Ski Touring
Chamonix can boast vast quantities of off-piste skiing accessible from the lift system, but if you really want to explore the wilderness terrain and ski fresh tracks days after the last snow, then ski touring ranks alongside heliskiing for fleeing the crowds and getting away from it all.
Whereas heliskiing is determined by cost and landing restrictions, with ski touring the possibilities are only limited by how much effort you want to put in.
Ski touring relies on the ability to climb on skis and sometimes on foot (with crampons) to reach your destination. With the right equipment and skills, no peak, hidden valley or remote mountain pass is out of reach.
6 Day Introduction with a 4,000m summit!
Our six day course will provide a thorough grounding in the skills needed for ski touring in a high mountain environment, and is ideal preparation for multi-day ski tours such as the Haute Route and the Bernese Oberland Tour. Whilst developing your skills you will discover four different areas of the Chamonix valley and to finish off the week you get to ski down the 4,061m high summit of Grand Paradiso in Italy. What a week!
You will learn how to fix and use skins and couteaux, (crampons for skis), how to travel uphill and how to perform kick turns for steeper terrain. We will stay one night in a mountain refuge - no ski touring experience is complete without a pre-dawn start high in the mountains, watching the sunrise.
The agenda will also cover the complimentary mountain craft skills you will need when touring, such as avalanche awareness and glacier travel.
You do not need any previous ski touring experience to join this programme but you should be a fairly competent off-piste skier. You should also have a reasonable level of fitness and be prepared to undertake climbs of 2-4 hours on skis.
Course Details
Duration: 6 Days
2008 Dates:
March 09 - 14
March 23 - 28
April 13 - 18
April 20 - 25
Group Size: 3-6
Ratio: 1:6
Included: Guide fee, 6 nights half board hotel or chalet accommodation on a twin share basis, lifts, 1 night in refuge, local transport, group equipment, avalanche transceiver, harness.
Not included: Personal equipment, mountain rescue insurance, lunches and evening meals, airport transfers.
Equipment: See Equipment List or contact our office
Price: 1,895€ per person
1,195€ without accommodation
10% discount for groups of 4-6 booking together
For whom: Skiers with off-piste skiing experience and a good level of fitness. No touring experience necessary. This course is a perfect preparation for the Haute Route or the Bernese Oberland Tour.
