In snowriders' parlance, "backcountry" means a place beyond ski area boundaries, and any on-the-edge skier or snowboarder will tell you that the snow is best and adrenalin quotient highest there. Beyond the thrill of the ride, there is the sense of pride in earning your turns by hiking up before skiing or riding down.

Many backcountry skiers use such ski mountaineering gear as skis with free-heel bindings. Skiers affix climbing skins to these skis to prevent backsliding on the ascent. Snowboarders or those with regulation Alpine equipment shoulder their boards and often climb on snowshoes. Whether you slide on one plank or two, a great ride is the reward for the uphill climb.

Other necessary gear is proper clothing, food, water in something that won't freeze, a map, a compass, some companions and often avalanche gear and avalanche knowledge. If you have the slightest doubt about the reliability of the last two, hire a guide.