Off-piste skiing (or backcountry skiing) is skiing in a sparsely inhabited rural region over ungroomed and unmarked slopes (that is, marked pistes are not present). Fixed mechanical means of ascent (chairlifts, cable cars etc.) are also often not available.
When mechanical means of ascent are absent, the back country skier will often use skins (synthetic or mohair rather than the traditional sealskin) on their skis, snowshoes, ski boots (or snowboard boots), snow cats, or snowmobiles to climb up the mountain. Once the peak or other skiable location is reached the descent may begin on skis.
Off-piste skiing can be highly dangerous due to the avalanche risk, the exhaustion from the possible climb, and often the terrain involved. Off-piste skiing is often associated with "extreme skiing".
