Winter backcountry recreation has been increasing rapidly. With crowded access points and competing user groups, we need to have a unified voice in these matters to ensure we can continue to enjoy the backcountry.

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The human powered winter backcountry recreation community is a growing scene in the Pacific Northwest: skiers, snowboarders, and snowshoers are getting out to enjoy our wonderful mountains capped in a snowy coat with increasing numbers. With new touring focused ski shops popping up, organizations offering education and guided opportunities, and a thriving avalanche forecast center, it could appear like the community is thriving. And in many ways, it is. Until the fall of 2022 there was still no unified voice to represent the needs of this user group. We were formed to change that.

The preservation of public lands for recreation is not an accident. Without intervention, capitalism would encourage extraction of value at the cost of public well being and land managers would not have the input to make well informed decisions to benefit the users of their land.

There are many looming threats to access for human powered winter backcountry recreation. Although we have seemingly limitless mountains, their ruggedness and steepness means that there are relatively few access points to a reliable snowpack and good backcountry terrain. Increasing parking and crowding at ski areas is forcing resorts to make hard decisions about preserving public access while also ensuring the ability of their customers to ski. Public agencies face budget shortages, forcing them to consider reducing plowing and access to certain spots. In the long term, climate change will raise the typical snow line, rendering some traditional access spots less desirable or even obsolete. Without collaboration and hard work, these threats will not resolve themselves.

Cascade Backcountry Alliance

Your voice for winter access