Ski touring is another form of back-country skiing that involves traveling on winter landscapes while using skis. The terrain can be extremely steep or perfectly flat. The skier’s heels are free to allow a more natural walking motion while traversing and ascending, unlike in alpine skiing where the skier’s heel are bound to the skis. Ski touring can be associated with mountaineering, backpacking and hiking.

To take part in ski touring an individual needs to have a firm understanding of mountaineering, mental toughness and cardiovascular fitness. Ski touring involves route finding and navigating through potential avalanche terrain. Sometimes, individuals need to be familiar with meteorology and skiing skills. Ski tourers can experience solitude when they go to mountain ranges. Some people consider ski touring to be easier and faster than hiking in the summer because of the conditions and terrain. Snow allows people to ascent and traverse in ways that could be easier to do in the winter than in the summer. Going across a flat or uphill requires skis with grip, this way the skis can glide forward and not slide back when weight is put on it.

Ski touring needs skis that have the ability to let the skier’s heel move freely for uphill and level travel. But ski touring can be done using different equipment. Skiers choose their equipment depending on the type of skiing that the individual participates in and the goals of the ski tour. For example, if the terrain is more difficult and steep need heavier and more supportive equipments. Teton Pass, Jackson Ski Touring Foundation, the Cottonwood Canyons and the “East Side” are the more popular ski-touring areas in the US. Wapta Traverse, Kananaskis Country, Revelstoke, Icefalls Lodge and Rogers Pass are the chosen ski-touring areas in Canada. In Europe, La Grave and Chamonix in France, Zermatt and Davos in Switzerland are popular areas in the Alps.