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Intro Ski Touring Course around Courmayeur – Mont Blanc

Altitude: from 1200m to 3462m |  State - Country: Aosta Valley - Courmayeur - Italy |  Mountains: Mont Blanc and around |  Top Altitude: Punta Helbronner 3462m

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 5 day course 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.

  Familiarising with your mountaineering equipment – ice axe, crampons, harness.

  Introduction to ski glacier travel and the use of the rope.

  Use of maps, guide books, GPS and the latest ‘Apps’ for route planning and navigation.

  Emergency Procedures in the Alps.

  Prepare you for further off-piste and ski touring adventures (e.g Skiing The Benevolo ski mountaineering Tour).

  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

Five days in the mountain

Fitness level required

GROUPS

4 peoples.

COST

€ 950 per person.

$USD 1,033 per person
£ 812 per person

INCLUDE

  Services of an Mountain Guide

  All transfers as shown in the program

  The cablecars tickets as shown in the program

NOT INCLUDE

  Accomodation

  Lunch in the mountain

  Mountaineering – Off Piste/Ski Mountaineering Insurance IMPORTANT: Please read this section.

  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: Introduction to the course and equipment check. La Thuile or Courmayeur Ski Area (Italy)

Off-piste skiing, touring skills training, and training with avalanche transceivers.
During the day we’ll pause for the odd coffee break and at lunchtime.

Day 2 - Tue

9.00am – 4.00pm: Off-Piste Ski - Ski Touring In Courmayeur Ski Area (Italy).

Several short tours can be completed giving a few hours of skinning uphill and lots of practice managing ski ‘transitions’ without a big time pressure on the day.
During the day we’ll pause for the odd coffee break and at lunchtime.

Day 3 - Wed

9.00am – 4.00pm: Punta Croce Ski Summit 2478m.

A classic alpine ski touring day climbing to a steeper pass or summit. 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 day you’ll need a packed lunch, as we’ll be out in the backcountry all day.
788m ascent and descent ~5-6hrs.

Day 4 - Thu

9.00am – 4.00pm: Testa dei Fra Ski Summit 2818m.

Second day a classic alpine ski touring day climbing to a steeper pass or summit. 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 day you’ll need a packed lunch, as we’ll be out in the backcountry all day.
1124m ascent and descent ~6-7hrs.

Day 5 - Fri

9.00am – 4.00pm: Ski Mountaineering on Glaciers from Punta Helbronner 3462m. - Mont Blanc Range

An introduction to the important principles of ski mountaineering on glaciers. This is a fantastic and extremely scenic aspect of ski touring and we will spend some valuable time discussing and practicing the skills and strategies for skiing safely on glaciers. We have three high lifts by which the high glaciers of the massif can be accessed. The Hellbronner from Courmayeur.
This day you’ll need a packed lunch, as we’ll be out in the backcountry all day.

End of Program

Day 6 - Sat

Return home.

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