intro to ski touring

skioff-piste.com winter 2007- 08

intro to ski touring

The western Alps has a great variety of excellent tours and multi-day journeys on peaks of medium and high altitude in wild and remote terrain. In the first part of the week we do day tours around and close to Leysin, and develop the skills and techniques needed for hut-to-hut excursions. In the second part of the week we make a multi-day tour staying in mountain huts. There are many alternatives, and flexibility is the key to getting the most enjoyable ascents and best snow for the week.

This is an ideal week for adventurous skiers who want to learn ski touring. This is not an introduction to off-piste skiing - you must already be an off-piste skier able to link 10-12 turns in most conditions.

The trip duration is 7 days including arrival and departure. There are 5 days of guided skiing (there is also an option for an extra day skiing for those who would like to come a day early and start with an off-piste refresher day).

Programme
The following programme is just an example. The multi-day tour at the end of the week will be decided at the time to get the optimum snow conditions.

Day 1 Arrive in Leysin, and meet your guide for an initial briefing and review of the itinerary.

Day 2 A journey around the Leysin ski area with an introduction to touring techniques.

Day 3 A day tour, for example: use the lift system to the Col d’ Isenau. From there ascend a nearby summit and make a long descent to l’Etivaz. Return to Leysin.

Day 4 Transfer to the Col du Grand St Bernard and make the ascent up to the Hospice (2469m) for the night.

Day 5 Make an ascent of a nearby col or peak such as Mont Fourchon (2902m) or Pain de Sucre (2900m), and return to the Hospice for a second night.

Day 6 Another ascent then ski out, for example by crossing 3 cols and the long descent down the remote and beautiful Combe de La to finish at Drance. Return to Leysin.

Day 7 Depart after breakfast

The group size will be up to 6 skiers with 1 guide.

Touring around Leysin

Dates 2008
03 - 09 February

10 - 16 February

17 - 23 February

24 - 29 Feb

02 - 08 March

Other dates available on request.

Price £675 or CHF1,620 per person

The price includes: 5 days guiding fees & expenses, use of safety equipment, 4 nights half-board hotel accommodation in twin rooms (single room occupancy may incur an additional charge), 2 nights half-board accommodation in mountain huts, and in-course transport. There is an option for an additional day skiing (plus hotel night) for those who would like a warm-up day off-piste before the course starts. This will incur a supplement of £100.

The price does not include: lift pass, lunches, beverages, ski hire, personal insurance, travel to and from Leysin

We exclude the cost for lift tickets because our use of these may vary depending on weather and snow conditions. As an indication, a 1-day lift pass for Leysin is 44CHF (£18).