Reddit mentions: The best skiing books

Hey y'all! Some folks have posted good fb groups, but I thought I'd post a few resources for where to start, in case you've never toured the backcountry in New England. David Goodman's book, Best Backcountry Skiing in the Northeast might be considered our Bible. There is one major, brand-new asterisk, and that is that many of the newly gladed areas have been developed since the most recent release of the book. So as a result, places like Brandon Gap (VT), Maple Villa (NH), and Ascutney Outdoors (VT) never had a chance to be in the book.

My starter recommendation: begin by getting (or at least reading, you can probably find much of the contents online, but David Goodman seems like a good man so buy the book) the Goodman book, and deciding how much you want to get into the sport.

For example, most steep tours require (or seriously recommend) skins and a touring setup, while some can be done on classic skis with metal edges (sometimes called 'touring skis' but they are distinctly XC skis), and still others (like Tuckerman late season) can be done by bootpacking alone.

For gear: This question is frequently posed, so I'll provide a suggestion: I would not recommend relying on bootpacking for backcountry access (except for the steepest terrain, >35 degrees and narrow, like Tuckerman late season), since bootpacking is at best exhausting and extremely inefficient as a means of travel. We've all awkwardly stumbled through 16 inches of fresh in driveways or whatever to get to our cars; imagine doing that for several miles rather than a few dozen feet! At the bare minimum, snowshoes (and skis/ski boots on your back) are useful. Skins and a touring setup are ideal. If you do choose to brave the bootpack method, then congratulations on being in phenomenal shape! Please don't boot in the skin track (this is a big faux pas).

For avalanche awareness: Please do be aware that avalanches can and do occur frequently in the Northeast. The biggest defense we have is an awareness of context: for example, avalanches don't frequently sweep slopes less steep than 25 degrees, and that covers most of the backcountry glade skiing you'll do (for context, Killington's Outer Limits trail is ~32 degrees, and 25 degrees is roughly the steepness of lower East Fall, Royal Flush, or Highline, at Killington. Roughly. The point is, 25 degrees won't bore you). It's worth noting that even relatively shallow slopes can slide (including slopes as low as 15 degrees) in extreme circumstances. Furthermore, it's imperative that travel into avalanche terrain not happen at all before avalanche awareness is learned (via course, ideally), and avvy gear is acquired.

For risk: Another aspect of backcountry skiing that too frequently gets ignored (everywhere, in the west, as well) is risk awareness beyond avalanche issues, and with that, an understanding of how much risk each individual is willing to take on. Backcountry skiing, by its widest definition, is any skiing that takes place away from or outside the boundaries of a resort or ski area. It follows that, for example, if you go XC skiing on a flat farmfield by yourself in western mass, and twist your ankle, well, hopefully you can walk back to your car. Point being, injuries due to the sport itself are massively risky when you are far from help, even if those injuries are unlikely to happen. Consider who you are traveling with, where you are traveling, your means of traveling, the conditions, and whether all these factors combine to an acceptable level of risk for you. It's a good thing to keep in mind when you ski away from resorts.

I hope all this is helpful! I'll also remind y'all that backcountry skiing is, predominantly, fun and aerobically tiring. So those two factors (the fun and the aerobics) will be a huge factor as you start to abandon the chairlifts. Come join! It's great!

I've seen a lot of good advice in this thread and I'll add my 2 cents. Basically you'll want to read, watch youtube videos on technique/drills, or take a lesson. Better yet, do all three. Start with flatland drills to work on pole plant, edging, and stance. In particular:

• Get comfortable making lots of short radius turns with an even rhythm. Then get comfortable changing rhythm part way through a slope. Moguls won't necessarily have a consistent spacing so you will want to be ready to adapt to those inconsistencies.
  
• Get comfortable with your edges. Sideslip drills are great for learning edge control. Make sure to keep your eyes up, shoulders square to the fall line, and hands forward.
  
