Country guide
Note: Always to check local conditions including weather, season and avalanche hazard for new places you visit.
Southern hemisphere
Backcountry skiing can start from early winter (mid June) and may extend to late spring (late November).
Good backcountry skiing locations can be found in the alpine regions of New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. The season can start in early winter (mid June) and often extends to late spring (late November).
New Zealand
Good backcountry skiing locations can be found in the south of the North Island on and around several volcanoes, and in the Southern Alps of the South Island. The season can start in winter (July) and often extends to late spring (late November).
Northern hemisphere
Cold temperatures and shorter daylight hours occur during winter (December, January, February)
Spring (March, April, through to mid-May) is the most popular time for backcountry skiing. The days get longer and the weather gets warmer. Spring snow conditions are common but cold snaps can still occur with fresh snow dumps.
Norway
Norway has a mix of locations for backcountry skiing including undulating terrain (such as the Hardangervidda) and challenging steeper slopes and ski peaks in areas such as the Sunnmore Alpes, Romsdalen and the Lofoten Islands and the Lyngen Alps in the North.
Europe - France, Switzerland, Austria, Italy
The European Alps are a very popular location for backcountry skiing. Alpine touring gear is most commonly used.
Spring (March, April, and May) is the most popular time for backcountry skiing. Spring snow conditions are common but cold snaps can still occur with fresh snow dumps.
Avalanches are common in many locations - seek local advice on avalanche risk in areas you intend to ski.
Crevasses in glaciated areas are common.
Most huts have wardens and meals are available.
The Haute Route from Chamonix to Zermatt is one of the most popular backcountry tours. Ski mountaineering equipment including harness, ice axe, rope, crampons and ice screws are needed as some cols can be very steep and icy and numerous glaciers with crevasses are traversed.
It is also common to use a town or ski resort as a base and do several day tours in the area.
United States and Canada
There is a wide variety of mountains and terrain for backcountry skiing.
Ski areas close to the West Coast get maritime weather and often have wetter snow. Ski areas inland usually have drier snow and powder.
Spring (March, April, and May) is the most popular time for backcountry skiing. Snow conditions can range from fresh powder though to Spring snow.
Avalanches are common in many locations - seek local advice on avalanche risk in areas you intend to ski.
Hut-based backcountry skiing is popular, with some commercial operations providing guides and meals.
It is also common to use a town or ski resort as a base and do several day backcountry tours in the area.
Canadian locations include British Columbia and Alberta. Some locations in Canada have glaciers.
Red Mountain - good powder and good backcountry tours
Rogers Pass - advanced terrain, good powder
Revelstoke - heli-ski and cat-ski operations are available, challenging terrain, good powder
Whistler Blackcomb - big ski resorts with backcountry routes and huts. Wetter snow.
Lake Louise - alpine terrain, good powder, can get very cold.
United States locations include:
Washington - North Cascades, Olympic Mountains, Cascade volcanoes
California - Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada
Wyoming - Jackson Hole
Utah - Wasatch Mountains, famous for powder
Colorado - Aspen, Crested Butte, Copper Mountain, Tellluride
Montana - Bridger Range, Glacier National Park wilderness areas
Links:
Japan
Japan has hundreds of ski resorts and a wide variety of backcountry skiing and is known for great powder.
January and February are the best months for cold temperatures, heavy snow falls and good powder
Spring (March, April, and May) is also popular for backcountry skiing. Snow conditions range from spring snow with occasional late fresh snow.
Avalanches occur in many locations - seek local advice on avalanche risk in areas you intend to ski. If in doubt, go with a guided group.
It common to use a town or ski resort as a base and do several day backcountry tours in the area.
Locations with good powder and backcountry tours include:
Hokkaido - Niseko, Mount Yotei, Asahidake, Rusutsu, Tokachi Mountains (Furano)
Nagano - Nozawa Onsen, Hakuba
Aomori - Hakkoda