Ski Touring / Ski Mountaineering
John and Fiona Fells touring
on the Lyngen peninsula Norway
Adventure away from the crowds. Ski touring is a way for people to get to places in the mountains which are inaccessible by chair lift, by way of sticking skins to the bottom of the skis. Originally seal skins, these allow you to slide up the mountain smoothly whilst gripping the snow and stopping you from slipping backwards.
Sometimes using the lift to get you up high before you venture further a field and sometimes skinning direct from your car, you will be able to venture out into the alpine back-country and experience the stunning valleys, cols and peaks away from the crowds. And the reward for your hard work skinning up, will be a fantastic ski down experienced by few others. We have anumber of touring suggestions for you to look at.
Experience
We can create a ski touring adventure suitable to your skiing and mountaineering experience and aspirations. If you are trying ski touring for the first time or have dozens of tours under your belt we will find an adventure suitable for you. We have created some tips and hints to get you started in the skills section.
Venues?
The Chamonix area has a fantastic range of tours including lift accessed tours in the Aiguilles Rouges or just down the road in Megeve and Les Contamines. In the surrounding area we also have great day tours in the Val dÂ’Aosta and Switzerland or short hut trips to the Grand St Bernard Monastery. Later in the season it is possible to travel anywhere in the Alps to enjoy multi-day hut to hut tours. Please have a look at our suggestions and contact us to discuss your ideas.
How Long?
Because of the enormous range of type of ski-touring trips we have outlined a few ideas to whet your appetite. Trips can be from 2-6 days or longer of further a field. Please see our suggestions; If there are areas you are interested in that we have not mentioned please get in touch.
What about kit and equipment?
We supply all avalanche safety equipment and harnesses when skiing on a glacier. Touring skis and skins can be rented in Chamonix. Have a look at our section on choosing the right kit for ski touring also have a look at our suggested kit list if you have any questions please get in touch.
How much?
We offer an all inclusive Chamonix to Chamonix price exclusive of lift passes or we can provide the guiding and you can organize your own accommodation
Private Guiding 370 Euros per day plus expenses, contact us for an all inclusive price
When is the best time to go?
The touring season starts as soon as we have enough snow to cover the grass and boulders. Early January onwards is great for day tours or trips to, and in the area of, the Grand St Bernard Monastery or similar huts which are open all winter. Most hut to hut trips usually begin in early March exact dates will depend on hut openings. The Silvretta huts open in mid February. Often the season extends into May.