Arc’teryx Academy winter series in Chamonix is an educational program offering 3 weekends of ski touring techniques and related winter safety skills. We have designed our clinics with the focus on ski touring - from basics for beginners to advanced techniques and safety skills such as crevasse rescue and avalanche awareness. A selection of Arc'teryx demo gear will be available for test.
Ski Touring Essentials (1 day)
Ski Mountaineering (1 day)
Ski Touring - Safety in Avalanche Terrain (1 day)
Crevasse Rescue (1 day)
Ski Touring Essentials (1 day)
Ski Mountaineering (1 day)
Ski touring - Maps, Apps & Navigation (1 day)
Ski Touring Essentials (1 day)
Ski Touring - Safety in Avalanche Terrain (1 day)
Ski Mountaineering (1 day)
Mountain Hut Experience - 2 Days Ski Tour (2 days)
Mountain Hut Experience & Mountain Safety Clinic (2 days)
Crevasse Rescue (1day)
Ski Touring Essentials (1 day)
Ski touring - Maps, Apps & Navigation (1 day)
Ski Mountaineering (1 day)
Ski Touring Essentials (1 day)
Ski Touring - Safety in Avalanche Terrain (1 day)
Ski Mountaineering (1 day)
Mountain Hut Experience - 2 Days Ski Tour (2 days)
Mountain Hut Experience & Mountain Safety Clinic (2 days)
Crevasse Rescue (1day)
Ski Touring Essentials (1 day)
Ski touring - Maps, Apps & Navigation (1 day)
Ski Mountaineering (1 day)
A full day of ski touring with the aim to learn and advance your ski touring and mountain sense skills. We focus on the following topics:
Improving general and essential mountain skills.
Discussing and perfecting specific crucial skill sets (Skinning technique, kick turns, transitions).
Promoting the confidence to deal with changing mountain conditions.
Developing good and safe decision making processes.
Perfecting your Snow Sense "The ability to find good snow and avoid bad, or dangerous snow".
Maximising the fun of each and every turn and to get the absolute most out of a day of ski touring.
Basic emergency procedures.
Intermediate ski tourers, good off piste skiing abilities
Full day
105€ per person. Transport and lift pass is not included.
To join this clinic, you need to have some ski touring experience and you have to be a good off piste skier. You need to be capable of skiing in any type of snow quality. A good physical fitness level is required and you should be capable to do walks in the mountains for several hours.
Chamonix Valley (the location is subject to change due to weather & conditions)
6 skiers per guide
07h00 at Chamonix Experience office
Clothing: Base layers, GTX shell or soft shell ski pants and jacket, fleece or merino mid layer top, light puffer jacket, warm hat, sun hat, thin gloves, thick gloves.
Technical equipment: Ski touring skis & bindings & poles, ski touring boots, skins, ski crampons, avalanche safety equipment (shovel, probe, transceiver), 30l backpack, head torch.
Additional items: Solar protection (sunglasses, high protection sunscreen, lip protection), enough food and water (warm tea in a thermos is nice) for a full day in mountains.
Ski touring often involves travelling over avalanche terrain. This clinic teaches avalanche awareness, reading and playing with the terrain, anticipation of potential dangerous situations. Also focuses on hands on rescue techniques that you can use while out on a ski tour.
We will discuss topics such as various avalanche types, observations of recent avalanche activity, evaluation of the avalanche bulletin and potential avalanche hazard, terrain traps, snow profile and safe travel practice of the ski group.
We will practice search techniques with transceivers and probes, efficient digging techniques, how to contact the local mountain rescue and manage an efficient rescue as a team.
Intermediate & advanced
Full day
105€ per person. Transport and lift pass is not included.
To join this clinic, you need to have a good ski touring experience and you have to be a good off piste skier. Skiing in any type of snow quality is required, as well as a strong physical fitness level.
Chamonix Valley (the location is subject to change due to weather & conditions)
6 skiers per guide
07h00 at Chamonix Experience office
Clothing: Base layers, GTX shell or soft shell ski pants and jacket, fleece or merino mid layer top, light puffer jacket, warm hat, sun hat, thin gloves, thick gloves.
Technical equipment: Ski touring skis & bindings & poles, ski touring boots, skins, ski crampons, avalanche safety equipment (shovel, probe, transceiver), 30l backpack.
Additional items: sunglasses, high protection sun cream, water bottle / thermo flask (1L), snacks & lunch food.
