EQUIPPED FOR BACKWOODS, GROOMED SLOPES.

Byline: Bill Becher Special to the Daily News

If you've skied all the trails at Mammoth Mountain and are ready to see the pristine Sierra backcountry in winter, you have two types of skis from which to choose.

The traditional telemark skis have cable bindings to allow the heel to lift up, a la cross-country skis, thus allowing the skis to slide forward on the flats, making for easier hill climbing. Remember, you're skipping the high-speed quad chair so you have to ski up as well as down. Backcountry skiers call it ``earning your turns.''

Because the heel is free with telemark bindings you genuflect on one bent knee to turn when going downhill. Done properly, it's a graceful way to descend, but it means learning another style of skiing.

But a second system that's gaining popularity for backcountry skiing uses equipment similar to downhill gear.

Sometimes called ``randonee'' - the French word for ``touring'' - it is also called Alpine Touring or AT. This equipment allows the skis to slide forward with a free heel for touring, or to lock down the heel in the binding for downhill skiing. This means you can use the parallel skiing techniques you learned on the resort slopes.

Diehard telemark skiers say randonee is French for ``Can't make a telemark turn,'' but it's a less difficult transition for most people.

``Randonee is the easiest way for downhill skiers to go into the backcountry,'' guide Tim Villanueva said.

The gear has improved markedly in the past 10 years, with better heel and toe release mechanisms, lighter weight and step-in bindings that are very similar to those on downhill skis. Telemark binding don't release in a fall, a possible disadvantage.

The randonee/AT system uses plastic boots similar to downhill ski boots. Most AT boots have a more flexible setting for touring and can lock down the same way bindings for downhill do.

For climbing steeper angles AT skiers attach ``skins.'' Once made of sealskin, now they are strips of velour-like fabric with a one-directional nap. The skins are attached temporarily to the bottoms of the skis with a preapplied adhesive. The skins provide grip in the snow and allow you to climb fairly steep slopes without resorting to herringboning or sidestepping techniques.

When the climb is complete, the skins can be peeled off and stowed in a pack. Most AT skiers use the skins only on longer climbs. You can ski downhill with skins on, but it slows you, something that can be handy when descending an icy gully.

If you're ready to let the ski lift do the uphill work, AT skis work on groomed slopes too. This is a good way to practice on AT gear before your backcountry trip.

Some AT skiers are using the gear to ski extreme slopes, others explore deep into the backcountry and some want to float down untracked powder. Others just go to experience the peace and beauty of the wilderness in winter.

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``Randonee'' or Alpine Touring equipment allows skiers flexibility to tour ungroomed terrain as well as travel conventional downhill slopes.