Uphill skiing is not an oxymoron. It’s long been the domain of ski mountaineers, who “skin” up mountain sides using specialized alpine touring or randonée equipment and then carve turns down backcountry slopes. This rigorous activity has been gaining popularity in recent years at alpine resorts — and now among those who want to avoid ski lifts during these pandemic times. It’s expected to boom this winter, as COVID-19 continues to ravage the country, experts predict. Nick Sargent, president of Snowsports Industries America, said sales of uphill skiing gear for use in the backcountry took off last spring after resorts were shut down because of the pandemic. Sargent, himself an uphill skier, predicted sales of this type of gear will outpace last season’s significantly.