The Ski Alpinism clinic offers experienced skiers insight into various techniques for steep skiing in the high mountains. Learn the right skinning technique in alpine terrain; kick turns, as well as skiing and abseiling down steep, snowy terrain with skis.
You will practice good terrain recognition - the right moment to put on/remove skis and/or use crampons and an ice axe on steep slopes. You will learn to make anchors in mixed terrain, belay from your skis, and how to pass steep rock or ice sections.
Advanced and experts
Full day
150€ per person. Transport and lift pass is not included.
You need to be an advanced skier ON and OFF piste, with at least 15 days of ski touring experience. You must be familiar with knots, rope management, crampons, ice axe and have prior rappelling experience. You must have the ability to skin 1200 vertical meters.
Chamonix Valley (the location is subject to change due to weather & conditions)
4 skiers per guide
07h00 at Chamonix Experience office
Clothing: Base layers, GTX shell or soft shell ski pants and jacket, fleece or merino mid layer top, light puffer jacket, warm hat, sun hat, thin gloves, thick gloves.
Technical equipment: Ski touring skis & bindings & poles, ski touring boots, skins, ski crampons, avalanche safety equipment (shovel, probe, transceiver), 30l backpack, head torch, harness, 4 screwgate carabiners, belay device, 4 meters of 6mm rope, ice axe, boot crampons, helmet, dynamic lanyard, 2 ice screws (long), prussic sling.
Additional items: High protection sun cream, water bottle / thermo flask (1L), snacks & lunch food.
Skiing in the alps often involves moving on glaciers. There are many hazards often hidden to untrained eyes. This clinic teaches recognition of these hazards as well as various rescue techniques.
Crevasse rescue training with specific techniques including hauling your partner out of a crevasse, ascending on a rope, securing the lip of the crevasse, using a dead man anchor, installing a safety rope, and other essential skills.
This clinic will be led by experienced UIAGM mountain guides with specialist knowledge in crevasse rescue training. Please note that due to the COVID pandemic and related restrictions, we may be prevented from reaching the glaciers. In this case, we will find suitable terrain to simulate the crevassed terrain and teach you all the rescue skills as we would on a real glacier.
Advanced ski tourers
Full day
120€ per person. Transport and lift pass is not included.
Advanced ski touring and mountaineering skills.You must be confident with crampons, ice axe and rope management. Experience of climbing, belaying and abseiling is required. Fitness-wise you should be able to ski and climb for several hours.
Due to COVID-19 lifts in Chamonix are still closed. Therefore it will take a long time to access glaciers. Depending on the fitness of the group we could aim for Argentiere glacier. Or we will find a similar terrain to practice but not on a glacier. If the lifts open then we will be aiming for glacier terrain.
6 skiers per guide
07h00 at Chamonix Experience office
Clothing: Base layers, GTX shell or soft shell ski pants and jacket, fleece or merino mid layer top, light puffer jacket, warm hat, sun hat, thin gloves, thick gloves.
Technical equipment: Ski touring skis & bindings & poles, ski touring boots, skins, ski crampons, avalanche safety equipment (shovel, probe, transceiver), 30-45 liters backpack, head torch, harness, 4 screwgate carabiners, 2 regular carabiners, Auto-block pulley, 2 x 120 cm tape sling, belay device, 4 meters of 6mm rope, ice axe, boot crampons, helmet, dynamic lanyard, ice screw (long), prussic sling.
Additional items: High protection sun cream, water bottle / thermo flask (1L), snacks & lunch food.
Ski touring above all is about skiing and the wild mountain experience. This clinic is simply and most importantly about skiing. Skin up to a high mountain hut enjoy your drink with the amazing view of the winter mountain scenery.
More skiing the next day before returning back to Chamonix. This is an ideal trip as your first hut experience.
Intermediate ski tourers
2 days
250€ per person. Transport, night in the hut, food and potential lift pass are not included.
You have to be experienced in ski touring, have done at least 3 ski tours in back country terrain. Advanced off piste skier, capable of skiing in any type of snow condition.
Chamonix Valley (the location is subject to change due to weather & conditions)
6 skiers per guide
07h00 at Chamonix Experience office
Clothing: Base layers, GTX shell or soft shell ski pants and jacket, fleece or merino mid layer top, light puffer jacket, warm hat, sun hat, thin gloves, thick gloves.
Technical equipment: Ski touring skis & bindings & poles, ski touring boots, skins, ski crampons, avalanche safety equipment (shovel, probe, transceiver), 30l backpack, head torch, harness, dynamic lanyard, 1 screwgate carabiner, ice axe, boot crampons, helmet.
