Intro Ski Touring Courses, Chamonix

If you are already a downhill skier and are looking to escape the crowds and get into ski touring then this 5 day course should be just what you need. We cover all the basic techniques needed to tackle more lengthy ski tours, such as the Haute Route, including the use of avalanche safety equipment, crampons and ice axe, learning skinning techniques, kick turns and selecting and looking after your equipment.

Itinerary
Day 1
Shake down day near a ski lift area. Check and sort equipment, carrying and using equipment, skiing on/off piste with a pack, evaluating the snow and using avalanche beacons, uphill skiing using skins and couteaux/ harscheisen.

Days 2-3
On each day we’ll do a short ski tour to a pass or summit – using the skills introduced on day 1. We’ll probably start at 8 in the morning or before and finish by 4-5 pm latest.

Days 4-5
A 2 day trip to stay in a mountain refuge overnight and then ski to a summit the next day. First day could be a drive then 3-4 hour journey to the hut, the next day 2-4 hours climbing then long ski back to the valley.

All the venues and the over-all itinerary will be decided depending on the skiing standard of the group and the weather and snow conditions at the time of the course. Courses in Jan and Feb may not have a hut night as most huts are closed then, but there will be more of a downhill off piste element, including ski techniques for all terrain skiing, or more day tours.

Course Dates 2010
Please contact us for dates.


Price
€ 950 per person based on  aminimum group size of 3. This includes guiding and instruction, loan of safety equipment, travel to and from daily venue, 6 nights B&B accommodation.
It excludes any lift passes, travel to and from Chamonix, Insurance, lunches and evening meals, ski equipment.