Get Your First Backcountry Touring Experience On at Diamond Peak

So you’ve got your ski legs developed and you’re ready to let loose and explore the backcountry. If you’ve never done it before, handling the backcountry on your own may be a bit overwhelming. The people at Diamond Peak Ski Resort have resolved this dilemma with a new program launched this season called the Backcountry Experience.

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Together with Dynafit, Tahoe Mountain Sports and Tahoe Mountain School, Diamond Peak will provide guided backcountry tours that will introduce you to the unfettered terrain that’s Diamond Peak’s Golden Eagle Bowl. You don’t have to be an advanced skier or rider to try it out because the tour is also open to intermediate skiers in order to provide a safe introduction to skiing and riding the backcountry the right way.

Also known as Alpine touring, backcountry skiing and riding is common in Europe and became popular in the States about two decades ago. Often viewed as a more streamlined form of hiking, Alpine touring uses skis or snowboards with a free heel bindings to enable skiers and riders to walk uphill. “Skins” that stick to the bases of the skis and boards provide traction for the uphill walk.

The hike uphill is invigorating yet aptly rewarded by the smooth descent downhill. The tour guides will show you the most efficient uphill skinning methods so that you can get the most out of the exhilarating ride down the beautiful Eagle Bowl. It’s a liberating experience for adventurers who prefer to connect with the environment in a wide open space away from the crowds on the groomed runs.

If you’ve ever entertained the thought of swooshing the bowls in the backcountry, this tour makes it easier to try it. The tour includes the skis and board with free heel bindings so you don’t even have to think about getting your own. But be warned! Once you try it, you may get hooked. Luckily, most people only need to slightly alter their current bindings for Alpine touring, or you can rent from a variety of trusted outfitters and ski and snowboard rental shops in the area.

Check Diamond Peak’s website for details, pricing and to register for a tour, and have fun riding the Golden Eagle.

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