INTRODUCTORY SKI TOURING COURSE - 6 days run in the 3rd week in
March
This is a course aimed at skiers, and mountaineers who ski, allowing
you to sample the enjoyment and magnificent skiing the Alps have
to offer - away from the prepared pistes. Our course is based in
Arolla, which is a quiet unspoilt village high in the Pennine Alps
at the head of the Val d'Herens Valley. Arolla is an ideal base
for ski touring. It offers a wide variety of mountain huts within
easy reach. The Pigne d'Arolla offers magnificent descents of almost
2,000 metres, with stunning views of the Matterhorn and Dent Blanche.
During the course we'll identify and improve the skills necessary
for safe and efficient travel over glacial terrain using touring
skis and skins. We'll also cover avalanche awareness, evaluation
and rescue using transceivers, as well as crevasse rescue techniques.
Your Mountain Guide will offer coaching to improve your off-piste
skiing skills and defensive skiing technique. We'll also try to
spend at least one night in a hut. Our aim is that you leave the
course with the skills to undertake more ambitious tours with confidence.
 CHAMONIX-ZERMATT HIGH LEVEL ROUTE - 10
days starting in the last week in March
The Haute Route is probably the most famous of the Alpine ski tours
and justifiably so. A must in any ski tourer's aspirations, and
a great adventure through magnificent mountains. During the tour
we will ascend ski peaks where appropriate, so as to provide clients
with as much downhill skiing as possible and many opportunities
to savour the superb views. Your Guide will provide instruction
in ski techniques as well as touring skills so that you may make
the most of this tour. Each night will be spent in a different mountain
hut, offering simple restaurant service and dormitory accommodation.
Our course is designed to give you a chance to acclimatise and find
your 'ski legs' in Chamonix before embarking on the tour. Depending
on weather conditions, the route will take us through Verbier, which
will give us more chance to climb mountain summits.
If you are interested in our Introductory Ski Touring Course, the
Haute Route follows on from that week, enabling you to link the
two courses and apply the skills you have learned, in the context
of a tour. The Haute Route Tour will last 10 days. This period gives
the maximum chance to provide good training and acclimatisation
in Chamonix. A spare day is included to give us the maximum chance
of completing the traverse in the event of bad weather, or of skiing
to Saas Fee if conditions are good.
SKI MT BLANC - 2 days
For those who have not had enough, there is a chance to use the
acclimatisation gained on the High Level Route to make an ascent
of Mt Blanc via the Grands Mullets Hut. Ring us for details. Guide:Client
ratio is 1:2
BERNESE OBERLAND SKI TOUR - 6 days run in the 2nd week of April
A magnificent area, ideal for those who have already done some ski
mountaineering. Our most strenuous tour; this is a high alpine,
hut to hut journey with the ascent of major peaks. Huge glaciers
and high remote summits make this a most dramatic setting. Our tour
covers the central area of the massif and we aim to ascend 4000
metre peaks during the week. As one of the major ski touring areas
of the Alps, the Bernese Oberland offers some of the longest descents.
SPECIAL SKI TOUR
Philip runs a special tour for clients who have been with us before
or have extensive touring experience. Contact us for this year's
details.
SKIING ABILITY AND EXPERIENCE
We pride ourselves in offering a range of ski touring courses and
off-piste ski weeks to suit everyone. Whatever course you choose,
we will endeavour to improve your skiing ability. For those who
are new to ski touring or would like to improve their off-piste
technique, our Introductory Ski Touring Course will be both informative
and fun. A basic parallel turn on-piste is all that is required
and the experience of 3 - 4 piste holidays, but if your not sure,
give us a ring, any time, at the office and Philip will be happy
to advise you.
A steady and confident open stance parallel will see you successfully
though our Haute Route traverse, although for our Bernese Oberland
tour, good skiing ability or a reasonable amount of ski touring
experience will be necessary. A reasonable level of personal fitness
will make life easier for you on tour. There will be some long days
out on the mountains with some steady uphill ascents. A few days
out skiing beforehand would be advantageous but not essential. We're
sure that if you can meet these basic requirements, you'll have
a great experience in some of the most spectacular areas of the
Alps.
WHAT THE PRICE INCLUDES
Price includes: Dinner & breakfast, accommodation, guiding fees
& expenses, return transport back to the start.
Price excludes: Travel to and from the Alps, ski passes, lunch,
ski hire and personal insurance.
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Philip Poole has
been running ski courses for over 10 years in the Alps and invites
you on the ultimate in specialist skiing experiences. We offer a
wide variety of off-piste and ski touring courses to suit all tastes;
from the best off-piste that the Chamonix valley can offer, to ski
touring on the High Level Route and in the Bernese Oberland. Philip
will take you away from the crowds and the queues to a whole new
world of powder skiing. 