Ski Mountaineering and Ski Touring

If you are a skier keen to get further into the backcountry then  Ski Touring or Ski Mountaineering could be for you.

It's essential that you have done a reasonable amount of on-piste skiing first (4-5 weeks at least), and helpful if you have off piste skiing experience too. Previous mountaineering experience is useful but not necessary for beginnners.

We offer ski touring courses and skills training as well as guided ski tours.
By "skills training" we mean learning about crevasse rescue for skiers, avalanche safety training and basic ski touring skills such as using crampons and ice axe, learning to climb on skins and master the "uphill kick turn" without falling over. This can be done on a modular day by day basis, or as a complete introductory ski touring course.

In terms of "guided ski touring" we offer single days where we return to the valley each evening, or multi day tours, where we either base ourselves in a mountain hut and make day tours from there, or we travel from hut to hut in a linear journey (eg. the classic Chamonix to Zermatt Haute Route).

Multi-day hut to hut ski tours are suitable for people who have already ski toured from huts before. Most of the other options are fine for novice and expert tourers alike.

Generally speaking, ski touring is for "Skiers" - it is possible to tour on a board, but can be difficult to match skiers and boarders together because of different techniques and route choices required. Therefore, if you are a boarder and wish to tour then it's best to come along with other boarders, or some really good supportive skier friends.

Edward Weston climbing La Louette (3500m) - Intro Ski touring course.