Ski touring epics doesn't necessarily involve traveling overseas to foreign lands and mountains, however, with time and money at our disposal, packing our bags and boarding a flight to remote mountain peaks would most definitely be a common occurrence. Exploring a new country, interacting amongst different people, often a people living a much simpler life, it is a recipe that is worthy of an obsession, and that is what these few pages are dedicated to. Here's a sample of some of the greater locations that have wetted our appetites.

  Best Ski Months : July - August

Any 7000m peak is a major challenge to ski, often the crowning glory of a ski tourers career, but rarely do they come so ideal as Pik Lenin. Cresting the border between Kyrgyzstan and  Tajikistan in the Zaalaiski Range, Pik Lenin is the second highest peak in the Pamirs and one of the giants of Central Asia.

Most parties approach from north, often traveling through Osh an ancient city on the  legendary Silk Route. Its relatively easy access and moderate grades has made Lenin one of the more desirable 7000+m peaks to climb, although ski descents are rare and limited to only a few each year. German climbers were the first to summit in 1928.

As skiers approach through the Achiktash Valley, the enormous and stunning north face looms high and imposingly and appears perfect for skiing. The standard route for most ascent traverses the lower Lenina Glacier (North Face) to the prominent Razdelny Ridge. Besides the base camp, there are usually three camps C1 - 4300m (on the last of the moraine), C2 - 5300m and C3 - 6100 m. The ridge allows the safest, least crevasse route of ascent with the obvious company of others and established camps. This does not, however, allow any real feedback on snow conditions of the north face which is why some parties ascend directly up the glacier, a faster ascent. Experienced tourers should be able to skin-up most of the way, placing camps at around 5400 and 6100m. The last few hundred meters are steep and usually wind-scoured and I'd imagine all tourers boot-packing this section.

The descent from the top is steep and intimidating with the typical array of high altitude dangers including avalanches, ice, abominable crust and oxygen deprivation. Fresh snow often means avalanche issues, but skiers have found anything from boot deep powder, to ice shields, to fields of stones, even sastrugi and perfect corn. A wide crevasses zone runs between 5200m and 4400m, but with clear visibility, the skier can usually find the climbers route which follows a safe route through. What a run. Its a 2700+m (9000ft) descent to Camp 1 off a giant mountain in Kyrgyzstan.

There's also the super speed approach for the fully acclimatized. Luis Stitzinger (German), climbed then skied the north face in 10 hours, a round-trip from a high basecamp at 4450m. Some nutter even road his mountain bike (with studded tires) off the summit and down the Razdelny Ridge (standard route) with the occasional endo and slide for life.

The mountain is climbed during every month of the year, although summer (June - Aug) is by far the most popular period. Summer also sees the warmest  temperatures and best snow conditions and is when most people plan to ski. August also holds the most stabile weather. It is usually insanely cold in the winter in the Pamirs with nasty avalanche conditions and gnarly trail breaking. Spring brings far better weather and is a great time for trekking but the weather can often be volatile and big storms dropping high snowfalls make touring problematic and often dangerous. The storms become less frequent during summer and temperatures on the glacier can be quite hot. As September approaches, the weather gets colder, more storms appear and early snowfalls hide crevasses which slows travel.

A diary account of a trip to ski Aconcagua's East Face or Polish Glacier solo in December 2001. Halfway between the Argentinean city of Mendoza and the Chilean capital of Santiago, the highest peak in the Andes is perhaps the biggest drawcard for climbers in South America. Not many come to ski however, and even though there is really only one skiable route in summer, there are enough challenges to make Aconcagua a worthy ski touring prize.

Many skiers already know of the great skiing in Iran with almost a dozen resorts in the Elburz mountains in the northern part of the country. The highest peak in the range is Damavand a huge active volcano just 70km northeast of the capital, Tehran, and near the southern coast of the Caspian Sea. Its classic, volcanic shape and incredible views have captivated climbers for hundreds of years. Damavand is an easy mountain to ascend and descend on skis. Most parties complete the journey in 2-3 days, with an early start from Tehran. Like any peak at this altitude, the weather can often be severe and the 10,000 ft climb becomes much harder than it looks.

by  Ido Neiger

An Israeli snowboarder visits the spectacular Kashmiri Himalaya and decides to return with 14 boards and help teach the locals the wonders of riding

The twin peaks of Parinacota and Pomerata, bursting out of Bolivia's Altiplano, are a dream come true for the adventurous ski tourer. These mouth-watering extinct volcanoes top out above 6200m and host a myriad of ski descents. Bolivia's highest peak, Sajama 6549m, stands only 20km to the east, which has hosted several ski descents and wins the popularity stakes. Conditions in the Cordillera Occidental are often severe (cold, windy, desolate) and the lack of water below snowline adds to the difficulties, but the setting is spectacular, and their appearance is just mesmerizing, particularly the cone-shaped Parinacota. Time it correctly in April - June and you will quickly forget the hardships and perhaps become one of only a handful of people to ski these Bolivian giants.

A magnificent traverse through rugged, glaciated terrain in the heart of B.C. ski country. Perhaps Canada's premier grand traverse, normally takes between 9-14 days with several choice huts and a few more snow camps required.

China would probably battle India in a contest deciding which country has the greatest number of epic ski descents. From Manchuria in the far northeast, to the western edge of the country framed by the huge Kun Lun and Tien Shan mountains. On the western edge of the country, only 15 miles from the Tajikistan border, lies China's top ski prize - Muztagh Ata. The close proximity to the Karakoram Highway, the main road into Pakistan, and the moderate, attractive, western slopes (seen below) that drop for over 3000m, makes Muztagh Ata a magnet for high altitude ski adventurers.

alpine touring

world ski touring