Day touring

The liberated core of Nordic skiing

by Jeff Potter

The author stops to eat along the Shinglemill Pathway. There's no time for a picnic if you're only training or racing, he points out.

Picture an out-of-town skier peering off a groomed track into the fluffy unknown. He or she asks themselves, "If I'm brave enough to step out there into the wilderness, will my skis work? Will I get lost? What will happen to me?"

This is how ski touring is sometimes presented nowadays - like it's a new thing about which people are curious and uncertain.

I'm sure that skiing off a groomed track is unusual for some people. But ski touring is actually the most versatile, affordable and common kind of skiing.

A newbie raised on groomed trails may not know this, but they have a lifetime of free-range fun in store for them if they'd just ski where they please.

Ungroomed skiing can be skiing on a myriad of trails: self skied-in trails at local parks and across golf courses, fields and farms, as well as hiking, biking and multiuse trails. It's usually done close to home over mellow terrain and on public land or wherever you have permission.

Ski touring is what most people know and grow up doing, if they cross-country ski at all. It's what they see being done on the outskirts of town; it's what their friends and family show them.

Groomed skiing, like telemarking and jibskating, is really the fringe of Nordic skiing as it's enjoyed by most people.

I rarely ski on groomed trails. I live in mid-Michigan and my town has a dozen great hiking trails, parks and golf courses that are within five minutes of home.

For this kind of skiing I use an all-around, modern, full-length set-up with a moderately wide ski and mid-range supportive boots. I see dozens of other skiers with the same getup doing the same thing.

I just love it. I love to glide out and float up the hills on any old trail. Heck, I don't even need a trail. Skiing sets me free come winter. And my all-around rig in turn sets my skiing free.

I do telemark turns on mellow hillsides. I stop for snacks and picnics. I explore and wander. I can skate ski when the trail widens. And I don't need groomed trails to do any of this.

The dynamic ski handling involved in ski touring is great fun. I liken it to singletrack mountain biking.

And while I do race, I don't think my training suffers from my day touring. It only takes a couple outings with my race equipment to get back in that groove. When I do step into those groomed tracks with my ultralight rig, the extra speed is a fresh thrill.

I know of a few informal ski tour/races held on hiking trails. These tend to be long, tough, self-supported affairs - and, consequently, great fun. These events are imbued with a carefree spirit that celebrates outdoor adventure and camaraderie. In that sense it's also like the mountain biking scene. In fact, one of the ski tours I'm thinking of was started by bikers who wanted an excuse to cruise their favorite singletrack trails in the winter.

Ski the trails you would otherwise bike or run and you'll be treated to an all new view. The air is fresher and everything is brighter.

For a couple weeks each spring, when there's still a thin, hard crust of old snow clinging to the ground, you can ski almost anywhere. This is when I do most of my skate skiing, over hill and dale. That's ski touring, too.

Ski touring includes a whole range of approaches, from light touring to heavy-duty backcountry skiing. There's no real dividing line or even a set definition. Terrain, conditions and how long you’re out there determines how you ski and what gear to use.

Equipment
In an area new to you, bring a map and compass. If it's a familiar trail, just do as you normally would - but instead of tromping or pedaling, enjoy gliding. If you plan to be out awhile, bring a snack or lunch. A dry top, extra hat and something padded to sit on are worth bringing as well. I find that 10 pounds is the most I care to carry when out I'm skiing for a few hours.

If you like to "swing out" with your skiing, you'll appreciate having a lighter pair of boots and skis as well as stiff poles. Lightweight touring gear seems to last forever, but racing equipment can be fragile. Still, I prefer race weight poles.

I greatly enjoy touring with full-length skis. New full-length touring skis can be hard to find, however. But I hear mid-lengths are coming on. I could see them being good for tight, twisty trail action, where handling is as important as glide.

I go waxable 90 percent of the time. Skis 60 mm wide will float pretty well over unbroken snow, but an all-purpose package can handle tracks previously set by skiers, hikers, snowshoers and snowmobilers. Use a ski with a metal edge if ice and steepness are part of your scene. Go wider the more weight you carry. It's not rocket science.

The more challenging the terrain, the more boot support you'll want as well. A light, low boot is fine for most terrain, though. New boots and NNN/SNS bindings offer sufficient support, even the light racing models. Consider adding gaiters when cutting through especially fluffy stuff.

Most touring rigs also work fine on groomed trails. Wider skis just aren't as fast as narrower ones. But wider ones will  better handle more challenging groomed trails.

Occasionally you'll want to break trail. Don't fret, just ski. You won't get much glide but you'll have the satisfaction that comes with setting your own course. Ski the same route again the next day and you have yourself a ski trail.

Ski touring is about trying new things. If you go about it cautiously, there's a gentle learning curve. But if you're the gonzo type, ski touring can deliver the works - fast action, tricky turns, jumps and countless areas to explore.

If the snow is more than knee deep or the terrain thick with brush, then opt for snowshoes. (I prefer wood ones for maximum flotation.) If you really want to shred some turns, go with wider skis, metal edges and beefier boots.

Can the amount of ski touring we enjoy be measured? You could look at outright sales of touring skis to unaffiliated buyers, but these tend to be sold or rented to beginners. This may be why free-for-all ski touring doesn't get as much respect. With ease of entry, a quick learning curve and a multitude of folks skiing in their backyards, ski touring is the core of the sport.

Although unaffiliated skiers who use their touring rigs almost exclusively  may be the majority of skiers, they have been taken for granted by the ski industry. They keep their skis too long, for one thing. Racers tend to buy the latest model-year ski thinking it will ensure their continued competitiveness. Meanwhile, with fewer independent ski retailers than in the early '80s, touring skis sales are more apt to be sold by big-box stores.

Without knowledgeable service, more folks may be buying skis too short and boots too tall for optimal touring.

Ski touring is popular because it's liberating. Liberation isn't easy to commodify, though. Business can serve it, but it's hard to control, and control is the goal once business becomes big.

Groomed trails are fine, but ungroomed action offers unfiltered contact with the landscape and culture. You might ski through a busy neighborhood, past a sledding hill full of kids, down a cattle-lined farm lane, over a frozen marsh or into a wooded area you've never explored before - all free of charge.

 Jeff Potter is the publisher and proprietor of OutYourBackDoor.com, a resource for small-world, independent  culture

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