any negative impacts.

One of the biggest reasons people are exploring backcountry skiing is that skiing at resorts has become so expensive and overcrowded. In the short term, this is likely a positive development for the ski industry, as it helps relieve crowds at the resorts. However, I am concerned that the current situation in the ski industry is not sustainable. While some people are turning to the backcountry to escape the crowded resorts, others are giving up skiing altogether. Many individuals and communities rely on alpine skiers to bring income into mountain towns. For this reason, I worry that, in the long term, these communities may lose revenue from a decline in alpine skiing and may struggle to find ways to monetize backcountry skiing at the same level.

Undoubtedly there will be growing pains as the sport evolves, and it will certainly be difficult to accept new people into our close-knit community. However, if done right, backcountry skiing will benefit in ways we can and cannot predict. For this reason, I am excited by the prospect of the sport growing to new levels even if it makes it harder to get first tracks.