Backcountry skis

The kind of ski you've described is a pretty heavy duty backcountry ski designed for some serious turns in relatively steep terrain. You're really looking at a ski that's designed for a combination of backcountry skiing and downhill skiing and they are considerably more expensive. So unless you're looking at the kind of backcountry skiing which really borders on mountaineering, I think they are definitely overkill. You can get a backcountry package much cheaper - around $300-$400 that will probably suit you just fine in the conditions you're describing. I'm not endorsing and particular brand but something like this will probably meet you needs. www.rei.com/product/890932/rossignol-evo-ot-65-cross-country-skis-with-nis-bindings. Check out Sierra Trading Post, EMS, REI and LL Bean for the best deals on packages.

I would suggest a BC (backcountry) ski with metal edges unless you're going to be exclusively on groomed trails. Also, get some sturdy boots, not necessarily mountaineering plastic ones, but enough to support you and keep your feet warm. I use this type of set up in all types of trail conditions and sometimes off trail in the Beartooths and in Yellowstone and they work fine. Once you've mastered it, I think you'll really enjoy x-country skiing. Faster, easier and more fun than snowshoeing. Not to say that snowshoeing doest have it's place.

Hmmm, so maybe I'm looking at the wrong type. Based or reading that's what I gravitated to. I'll be on ungroomed trails 99.9% of the time. A fair amount could be in the woods, but I can find some open fields as well.

Thanks.

FWIW searching backcountry.com for "metal edge touring skis" brings up the kind I mentioned earlier. Is there no standard nomenclature?

www.backcountry.com/Store/catalog/search.jsp?s=u&q=metal+edge+touring+skis

The primary differences are ski construction type. Single camber or double camber. Single camber is for Alpine Touring using climbing skins for traction up hill and removed when descending. Telemark or parallel turns are used and the binding maybe be a Randonee (parallel) or free heel (telemark). Binding and boots are more robust for telemark and parallel turns.

A double camber is used for Nordic Touring and uses wax or a waxless base for grip. Techniques for Nordic include diagonal stride, double pole with an occasional basic telemark turn. All will have various binding configurations. The bindings would typically be NNN or 3-pin. Both would be free heel.

The BD Link 105 is a single camber ski. I do not recommend BD skis. Manufacturing processes and controls are inconsistent.

The skis mentioned by Jer and Zeke are double camber.

I have multiple double camber ski set-ups and boot binding combinations. My favorite and most often used.  Fischer E-99 Crown

Below is my neighborhood (high desert) terrain.  I should be out there right now. We had 6" last night.  Regretfully other priorities  prevail.

Waxless skis are the most popular choice because they are convenient and provide grip in a variety of snow conditions. They are called waxless because rather than relying on kick wax for traction, they have a textured pattern in the middle third of each ski that digs into and grips the snow. Despite their name, waxless skis perform best when you apply glide wax to the tips and tails

In the case of dense woods, consider your Nordic skis as an alternative to snowshoes. A metal edge, double camber, waxless Nordic ski has the advantage of energy saving efficiencies. The metal edge can help in side stepping or herringbone. 

Most x-country skis today are waxless and they are pretty efficient. I do have an old pair of Fisher Europa 99s which are waxable that I still use on occasion. Given the right conditions, waxable skis are more efficient if you know what you're doing. I do sort of miss the mystic and tradition of waxing my skis. On certain occasions, that is. For the type of skiing you describe, you probably don't need metal edges but they are a nice feature to have as has been pointed out in the above posts.

Ah, so they're what I DON'T want. Thanks, Jer. Somehow I got onto that type of ski as being what I wanted/needed. Thanks for correcting me.

Jer, I stocked up on Pall Mall Menthol 100s and french vanilla creamer. At the very least I'm pretty sure that I can outlast the Miracle Whip militia at Malheur.