A good start for your tour begins with some basics: ensure your avalanche beacon has sufficient power, know your beacon and those of your partners, and follow through with a beacon check at the trailhead (and think about repeating the beacon check later in the day).

Here are 16 tips, count them up, to help those new to backcountry riding/touring and making important decisons, feel more at home in the mountains.

Welcome to the world of tech bindings. The emerging backcountry skier should be informed; it makes the conversation between you and the salesperson two-way rather than one-way. And, you’ll know what questions to ask to secure a product suited for you.

Too long, too short, or just right. Aim for just right when it comes to length of your backcountry ski. For newcomers, here’s some basic adivce.

As members of the world’s most socially sensitive species, it’s time we embrace a high degree of emotional intelligence when backcountry skiing.

Looking to learn about the skin basics? Here’s “Skins 101” to cover materials, tip and tail attachments systems, and stickiness- or lack thereof- of glue.