The fastest growing trend in Alpine skiing is all about ditching the very thing that built the sport: mechanized lifts.

Climbing up mountain slopes, once a niche activity practiced only by a hard-core few to access the backcountry, is everywhere in snow country these days.

Uphill skiing — better known as skinning or alpine touring — involves adhering nylon material, known as skins, to the base of skis, enabling skiers to ascend without sliding backward. New bindings that hinge at the toe for going uphill and lock at the heel for the downhill are also used, as well as lighter boots whose ankle hinges for the uphill and locks for the descent. The appeal is a combination of cardio fitness, the satisfaction that comes from ascending on your own power without the purchase of a lift ticket and, for those in the backcountry, connecting with nature and escaping the ski-resort crowds.

“Skinning and ski touring is the fastest-growing segment in the industry,” said Nick Sargent, president of the trade association SnowSports Industries America. “The numbers are small, but they’re growing exponentially.”