While all of those lifts provide access to thousands of acres of in-bounds terrain, what about the stuff that lies on the other side of the rope? Resort accessed backcountry, or 'sidecountry' refers to backcountry skiing you can ride a lift to access. Sometimes it's as simple as exiting through that gate with the ‘you could die beyond this point’ sign and skiing down. In other instances it requires a short hike to get to the top of your line. 

So you ride the lift up, exit through a gate, and maybe even return to the resort? Wait, that sounds like Utopia! However, just like the most remote backcountry destinations, the sidecountry has one important thing in common: it’s wild, uncontrolled, and just as prone to avalanche danger. So regardless of the accessibility, or the increased amount of skier traffic relative to other backcountry areas, any time you set foot outside of the resort you are entering uncontrolled and unpredictable terrain. Just because you pass a ski patrol shack on your way out to these more easily accessed goods, that doesn’t mean that their rescue services are available in the event of an accident.

While the dangers are certainly present, there is a reason why hoards of skiers enjoy this type of terrain. You can utilize the modern wonder that is a chairlift to knock out 2,000-4,000 vertical feet, then tour a short (or long) distance to enjoy all of our favorite things about the backcountry. Then, you return to civilization and possibly even to the resort for another chairlift-served lap in the same day. At many resorts, this has become just another part of a local’s day on the hill. Places like Telluride, Aspen, Vail, Jackson Hole, Alpine Meadows you’ll see folks with backpacks headed out gates in search of something more.

Before you jump into making plans to hop out of one of these gates on your next ski vacation, we encourage you to take caution. As we stated above, these locales can be no less dangerous than the most remote peaks, and rescue services just as challenging. One option is to engage the services of a local guide service. They know the routes, they know the conditions, and they can get you home safely, which takes us to the essential rule of skiing: live to ski another day!