  One skill you can't learn on the flats is leg extension and compression. A good drill for this is to find an intermediate mogul field and ski across rather than down while making sure to compress your legs toward your chest as you ski into a mogul and extend your legs away from your chest into the trough as you ski over it. Try to keep your shoulders moving on a plane because this drill is all about your legs.
  
  Finally, ski moguls and don't get mad at yourself when you fall. Work at stringing together 2 then 3 then 5 then 10 good turns through the bumps. Good luck!

You should grab a copy of this book to get you started. Not all tours in there are great for splitters but they make mention if its good for shredders or not. Besides the obvious Tucks / sherbie, the Cog is an awesome go to. Your best bet at finding new places is head to the local watering holes (read Moat, Schilling, Woodstock, etc.) and make friends. Shred bums love to talk about their adventures gear and beta... especially when you put a few craft brews in em. Hope to see you in the North Country soon!

Max Pass is good if you live in Connecticut. Plenty of stuff on there good for day trips or weekends. This year Whiteface, Gore, Windham and Bellayre have been added, giving even more options. Then you can also do trips out west with it if you want.

There loads of backcountry, much of it focused on the White Mountains in NH. If you're into backcountry this book is a good place to start. Tucks is awesome.

I have not done it, but I have considered it. The gate is right on Highway 40. I mapped it quickly and I think you're looking at over 8 km just to get to the base of the mountain, almost entirely uphill. The ride down would be fun though.

This is the classic book of backcountry ride in Western Canada: http://www.amazon.ca/Summits-Icefields-Canadian-Chic-Scott/dp/189476546X/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1320948337&sr=1-7

I can recommend Black Prince Cirque as a beginner spot, or Bow Summit. Here's BPC: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7NmA13EPRc

And here are your avy warnings: http://www.avalanche.ca/cac/bulletins/partners. Reports will also give hints about where the best riding is (direction of face, treeline or above, etc.). I strongly suggest you take a two-day avy course if you haven't already.

This would be a good resource. David is a well respected skier and writer in the Stowe/Waterbury area. The back and side country in Stowe really picks up later in the season, but keep an eye on the depth at the stake and you might get lucky. I wouldn't sleep on spruce peak either, there is a lot of really fun and accessible glades to ride off the top of the old Big Spruce lift.

That FB Group is good, found a partner for a cardigan tour their with a day's notice. Also checkout the north east noobski.

David Goodman's book is a must read (https://www.amazon.com/Best-Backcountry-Skiing-Northeast-Classic-ebook/dp/B0066E8UXI).

Also, Granite Backcountry Alliance in NH and RASTA in VT are great resources.

Boston here too. Not sure if anyone does backcountry group trips, but let me know if you find one! There's some decent side/back country terrain at Bolton Valley and Sugarloaf should have a whole bunch of new sidecountry stuff this year. If you're looking for an easy day trip, the Thunderbolt trail can be fun. There's also a few hut to hut routes you can do in the Whites and up near Katahdin in Baxter State Park. Tons more too in this book: https://www.amazon.com/Best-Backcountry-Skiing-Northeast-Classic/dp/1934028142

For Colorado folks -- Powder Ghost Towns is a fun little read. History and current beta on deserted ski areas open to backcountry skiing. Great material to have in the back of the ski-van to get stoked on trip planning while riding up to the hills.

Allen and Mike's really cool backcountry ski book
or their avalanche book or their telemark book.

These things are seriously great reads.

Jared Hargrave's https://smile.amazon.com/Backcountry-Ski-Snowboard-Routes-Utah/dp/1594858314/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=backcountry+skiing+utah&qid=1555543402&s=gateway&sr=8-2 and Tyson Bradley's https://smile.amazon.com/Backcountry-Skiing-Utah-Guide-States/dp/0762787546/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=backcountry+skiing+utah&qid=1555543402&s=gateway&sr=8-1 are both pretty decent. There's also the "Wasatch Tours" volumes, not sure which volume concerns northern Utah but I'm sure that one does.

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Personally I'd start with Hargrave's book. There is also of course McLean's famous "Chuting Gallery" but that concerns almost exclusively Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons.

