Book Review

Ski Mountaineering

— Peter Cliff

Peter Cliff's classic Ski Mountaineering was my first guide to backcountry skiing, and it remains an invaluable reference, with sections on Nordic and Alpine ski technique, gear, and recommended tours.

Ski Mountaineering also features an intelligent section on avalanche assessment, as well as tips on glacier travel, rope work, and crevasse rescue.

Ski Mountaineering — Peter Cliff

In short, Cliff's book is filled with useful backcountry skiing information, even if some of the gear is a little out of date.

Finally, the book concludes with a section of selected ski tours from around the world—among them two rousing accounts of extreme descents by Anselme Baud and Patrick Vallencant.