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Basic Ski Mountaineering Course

Altitude: from 1200m to 2901m |  State - Country: Aosta Valley - Valais - Courmayeur - Grand Saint Bernard - Italy - Switzerland |  Mountains: Mont Blanc and around |  Top Altitude: Testa di Crevacol 2645m

Mont Blanc is a world mecca as a base for ski mountaineering and this 5 day course gives you the opportunity to sample a superb variety of challenging mountain ski journeys.

We aim to visit some quieter, less well known parts of the Valle d’Aosta easily accessible from Courmayeur.

This course includes overnights stay in hotel.

COURSE AIM.

  Complete some classic medium to long length ski mountain journeys in the Courmayeur Valley and surrounding area.

  Spend a night in a mountain hut allowing a good journey to be made and early start to complete a long tour.

  This course has less structured training than the Intro Ski Touring Course and is aimed at folk already competent in the basic ski mountaineering skills. Whilst these skills will be revised during ongoing training throughout the course, the emphasis will be on getting some big journeys and great skiing done.

  Provide an excellent spring board, at the start of the classic hut to hut touring season, for other challenging ski mountaineering trips in the spring.

  Have an enjoyable and sociable week meeting up with other like minded ski mountaineers who you may end up skiing with again in the future.

DURATION

Four days in the mountain

Fitness level required

GROUPS

4 peoples.

COST

€ 925 per person.

$USD 1,037 per person
£ 784 per person

INCLUDE

  Services of an Mountain Guide

  All transfers as shown in the program

  B/B in Hotel, including the B/B of the Mountain Guide

NOT INCLUDE

  Accomodation in Courmayeur

  Lunch and dinner. The Guide's lunches and dinners are paid for by the participants

  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 3 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 - Mon

9.00am – 4.00pm: Testa di Crevacol 2645m - Gran San Bernardo Valley

Transfer from Courmayeur to Grand San Bernardo Valley - Mottes. Introduction to the week ahead and kit check. Revision of ski mountaineering skills. Opportunities to refresh skinning technique, avalanche emergency procedures and some basic skimountaineering elements.
1000m ascent and descent ~4-5hrs.

Day 2 - Tue

9.00am – 4.00pm: Col Serena 2545m - Gran San Bernardo Valley

A popular ski tour with a long season and excellent skiing. The terrain is mostly easy angled. The slopes are North East facing and can hold good snow after a period of little fresh snow. The itinerary skin from the back of the car park at Mottes - Crévacol near of to starting the day before.
This day you’ll need a packed lunch, as we’ll be out in the backcountry all day.
929m ascent and descent ~4-5hrs.

Day 3 - Wed

9.00am – 4.00pm: Ski Touring summit in Gran San Bernardo Valley.

The itineraries are for guidance, but should give an idea of what you can achieve during the days. Each tour slightly differently and depend the weather, snow conditions and the training of people
This day you’ll need a packed lunch, as we’ll be out in the backcountry all day.
Tour options include the Monte Paglietta 2476m from Prailles-Etroubles 1555m, with a vertical drop of 921m, taking c.3hr, or alternatively the Costa Tardiva 2390m from Buthier 1319m with a vertical drop of 1071m, and taking c.4hr.

Day 4 - Thu

9.00am – 4.00pm: Ski Touring summit in Gran San Bernardo Valley.

The itineraries are for guidance, but should give an idea of what you can achieve during the days. Each tour slightly differently and depend the weather, snow conditions and the training of people
This day you’ll need a packed lunch, as we’ll be out in the backcountry all day.
Tour options include the Monte Paglietta 2476m from Prailles-Etroubles 1555m, with a vertical drop of 921m, taking c.3hr, or alternatively the Costa Tardiva 2390m from Buthier 1319m with a vertical drop of 1071m, and taking c.4hr.

End of Program

Day 5 - Sat

Return home.

After a night of well-deserved rest, departure from Courmayeur for your destination.