Additional items: Light weight sleeping bag, sunglasses, ski goggles, earplugs, high protection sun cream, water bottle / thermo flask (1L), snacks & lunch food.
A key to a successful ski tour is good planning followed by good navigation. Knowing your location and which direction to continue are crucial, especially in low visibility conditions. This clinic teaches about navigation and orienteering in the mountains. Clinic topics include:
How to plan and prepare for a tour
How to read maps, how to read GPS coordinates on the map / different grids / Google earth
Altitude contour lines on maps
How does an altimeter work? Why calibrate?
When to use the barometer – when to use the altimeter?
Navigation with altimeter & compass
Back up GPS – store/plan the route on various devices
Weather monitoring/forecast with barometer / storm alarm
Intermediate & advanced ski tourers
Full day
125€ per person. Transport and lift pass is not included.
To join this clinic, you need to have a good ski touring experience and you have to be a good off piste skier. Skiing in any type of snow quality is required, same as a strong physical fitness level.
Chamonix Valley (the location is subject to change due to weather & conditions)
6 skiers per guide
07h00 at Chamonix Experience office
Clothing: Base layers, GTX shell or soft shell ski pants and jacket, fleece or merino mid layer top, light puffer jacket, warm hat, sun hat, thin gloves, thick gloves.
Technical equipment: Ski touring skis & bindings & poles, ski touring boots, skins, ski crampons, avalanche safety equipment (shovel, probe, transceiver), 30l backpack, head torch.
Additional items: GPS if you have, map IGN 1/25 of Chamonix, compass, pencil, ruler, fully charged mobile phone.
High protection sun cream, water bottle / thermo flask (1L), snacks & lunch food.
Ski touring often involves travelling over avalanche terrain and glaciers.
We will both study crevasse rescue and avalanche awareness during the two days. It will be hands on as we will do these two topics along the way on our two day clinic. We will discuss topics such as various avalanche types, observations of the recent avalanche activity, evaluation of the avalanche bulletin and potential avalanche hazard, terrain traps, snow profile and safe travel practice of the ski group.
We will also discuss topics such as various avalanche types, observations of the recent avalanche activity, evaluation of the avalanche bulletin and potential avalanche hazard, terrain traps, snow profile and safe travel practice of the ski group. We will practice search techniques with transceivers and probes, efficient digging techniques, how to contact the local mountain rescue and manage an efficient rescue as a team.
This clinic will be held in the Argentiere Glacier valley and we will stay at the hut for the night.
Intermediate & advanced ski tourers
2 Full days with overnight in Argentiere hut
275€ per person. Transport, night in the hut, food and potential lift pass are not included.
You need to be an advanced skier ON and OFF piste, with at least 10 days of ski touring. You must be familiar with your gear as skins, crampons, ice axe, and have some rope management skills, specially some prior rappelling experience. You must have the ability to skin 1500 vertical meters.
Argentiere Glacier
6 skiers per guide
07h00 at Chamonix Experience office
Clothing: Base layers, GTX shell or soft shell ski pants and jacket, fleece or merino mid layer top, light puffer jacket, warm hat, sun hat, thin gloves, thick gloves.
Technical equipment: Ski touring skis & bindings & poles, ski touring boots, skins, ski crampons, avalanche safety equipment (shovel, probe, transceiver), 30l backpack, head torch, harness, 4 screwgate carabiners, 2 regular carabiners, Auto-block pulley, 2 x 120 cm tape sling, belay device, 4 meters of 6mm rope, ice axe, boot crampons, helmet, belay device, dynamic lanyard, ice screw (long), prussic sling.
Additional items: Light weight sleeping bag, sunglasses, ski goggles, earplugs, high protection sun cream, water bottle / thermo flask (1L), snacks & lunch food, about 100€ cash for the hut.
The Official Arct'eryx store in Chamonix will offer to participants of the Arc'teryx Academy Weekends rental equipment for discounted prices.
Our long-term partners providing transport from Geneva airport to resorts across the Alps. Contact Mountain Drop-Offs for your transfers to Chamonix. Click here for more information.
Our lon-term partner in Chamonix will offer the participants preferable rates on lift passes during the Arcteryx Academy weekends.
Camp / Cassin company provide technical mountaineering equipment for test.
Big thanks to Chamonix for their long-term continuing support of the Arc'teryx Alpine Academy events.
Big thanks to Skyway Monte Bianco for ongoing support on the Arct'eryx Alpine Academy events.