Backcountry skiing, also known as off-piste skiing,  includes skiing any sort of terrain that does not fall wihtin the boundaries of a patrolled ski area. It can involve skiing steep, remote bowls, couloirs, or high peaks, or can also include skiing mellow, low-angle glades and meadows. It’s usually done with alpine touring or telemark gear, using climbing skins and bindings with a free heel so you can skin uphill and then lock your heel into ski down.
Cross-country skiing, also known as XC or Nordic skiing, is typically done on gently rolling landscapes. The skis are long and skinny. There are two primary styles of cross-country skiing: classic, which can be done on groomed nordic ski areas or ungroomed terrains like a road or open field, and skate skiing, which uses slightly shorter skis than classic and is always done on a groomed track.
In skate skiing, skiers propel themselves forward by kicking their skis out to the side, similar to ice skating. If you want to learn more, check out our guide to the Best Cross Country Skis.
Backcountry skiing is very different than cross country (aka Nordic) because you can climb steeper pitches and get more remote than skinnier XC skis typically allow; (photo/Elk Raven Photography)