Ski Touring
Backcountry and beyond....
Backcountry skiing can open up a whole new realm of untouched terrain whilst also escaping the busy, well known off-piste skiing areas.
Despite having the image of a sport undertaken only by guides, mountaineers and general Alpine geeks, ski touring offers an incredibly easy way to access areas that otherwise would be impracticable
The myth of having to be a super-fit mountain goat is also somewhat of a phallacy. Ski touring does require a certain amount of physical exertion; the rewards, however, far outweigh the elevated breathing rate.
A reasonable amount of preparation is recommended before undertaking an extended ski tour.
As with most sporting activities, technical efficiency can easily replace a lot of blood, sweat and tears
Intro
A starter course for those interested in touring.
The 3hr session includes;
Introduction to and use of touring bindings and skins.
Walking, climbing and descending techniques.
Avalanche awareness & terrain safety.
Introduction to route planning.
Full Day Tour
A full day's tour exploring the backcountry around the Espace Killy.
The touring (uphill) part is used to access a summit that leads to a backcountry run or to return from a descent that has no chairlift return
Refuge Rando
A guided backcountry tour with an overnight stay in a local alpine refuge.
Please remember to bring along the following equipment:
Sleeping bag
Sufficient food and drink for the duration of the journey.
Your instructor is your instructor, not your own personal mountain mule. Your request to carry your personal kit will be politely but firmly refused..!
Equipment
Touring requires the use of specialist equipment;
Lightweight skis fitted with touring bindings and correctly fitting skins.
Harscheissen, also known as crampons to grip on hard packed, icy terrain.
A 30m 9mm rope, 6m of 4cm climbing tape and a couple of HMS karabiners
