• Skiing steep and narrow terrain

This page isn't going to teach you how to ski. You should seek proper instruction to reach an appropriate standard where you can ski confidently and safely in backcountry situations. You should always be accompanied - preferrably by at least two others.

Skiing at an advanced level, necessary for almost all backcountry expeditions, barely requires thought and your body reacts instinctively to the feel of snow under your skis, changing gradients or angles, types of snow, etc. On the pistes, edge control and different pressures is where it's at, and in the backcountry these are still very important.

Skiing steep and narrow terrain
On the steepest and narrowest of slopes, you wouldn't ski the same way as you would on pistes, and contact with the snow at all times isn't necessary or even safe. It is impossible on the narrowest of lines to both carve and control your speed. Therefore, a jump turn must be introduced - these turns mean that little or no movement across the slope is required to descend, useful if there are rock walls closeby. To execute a good jump turn on steep ground, the skis should ideally be parallel to their previous position on each turn, with a full half circle turn each time. Keep your upper body facing in the direction you're travelling, but don't move it too much as otherwise with twisting movements there is a possibility of you losing some edge control. Your lower body is where all the work should be done - jump upwards using your legs to pop up off the surface of the snow, and turn the skis through 180°.

For balance on steep ground, ski poles can be used to assist the jump turn. If a full turn isn't completed, you face the possibility of being in a potentially hazardous situation.