Especially for snowboarders. Even downhill skis can provide a limited capacity for cross-country travel through deep snow. A snowboard is worthless in the bottom of a snow-filled ravine except to dig out a hole and hope someone finds you before you freeze to death.
I toppled into a small ravine at Vail (downhill skiing--inbounds, but remote). It took me 90 minutes to climb-out, a distance of about 20 vertical feet . . . and I was so exhausted that I was done for the day. My brother laughing at me the whole time didn't help.