Intro Ski Touring
An introduction to the world of ski-touring. Aimed at competent "red run" skiers with some off piste experience. A great preparation for day tours, longer tours - the Haute Route? - reaching untracked powder and steeper skiing, and for climbers who want to ski to winter routes. You need reasonable fitness (regular hill walking) - everything else can be hired locally!
We aim to cover:
-Equipment - what to choose, and how to use it
-Avalanche risk assessment
-Transceiver use
-Skiing uphill!
-Off piste skiing skills
-Skiing on glaciers
-Navigating on skis
-Route choice and planning
and also to do some good skiing!
Here's a sample Intro Ski Touring week. Ratio 1:6/7
| Day 1 | Check equipment and hire if necessary. Then, to the Arolla ski area. After a warm-up ski, cover the basics of ski touring - use of touring bindings, skins, uphill skiing, avalanche procedure, off-piste technique, etc |
| Day 2 | Using Arolla ski area to build on Day 1, aiming to make a short tour and an avalanche search scenario |
| Day 3 | A day tour, putting into practice techniques from days 1 and 2. Using the Evolene lifts, ski up the Pic d'Artsinol, 2997m, with a 1600m descent |
| Day 4 | To the Cabane des Dix via the Pas de Chevre. Lunch at the hut, then skiing on a glacier - crevasse rescue, using ropes when skiing, etc |
| Day 5 | A 2 day tour. Use the Arolla lifts, then ski to the Cabane des Aiguilles Rouges. Some great skiing and touring on the way to a beautiful hut. |
| Day 6 | Ascend the Point de Vouasson, 3489m, and ski to Evolene. Only 600m ascent, but over 2000m descent! |
