Glade skiing

Glade skiing, or tree skiing, is any form of downhill skiing (alpine skiing, telemark skiing, Alpine Touring) off-trails in the woods or in a maintained woods trail. Glade skiing is extremely dangerous and usually for experts only, although some trails exist for beginners. Maintained woods trails can be extremely steep and tight or gentle and open.

Glade Skiing Places

Most ski resorts have maintained glade trails or boundary to boundary policies. A boundary to boundary policy states that one can ski in any woods within the area boundarys. Some hazards, such as cliffs or streams, may still be blocked off by ski patrol.

Hazards

Many hazards exist in glade skiing so it is usually only for advanced skiers. Hazards can be tree wells, cliffs, logs, stumps, water features (such as creeks or streams) and trees themselves. It is also more difficult for ski patrollers or mountain rescuers to perform a rescue in trees.

Motivation

Many expert skiers and riders enjoy the challenge that glade skiing presents. Some also enjoy being off an open ski trail and in the woods instead. Others go glade skiing to ski on better snow, such as powder (also known as pow). Woods usually hold better snow longer because of the shade and shelter trees provide. If you do not think you are capable of going down, do not, or you will be in a tight situation