Ski mountaineering travers in the spring

Winter Guru

In the near future this website will develop into the most valuable resource for ski mountaineering and randonnee. It will focus on this beautiful winter activity as a whole as well as on its racing version primarily on North American continent - US and Canada.

Winter Guru will:

Profile ski mountaineering randonnee events, races and athletes.
Give you event reports, news and press-releases.
Teach you about basic ski mountaineering equipment.
Teach you also about racing ski mountaineering equipment.
Educate you about general backcountry and avalanche safety for ski mountaineering and randonnee activities.
Provide you basic ski mountaineering events season calendar.
Blog, videos, photos and tips...

Ski Mountaineering / Randonnee

Ski mountaineering or randonnee is a winter sport and activity that combines skiing and mountaineering skills of an individual thus allowing him to travel long distances (glacier traverses) and conquer (ski) high peaks.

Races, Racing and History

Ski mountaineering randonnee races introduced a new dimension to this beautiful sport in Europe few decades ago. Athletes use alpine touring, telemark, or split-board equipment to gain altitude and then ski down challenging slopes. Some technical sections during the races require boot packing which means that an athlete has to travel on foot with his skis strapped to his backpack.

The races usually begin with a mass start and the winner is the one who crosses the finish line first.

Ski mountaineering enjoys a great popularity all over the world with especially rapidly growing community in Canada and US lately. People that usually participate in such races and events are skiers, snowboarders, telemark-skiers, backcountry enthusiasts or simply the ones who seek an ultimate winter challenge.

Some of the ski mountaineering races around the world are organized in a world cup circuit. Some of them are just stand-alone events that provide great athletic challenge to anyone. There is also a growing support for the sport to be included in the Olympics in the near future as the sport was part of this great event in 1930's.

Ski mountaineering randonnee racing

In the case of North America, there are two major ski mountaineering racing circuits - one in Canada and one in US. Participation varies from 30-200 people depending on the event.

The most popular event in US is Powder Keg that is organized by Black Diamond and held close to Salt Lake City, Utah.

The most popular race in Canada is the Spearhead Passage that takes place at Whistler Mountain Resort each year in late April.

Basic Equipment

Basic ski mountaineering equipment or gear includes - winter breathable clothing, skins, skis, alpine touring boots, touring biding (Dynafit, Diamir or Silvretta) or telemark biding (G3, Black Diamond), ski pools and backpack.

Racing Equipment

Racing ski mountaineering randonnee equipment and gear includes - light boots (Scarpa F1), short and light skis (Dynafit, Trab, Dynastar), cross-country pools, helmet, fast skins (Coltex, Pomoca, Trab), ski pack, light crampons and additional if required by and organizer.

Ski Mountaineering Safety

Whether racing or just enjoy the backcountry besides weather avalanches are the most frequent causes of death while pursuing this beautiful activity.

One should be aware of potential dangers of the sport + should always cary basic avalanche safety equipment - avalanche beacon, avalanche probe and snow shovel.