Stay curious!

Winter, oh winter, you noble foe of comfort! You drag me out of bed and fill me with excitement for the day ahead. Yes, valued readers of BACKLINE, it’s that time of year again: The ski touring season has begun. How wonderful! So here it is, the big moment we’ve been waiting for several months. There’s fresh snow outside, calling us to adventure.

Many of you will have already defined one or two objectives for this winter, big or small plans, hungry for adventure and deep snow, dreaming of solitary or sociable tours.

Everyone has their own reason for taking those first steps toward their winter dreams. One of the common denominators of the many different “whys” is the renunciation of the “easy way,” in the often correct assumption that this will open up more experiences for oneself.

This year’s 14 stories are fueled by different motifs. Our featured athletes and photographers will take you on their journeys to the Alps, Scandinavia, the Andes, the Rockies, Pakistan and Albania. As is customary in BACKLINE magazines, they all do without uphill transportation aids such as lifts, helicopters or skidoos.

But beware: Reading these stories may evoke deep emotional reactions awaken the desire to experience these adventures yourself. You might just catch the bug – a passion that could turn into a lifelong obsession.

But hey, as we all know, the real trick with any addiction is managing the dose. We suggest one story per week! That way, you can savor the entire winter without the risk of missing a tour or two in the real world because of a reading-induced whiteout.

With this in mind: enjoy the stories! And here’s to a snowy and safe winter 24/25!

Sincerely,