A guide to : Forest Skiing
Overview :
Offroad skiing as a skiers movement is getting more and more support form every skier who thinks he deserves more than straight , overcrowded tracks , but it also poses some serious concerns about wildlife safety and . of course skier's safety . Altought less dangerous to themselves than high alpine skiing , forest skiing can be risky and , eventually lead to severe injuries for the skier .
Another concerning matter is the virtual damage to the environment . Deep forests are home for many animals unused with human interference , which can cause them severe distress . But let's take it one at a time !
Definition : forest skiing - to ski Offroad paths or routes , outside to borders of casual skiing . We can classify this orientation as an compromise between extreme skiing and casual skiing . Forest skiing includes tourist paths , low alpine valleys , fee ride and in fact anything that implies skiing in deep snow forests . Usually this means to go "wildly" cutting some casual tracks , or taking some valleys . Summer tourist paths are an easy way in , because it's much easier to orientate . These paths are usually marked , and sometimes you can find footmarks which can be a great help .
In this picture you can see some friends of mine , on a forest marked path , near "Predeal".
More pictures from that area you can find in the "Predeal" section .
The next step in forest skiing is descending low alpine valleys . A low alpine valley is a valley which is situated at low altitude and is covered by trees . To find such a valley , all you must do is to go to a low mountain and search for a valley ( maybe a small river ) . Usually this valley will climb up the mountain , so you will be able to find it in the higher section .
The strategy in descending such a valley is simple : 1) get to the valley . This is a tricky one . You may find yourself trapped on a steep area , with lots of trees , and branches , and many annoying things ready to make you fall .2) descend the valley . Unless you encounter some very steep sections ( because is not uncommon ) , is easy : all you have to do is to climb one of the walls if you need to slow down , but when you have chosen a a wall , you should stay there . If you try to change it , you may damage your skis , or maybe yourself !
After you have learned the secrets of the valleys , you can easily go Offroad , virtually anywhere . The only thing you should be careful is to see where are you going . If you must encounter a road , a railroad or anything , because I bet you don't want to get caught by the night in a deep forest ! ;)
Skiing Tips and tricks .
1) Jump high and unload enough when you're taking a curve ! There is no room for errors , because you can injure yourself very bad !
2) Be sure you have enough time to finish your route , and be very cautious with orientation . Woods are tricky !
3) Also , be careful with the wildlife ! A disturbed rabbit is nothing , but imagine a disturbed bear !
4) If you care about your skis , don't ski at the bottom of a valley ! Beneath the deep snow lays a bunch of rocks ready to scratch your skis !
Environmental Impact .
Done with care , forest skiing is harmless , but it has a great destructive potential on wildlife and environment !
Areas in Romania best suited for forest skiing :
Predeal , Azuga , Poiana Brasov , Parang , and many more .
Adrian Ciobanu , webmaster
