Courmayeur – Mont Blanc: Intro Ski Touring Course
An increasing number of skiers & mountaineers are realising what fantastic experiences ski journeys away from the pistes and in to the mountains can give.
Aesthetic and efficient in ascent and swift and stylish (sometimes!) in descent. The ski mountaineer is able to mix the fun of off-piste skiing with the deeply satisfying environment of the mountaineer.
On this introductory 4 days course we aim to train you in the essential skills required for smoothly completing some classic alpine ski tours and becoming a strong member of a ‘back-country’ ski team in the process.
COURSE AIM.
✓ Provide very high quality training so that you develop the skills for off-piste skiing and ski touring safely and efficiently.
✓ Effective (and enjoyable!) skiing techniques for different types of off-piste terrain.
✓ Understanding your ski touring bindings and becoming efficient in their use.
✓ Skinning – How the skins work, putting them on and taking them off, breaking trail and choosing a line, easy angled & steep turns (Kick turns).
✓ Avalanche awareness, route planning and safe travel techniques.
✓ Becoming skilled in the use of your essential avalanche equipment, shovel, probe and transceiver.
✓ Managing ‘transitions’ (e.g. being efficient transferring from skinning to skiing modes).
✓ Storing skis on your rucksack if you need to travel on foot.
✓ Emergency Procedures in the Alps.
✓ Prepare you for further ski touring adventures (e.g Basic Ski mountaineering Course).
✓ Have a fun & sociable week & meet up with other like minded ski touring folk who you may be able to ski with in the future.
DURATION
Four days in the mountain
Fitness level required
GROUPS
6 peoples.
COST
€ 600 per person.
$USD 626 per person
£ 498 per person
INCLUDE
✓ Services of an Mountain Guide
✓ All transfers as shown in the program
NOT INCLUDE
✗ Accomodation
✗ Lunch in the mountain
✗ Mountaineering – Off Piste/Ski Mountaineering Insurance IMPORTANT: Please read this section.
✗ The cablecars tickets,
✗ Transfer from/to airport,
✗ Airfare
✗ Anything not specified
NB Trip is confirmed from 4 peoples.
Day 0 - Sun
Arrival
Travel to Courmayeur, to arrive in time for the Evening Briefing.
Your guide will run through safety routines and kit checks, as well as hand out rental equipment for the week, before we go on to a detailed discussion of everyones ambitions for the week, together with the current weather and mountain conditions and how these affect our planning. We’ll also have maps and guidebooks to show you, so if you’ve any further questions or last minute requests, then this is the ideal time to bring them up before we head on to dinner.
Day 1 - Wed
9.00am – 4.00pm: Punta Croce 2478m - Punta Palettaz 2617m Ski Summits .
A classic alpine ski touring day climbing to a steeper pass or summit. An opportunity to put together learned so far in to practice and follow the decision making of the Mountain Guide.
This day you’ll need a packed lunch, as we’ll be out in the backcountry all day.
788m - 837m ascent and descent ~5-6hrs.
Day 2 - Day 4
9.00am – 4.00pm: 3 days classics alpine ski touring day climbing to a steeper pass or summits.
An opportunity to put together all the skills learnt so far in to practice and take the lead route finding and general decision making. This days you’ll need a packed lunch, as we’ll be out in the backcountry all day.
~900m - 1124m ascent and descent ~6-7hrs. We tailor each week to the group, making best use of current weather and snow conditions.
The fourth day concludes the programs
Day 5 - Sat
Return home.
After a night of well-deserved rest, departure from Courmayeur for your destination.