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While the crowds stand in lift lines, strap on some Telemark skis and head out into the backcountry. For the ambitious, the intrepid, and the warm-blooded, the High Sierra offers endless opportunities for backcountry touring. This is not a trip for the casual resort-monger, however: You'll need a good deal of Telemarking experience, a four-season tent, and a very warm sleeping bag. But if you don't mind a cold night or two, you'll be well rewarded: A four-day journey beginning at Mammoth Resort takes you up into the Minarets and down into Devil's Postpile, a wildly beautiful rock formation on the banks of the San Joaquin River. Skiers unfamiliar with the area should definitely seek out a guide, and of course you need to keep your eye on the weather.

Trip Facts

Difficulty rating: Hardcore

When to go: January—April