The snow is totally natural, unpatrolled, ungroomed, and unmanaged. Backcountry snowboarding is becoming more popular because the mountain playground is often empty except for thousands of feet of untouched snow waiting to be tracked. On the way down, jumps and free falls are often made, and drops between 15-20 meters are common. Often people are lifted to the top of the mountain by a helicopter. Others cross-country ski to the top, then snowboard down.
Some resorts also have backcountry trails that riders can go on.
After taking a chair lift to the top of a mountain, snowboarders are then able to cut out of bounds into the backcountry via marked access gates. Although it has only been popular for about the last ten years, Snowboarding is one of the fastest growing sports. Also, it is estimated that 4 million people will snowboard this year, up from 2 million in 1996. Travel with a knowledgeable companion. Check the avalanche-forecast center near you for updates on snow conditions.