Backcountry Skiing or Ski Mountaineering?

The terms Backcountry Skiing and Ski Mountaineering seem to be used interchangeably. How do you personally define and distinguish between these terms? <br><br>Some may suggest Ski Mountaineering involves more technical skiing and possibly more technical ascents. This seems somewhat reasonable, although the guidebook I have that contains the most technical descents is titled "Backcountry Skiing California's High Sierra" (it's by John Moynier). If Ski Mountaineering means a technical descent, I think we should quantify how technical of a descent is required to use that label. <br><br>To the uninitiated the term Ski Mountaineering does seem to have a more prestigious and "extreme" connotation to it then Backcountry Skiing.

I don't think it's necessarily the technical factors that distinguish between the two. One aggressive yahoo's day of backcountry skiing could be more technical than another mellow fellow's ski mountaineering excursion. <br><br>Backcountry skiing is skiing outside a ski resort, period. Obviously, this definition includes ski mountaineering, so ski mountaineering is a subset of backcountry skiing. Personally, when I think of backcountry skiing, I think about people looking for good skiing. The focus is quality turns. Yo yo skiing would definitely be backcountry skiing.<br><br>Ski mountaineering involves a goal. Just as a mountaineer embarks to climb a moutain, or some feature of a mountain, a ski mountaineer has a goal of skiing a mountain or feature. The quality of turns is not necessarily the attraction, and quite often skiing from the summit, or skiing a particular route, yields exceptionally BAD conditions; such are the challenges of ski mountaineering.<br><br>Now, when you find yourself a big descent and get it with perfect conditions, well... I don't think you'll be too worried about what to call it.

My personal definition:<br><br>Ski Mountaineering: The primary objective is the summit, skis are used as tools to facilitate the approach and exit from the climb.<br><br>Backcountry Skiing: The primary objective is enjoyable skiing. Summits might be reached, but not if yo-yoing on a lower flank of the mountain is more fun or if the most attractive line on the mountain doesn't start from the summit.

Ski mountaineering is to backcountry skiing as mountaineering is to hiking.

Well said Sky -- and I like the title you used too! <br><br>Another place I've seen the SM term used recently is as another label for "Randonnée Rally" events. It seems "Ski Mountaineering Race" is now preferable to "Randonnée Rally". In fact Andrew McLean's FAQ only uses the former term:<br> www.pawprince.com/sm_race/faq.html

There is no objective of a summit in these events, though there are objectives of reaching checkpoints and finishing in as little time as possible. The events typically do not take place in the backcountry.

What else to do when there's no snow, but to discuss what the sport is called...<br><br>I like Sky's definition too, although I usually just call what I do "backcountry skiing".<br><br>Using the term "ski mountaineering" for a race that takes place mostly within the boundaries of a resort seems kind of silly. Although I guess it ain't backcountry skiing. "Backcountry skiing" refers to location (the backcountry), not necessarily the tools and techniques generally used therein, which is what the race is about. I guess SM is a little more appropriate then.