[Hot Tabasco]

I skied out in Tahoe one year but I’m unfamiliar with the term “back country”. I’m assuming it’s just mountainous wilderness not associated with any of the numerous resorts out there or could it be the out of bounds areas that resorts clearly mark and warn against entering?

[Sicon]

Yes, “back country” refers to areas outside the boundaries of resorts. Within resort boundaries, ski patrol performs avalanche control. They also mark cliffs and other hazards. In the “back country”, you’re playing with fire, as there is none of that. Skiers die in the back country in avalanches, going over cliffs, getting injured or falling into tree wells... They go there for the challenge, and for untracked powder, but it is extremely risky.

Jamie Pierre, a skier famous for jumping off a 255’ cliff (and surviving), died in an avalanche at the Snowbird ski resort in Utah in 2011. But he was skiing before they had actually opened for the season, so there was no avalanche control. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes (he had two young children).