Jargon for Snow Sports
- alpine - Relating to high mountains, especially
high up above the treeline. This treeless region is a nice place to
make big, fast turns without worrying about hitting a tree. It is more
susceptible to bad weather, which is essentially why there are no trees
there. The environment is too harsh there for them to grow.
- alpine touring (AT) bindings - Ski bindings for
backcountry skiing. For skinning uphill, the heel
detaches, and the toe portion hinges, allowing a walking motion. They
function like regular downhill bindings when skiing downhill.
- alpine touring (AT) boots - Ski boots designed
for backcountry skiing that have a "walk mode" enabling the boot to
flex forward more freely. They are also lighter and somewhat less stiff
(in ski mode) than regular alpine downhill ski boots. They are
occasionally used for backcountry snowboarding.
- backcountry - The backcountry, in the
skiing/snowboarding sense, is any area outside of a resorts boundaries.
There are, however, limits. As discussed in out of bounds,
riders are prohibited from entering some areas outside of resort
boundaries due to the possible endangerment of the rider themself, or
others. Examples include cliff areas, or areas where a triggered
avalanche may run back inside resort boundaries. The backcountry should
only be entered if you have the proper skills (avalanche training, etc)
and gear (avalanche equipment, clothing, etc).
- backcountry skiing or snowboarding - Skiing or
snowboarding done in the backcountry, outside of a
ski resort. Also known as touring.
- booting/bootpack - The act of walking uphill in
ski or snowboard boots to access more/higher terrain. This is usually
on a steep enough slope that steps form in the snow, and subsequent
people use these snow steps to climb. The snow steps that form are
called a bootpack.
- cirque - A steep bowl formed
by glacial erosion, usually containing cliffs and chutes.
- couloir/chute - A steep, narrow gully
lined by rocks on either side. The terms couloir and chute can be used
interchangeably to some extent, although chutes are typically smaller,
where couloirs are longer.
- crevasse - A deep, open crack that forms in a
glacier as it flows downhill. These present a significant hazard to
backcountry travellers in glaciated areas.
- flat light - A visibility condition where light
from the sun is mainly diffused instead of direct. This reduces
shadows, and this makes it difficult or impossible to discern texture
on the snow surface.
- glades - A ski slope that is sparsely treed.
Within ski resorts, they are usually rated as a blue or black diamond
run. Often the trees have been manually thinned out by mountain
operations in order to increase the ski area. If there has been no
recent snowfall they usually have moguls.
- glacier - A slow moving mass of ice. In areas
that are cold and/or snowy enough, snow from the winter doesn't
completely melt in the summer. As a result, over many years, even
centuries, snow continues to accumulate. The weight of the accumulated
snow compresses the underlying snow into ice. Gravity causes this ice
to flow very slowly downhill.
- groomer - See piste. This term
is also often used for the snowcats that do the
grooming.
- gully - Like a large ditch, that has been eroded
by a creek or stream. Gullies can collect snow meaning they are fun to
ski in, but they can also lead you down creekbeds where you may get
stuck or lost, so be wary!
- moguls - Bumps in the snow that form due to
skiers and snowboarders moving the snow around the slope as they turn*.
Typically 1-3 metres across, and 0.5-1.5m tall. *In mogul competitions,
moguls are usually made by snowcats, so that they are
larger and more regular.
- off-piste - Any ski run within a ski resort that
is not groomed or prepared as a piste, but left as a
natural ski slope.
- out of bounds - Ski resorts mark their
boundaries with ropes and signage. The areas just outside of this that
is usually closed to skiing is known as "out of bounds". Rules vary
with resort, weather, timing, etc. Skiers are sometimes prohibited from
going out of bounds. Sometimes they're permitted. Sometimes it's
permitted only after getting permission from the resort. Sometimes it's
permitted in certain areas (e.g., a backcountry gate), but not in
others (e.g., areas where a skier may trigger an avalanche that runs
back into the ski resort). It's very important to inquire at the resort
base or a ski patrol shack about the rules, and pay very close
attention to signage. You could be putting your life and the lives of
others at risk.
- piste - A groomed and compacted ski run.
- splitboard - A snowboard designed for
backcountry use that can be taken apart to form two "skis" for skinning
uphill.
- skinning/to skin - Hiking uphill in the snow to
reach more/higher terrain with skis or a splitboard
on your feet, and skins on the bottom of them.
- skins - Synthetic animal skins (actual animal
skins used to be used but not anymore) that have synthetic hair on one
side and glue on the other. The glue side temporarily sticks to the
bottom of your skis/splitboard. The synthetic hair allows you to glide
in the forward direction, but prevents you from sliding backwards,
enabling you to walk, or skin, uphill.
- snowcat - A large grooming machine with tools
attached to it that churn, till, and then compact the top 10-15 cm of
the snowpack as it drives slowly along. It has tank-like treads
allowing it to drive on snow.
- telemarking - A skiing technique originating in
the Telemark region of Norway, that combines Alpine (downhill) and
Nordic style. It is still practiced by some. Only the forefoot is
attached to the ski, and the heel is retained in the binding by a
tensioned-spring. Telemark skiers use telemark-specific boots and
bindings.
- tour/touring - A term interchangeably used with backcountry
skiing or snowboarding. A tour would be a
backcountry skiing/snowboarding trip.
- traverse - A one-way backcountry trip that
covers a large horizontal distance. Many traverses cover extensively
glaciated areas (ice sheets). It can also mean to travel laterally
across a mountain, usually without losing or gaining any elevation
(i.e. travelling to an area where you want to then make some downhill
turns).
- whiteout - Fog that is so dense that it is
difficult or impossible to see anything around you, sometimes even your
feet. A whiteout makes navigation, and even skiing, virtually
impossible.
A great glossary for avalanche jargon is hosted by the US
Forest Service National Avalanche Center.