Bored of the piste but don’t really know how to progress to ski touring? Need advice on skins, skis or bindings?
Come along and learn the fundamentals in a friendly and progressive environment. We cover everything from equipment choice and how to use it (including transceivers, skinning, kick turns and ski crampons), safe travel techniques, avalanche evaluation and crevasse rescue. Can be based anywhere throughout the alps.
The course is normally valley based (Chamonix or Arolla for example) but if required a night in a hut can be included.
Ideal for a long weekend or as a kick start to your season. Available from Dec to May
Sample itinerary:
Day 1. Simple non glaciated tour e.g. Petit Croisse Baulet 2009m. This great peak is well seen on the drive out of the Chamonix Valley towards Geneva and is a great 1st objective. Never too steep it is a good choice when the higher peaks are avalanche prone. After riding the lifts we use skins to ascend to the peak looking at kick turns on the way. After summiting we carry out a transceiver exercise.
Day 2. Grand Montets and Argentiere Glacier. Probably one of the most famous off piste resorts, the Grand Montets gives access to the wild Argentiere Basin. Today we look in more detail at safe glacier travel on skis.
Day 3. Aiguille Rouges. This excellent area has many options for the ski tourer and mountaineer. This day will focus on steeper ground and perhaps negotiating a descent over a rocky col using a rope.
This itinerary could easily be extended to a full 5 day course by including a two day hut tour.
