Any competent skier or boarder who has lingered at the top of Perisher and gazed out west to the pristine snowfields beyond has felt the call of these wild places.
It's called the NSW backcountry and venturing out there, beyond the patrolled boundaries of the resorts, is a growing winter business while lift tickets are on limited release and numbers are limited due to coronavirus restrictions.
From a distance, it looks simply amazing. There's just so much snow to potentially ski or ride and not a human to be seen. It's a place beyond the tedious online wait for expensive lift tickets and shuffling in queues.
"It is an amazing place," agreed experienced Snowy Mountains backcountry guide and blogger Doug Chatten.
"But it can also be a bit of an optical illusion.
"Venture out there and you will need knowledge and skills that you don't get or need at a resort.
"Out there, it's what's in your head and what's in your pack that will save you when things go wrong. And believe me, things can go wrong very quickly."
Snow gear outfitters and retailers all agree the call of the backcountry is drawing more and more people each year, and there's been a particular spike in demand this pandemic-affected snow season.
Joey Stanco has been fitting outfitting snowboarders with the appropriate backcountry gear at retail and rental shop ESS in Jindabyne for a decade and said the shop's policy was not to rent snowboarding backcountry equipment to first-timers unless they had either done a course, or had someone with them who had the appropriate experience.
"Otherwise it's just too risky," he said.
"In the resorts, there's always a safety net; you can just strap in and go down the hill. If you don't think you need a lesson, well that's not smart but that's your business. But there you've got the ski patrol, you've got medical assistance and there's almost always people around.
"But in the backcountry, a different set of rules apply."
The relative scarcity of lift tickets - all requiring pre-booking online through the Perisher and Thredbo websites - is ramping up the backcountry appeal and the technical equipment available to get people out there is constantly improving.
Skiers can rent or buy specialised touring boots and skis which bind the toe and allow the heel to lift for climbing, while for snowboarders, splitboards with lightweight, adaptive bindings which snap and swivel from parallel stance to a conventional downhill stance, plus clip-on climbing skins, are all the go. There are even clip-on cramp-ons with teeth for climbing icy slopes.
Skiers are often encouraged to try traditional "free heel" Nordic skiing first to better understand and become accustomed to the different physical technique of skating over snow using thinner, cross-country skis.
Acacia Rose, from K7 Adventures, said this season had been busier than ever teaching people the technique and once they were ready, she led them on gentle excursions on the easier Perisher cross-country trails where no lift ticket was needed and an easy camaraderie existed between the riders.
Most of the Perisher cross-country trails are groomed and vary in length from 2.5km up to 10km. Nordic skiing uses a softer style boot that is more comfortable than a hard plastic boot and the underside of the skis are patterned so they grip one way and slide the other.
"Nordic style cross-country skiing has been around for years and years and it's a marvellous skill for every skier to have," Ms Rose said.
"It is definitely much more of a physical activity than downhill skiing but with practice, it gets easier and more relaxed. Everyone just gets along at a pace they are comfortable with."
Mick Klima, who opened Rhythm Snowsports in Cooma in 1984, was a dedicated downhill skier but is now a firm adherent of cross-country and backcountry skiing.
About four mornings a week he glides the Perisher trails which loop out from the trailhead and the volunteer-run shelter located about 275 metres behind the ambulance station.
He said the rhythmic nature of trail-type cross-country skiing was such that the more you practised it, the more relaxing and rhythmic it became.
"As a youngster I was brought up on downhill and taught to walk uphill in skis," he said.
"The back trails are just a nice place to be; there's more solitude with nature. You're well away from all the crowds and genuinely part of the mountains," he said.
"It's great for your fitness, too; a great cardio workout."
But for venturing beyond the trails, he also strongly endorsed getting expert instruction. For a day trip, the minimal safety gear needed comprised of an avalanche beacon, first-aid kit, a probe, map, compass, and a folding shovel. Registering your trip intention via the online form was crucial.
"You definitely have to expect the unexpected; the biggest safety issue is when people think that because they are good across the resort, they are ready to do the backcountry; that's just not so," he said.
Instructor Doug Chatten, who has been a NSW Parks and Wildlife field officer and a member of the ski patrol, said slips, trips and falls on icy surfaces and when crossing creeks are a common risk, but what to do in a "white out", if equipment fails, and how to read terrain were also important.
"An introductory course should be a bare minimum; it gives you really useful tools and tips to keep yourself safe," he said.
"I'm all for people giving it [skiing the backcountry] a crack because it's just fantastic. But get some knowledge first."
