Beginner Ski Touring

This is a long-distance ski trip for sporty and fit people who want to do their first multi-day ski tour. A typical day in the mountains can be skiing up or down all day with a rucksack, so you need a very good level of physical fitness and endurance.

You will certainly have needed to skied this season before undertaking this weekend, so you can be confident on the downhill sections. Training hikes will also help, ideally for a full day with a 10kg rucksack. Follow the guidance you are given and be strong mentally to enjoy your trip.  

Included:

• Qualified mountain guides
• Transport from a suitable train station
• Accommodation in mountain huts/ hotels in dormitories / shared bedrooms
• Dinner & Breakfast
• Loan of Avalanche Equipment if you need it, Shovel, Probe and Transceiver

The course excludes:

• International flights
• Any visa fees
• Personal travel and rescue insurance 
• Lunches & Snacks
• Bar Bills
• Uplifts, if used
• Ski rental

Touring skis and boots cna be hired from most resort ski shops now as it has become so popular within the alps. If you need to hire skis and boots we can advise nearer the trip how to book and pick the up. We would advice you spend a few days on your equipment in resort before going on the weekend. 

Ski Touring Equipment List.

Technical Clothing

• Waterproof jacket – preferably lightweight and breathable
• Softshell jacket – midweight wind/snow resistant jacket
• Softshell trousers/mountain Pants – ideally designed for ski touring. Insulated ski pants ok if only option.
• Waterproof overtrousers – preferably with 3/4 or full length side zips
• Spare lightweight insulated jacket – lightweight synthetic/down jacket or other warm layer
• Wicking thermal top – ie a ‘base layer’ not cotton please…
• Thermal leggings – base layer ‘long johns’, light or mid weight (ie not exped weight!)
• Socks – specialist ski socks, or a warm loop lined pair of mountain socks
• Thin inner gloves
• Warm ski gloves – or mittens, if you suffer from cold hands
• Warm hat

Personal Items

• Water container – at least 1 litre, or a vacuum flask
• Personal medications and blister kit – any regular medications, zinc oxide tape, compeed, painkillers etc
• Ski goggles
• Sunglasses – CE rated 3 or 4, with side protection
• Headtorch
• Sun and lip cream – factor 30+
• Wallet, ID/passport and insurance docs
• COVID Mask and small bottle of hand sanitiser.

Hut Overnight Items

• Small wash kit
• Spare lightweight t-shirt/socks/pants
• Sleeping bag liner and pillow case - AVAILABLE TO BUY FROM US
• Earplugs
• Swiss Alpine Club/BMC card – for hut discount

Technical Equipment

• Rucksack -35/40L for multiday tours. NB rucks MUST have straps on to carry your skis and an ice axe
• Ski mountaineering boots
• Skis with touring bindings
• Velcro ski strap – to hold skis together on your rucksack if we need to carry them
• Ski Poles – with good size 5cm+ baskets (telescopic poles are not needed)
• Climbing skins
• Harscheisen (ski crampons)
• Metal snow shovel – must be a full metal shovel (plastic blades don’t work in real avalanche debris!) - AVAILABLE TO BORROW
• Avalanche probe - AVAILABLE TO BORROW
• Avalanche transceiver – must be a modern digital model (older analogue models are now obsolete) - AVAILABLE TO BORROW
• Climbing harness – with 120cm sling and locking karabiner - WE WILL TELL YOU IF YOU NEED - AVAILABLE TO BORROW
• Crampons – lightweight alloy crampons preferable on most tours, steel crampons for ski mountaineering - WE WILL TELL YOU IF YOU NEED - AVAILABLE TO BORROW
• Ice axe – lightweight model preferable - WE WILL TELL YOU IF YOU NEED - AVAILABLE TO BORROW

The huts are dormitory-style with shared bathrooms. Electricity, warm showers, snacks are available. Most accommodations do not generally have wifi, but some are in 4G areas. Bedding will be provided for you in each hut - you just need to bring a sleeping bag liner, which you can buy from the provider if you need to.  

They do provide hot meals, dinks and a full bar though. So we can certainly be warm, dry and enjoy ourselves. 

YES - take the opportunity to regain your 'ski legs' in the days before the trip. Switzerland offers many great resorts. Stay longer to enjoy the beauty of skiing in the Swiss mountains in winter. Or simply relax in one of the towns alongside Lake Geneva. 

It goes without saying that winter would be the time for ski touring, however, the conditions can vary throughout the season. We don't run courses in December as conditions can be unpredictable. January is often a quieter time in the mountains, on and off-piste, but it can also be the coldest. February is the busiest time with school holidays spread across the month. March sees the arrival of spring and warmer weather. The snow is softer and can start to become patchy as April arrives. However, this is the mountains and the weather can surprise us with great conditions when we least expect it! With our guides and location, we can always find great places to go to maximise our time. If you are coming from abroad this is also a great weekend to add to the end of a ski week. 

Due to the distances and ascents covered on this trip, it is geared towards adults. Therefore the minimum age for this trip is 18 years. However, those aged 16-18 years are welcome to attend in the company of a responsible adult, and if you have suitable ski skills.

Varied, although as this is a beginner trip we will make the most of the conditions. We will use uplift when appropriate to access off piste touring routes around resorts, or to visit alpine huts. Check out the photos for a better idea. 

You will be met at an agreed station on the mainline from Geneva Airport to Brig. It's a direct train so there's no need to deal with changes. 

Due to the nature of the trip, and its varied locations depending on conditions, you will be notified of the exact station during the week before your trip. 

The hotel on the first night is roadside and you can leave anything you don't need in the transport if we go to an overnight hut off road. You will need to carry everything for an overnight if we follow that plan.  

This is a really difficult question to answer accuratly on this trip as it is all about the conditions and finding the best places to go. 

Typical days include about 5km of skinning and 10km of ski descents. This is enough for beginniners. If you want more, check out our 5 day ski tour. 

It is not mandatory but is expected. In the Alps, there is no fixed amount and it really depends on what you would like to give to show your satisfaction. 10% of your price is a good rule of thumb if you had a good time. 

Absolutely! We get lots of solo travellers - it's a great way to meet like-minded people.

The hotel on the first night is roadside and you can leave anything you don't need in the transport if we go to an overnight hut off road. You will need to carry everything for an overnight if we follow that plan. 

We can't advise you on this, but we recommend you check at http://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/home.aspx.  

Yes, whether you are vegetarian, vegan or have allergies. You must inform your guide via your dashboard about your dietary requirements at least 30 days prior the trip. We will inform the accommodation to prepare for you.  

Yes - you must have travel insurance including search and rescue, with hiking up to 3000m. Popular providers include the British Mountaineering Council, Snowcard and the Austrian Alpine Club.  

These require organising before you leave so that you get all the details.  

The currency used Switzerland is Swiss Franc. We recommend changing your money before you arrive as it is not possible once you've left the airport. Credit cards are rarely accepted in mountain huts and restaurants.