Some resources:

https://www.mountwashingtonavalanchecenter.org/ - only forecasting in the Northeast, and should really be taken into consideration for the entirety of the Whites.

https://www.amazon.com/Best-Backcountry-Skiing-Northeast-Classic/dp/1934028142 - probably the 'bible' for NE backcountry.

https://www.rastavt.org/trails/brandon-gap/ - Cool spot in VT, and snow conditions would be pretty similar to Killington.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Adirondacks/ - Plenty of information here on conditions if you decide to venture into the high peaks. Couple cool ski trails and slides in the region.

https://www.powderproject.com/ - Pretty sparse listings as of now, but that might change in the future as its relatively new?

https://www.amazon.com/Best-Backcountry-Skiing-Northeast-Classic/dp/1934028142/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1P3O22P8S9SGH&keywords=best+backcountry+skiing+in+the+northeast&qid=1571319679&sprefix=northeast+backcountry+ski%2Caps%2C138&sr=8-1

I picked up this guide book a few years ago and there a few locations in the Adirondacks in there. I know you can ski down Wright for sure. I've never done it though. A few years ago I almost pulled the trigger on an alpine touring setup but ultimately realized that there are only a handful of days where the conditions are good enough for back-country skiing in the northeast.

David Goodman wrote a great book you should check out.

Here are a couple good books that offer some details on your topic:

DEEP The Story of Skiing and The Future of Snow

In Search of Powder: A Story of America's Disappearing Ski Bum

If you live in an area that works...earn your turns and hike your line dude. You get a workout, unique runs and bragging rights. There are books out there which might be able to help you find some places. Me and my buddies hike Mt. Washington closer to the spring time to earn some turns at Tuckerman's Ravine.

I'm just exploring the North East BC myself. try: this
Also, you may want to check out guided BC stuff or reach out to the community in the Chic Chocs.

http://www.amazon.com/Best-Backcountry-Skiing-Northeast-Classic/dp/1934028142
Get this book

I recognized this as I was into the early days of freestyle skiing when it was still known as "Hot Dogging". The skis were longer and unshaped, mogul technique hadn't been perfected and the idea was just to be able to make it down the moguls as fast as possible.

This book by Bob "Boogie" Mann was the definitive intro to the sport for many people.

I had this same problem and it nearly ruined skiing for me but you can break through. It is probably you're in the back seat and you aren't really making turns but more "skidding" to burn off speed, jerking the leg with your calves to turn the ski instead of letting it do the work. Bend you knee more, really feel your shin bone on the boot so you know you're forward.

Also this book which I got used for $4 with shipping is a great resource for a self taught skier who never had lessons and has a ton of bad habits (me and you probably).

There's actually an ENTIRE paperback out that shows pictures of them all and has some history: Powder Ghost Towns

http://www.amazon.com/Powder-Ghost-Towns-Backcountry-Colorados/dp/089997466X

Best parts:

• Skiing 560k+ vertical ft (a lot for an office worker in a city); almost 40% of those were in powder.
  
  
• Covering 11 of the 50 mountains from Fifty Places to Ski and Snowboard Before You Die
  
  
• Going to Utah from NYC with less than 30 hours notice. I told work I'd be taking significant amounts of vacation time, but I didn't know when. I booked my tickets when I saw a series of storms about to hit the Wasatch, and stayed for 10 days.
  
  Worst parts:
  
  
• Not being sufficiently prepared for my first tour by Tuckerman Ravine in December. I didn't have breakfast, and my food/water froze in the nasty -20° C (-4° F) weather. It was -35 °C (-31 °F) with wind chill, and we were out there for 8 hours. To make matters worse, I dressed too warmly during the uphill, sweat a lot, got all my clothes wet, and then got frozen when we stopped to dig snow pits. I pulled a muscle in my leg, so skiing down was difficult and incredibly painful. I honestly thought I was going to die that day.
  
  
• Booking a 6 day trip to Whistler months in advance. When we went, it hadn't snowed in over a month, and everything was bulletproof ice. On our last day, a big storm front moved in and it dumped for days.