Ski Mountaineering

Ski mountaineering is a sport that combines the techniques of skiing with those of mountaineering. Ski mountaineers ascend otherwise inaccessible, isolated or dangerous slopes on foot using a range of mountaineering equipment, typically crampons, ice axes and ropes, while skis are carried strapped to their backpack. This either permits access to extreme slopes, or more often allows transit through otherwise impassable terrain in order to continue beyond on skis, where normal ski touring equipment such as skins and harscheisen (ski crampons - also called couteau or cortelli) are used.