Ski Touring Programs - Alps

The Alps offer some of the finest ski touring to be found anywhere. This is totally understandable since the sport was invented here! Ski touring can be done all winter long and there is a trip to suit almost any ability or level skier.

I offer day tours as well as longer, multi-day trips to some of the finer places Europe has to offer. Below are just a few examples.

Some classic examples of day tours include: Please contact me to participate
- Col du Passon
- Crochues Berard
- Col de la Cicle
- Croise Baulet
- Trou de la Mouche

Longer, multi-day excursions include:
- 3 Swiss Cols
- Tour du Gran Paradiso
- The Haute Route - Chamonix Zermatt
- 4000 m Peak Tour
- Ski Mont Blanc offered as a two day program
- High places in the Dolomites

Some basic information on ski touring.
This sport is sort of a mix between classic cross country skiing and telemark skiing, the grand father of modern day skiing as we know it. One should not confuse the terms, backcountry skiing and ski touring though. The touring done here in the Alps is very different from the majority of the skiing found in North America. The combination of high altitude, difficult skiing, glaciated terrain and long days set the ski touring in Europe apart. It is for these reasons that I do not recommend that you bring telemark gear. I am certain that you will find the "randonnée" or AT gear to be of a big advantage. The main reason being is that you usually have a fairly heavy pack on your back, which makes it even tougher dropping your knee to make turns not to mention the deep or difficult to ski snow. Special "climbing skins" are used to go uphill which are glued to the base of the skis that slide in one direction and but not in the other. This enables you to push on the flats (like in cross country skiing) and climb quite steep slopes without sliding backwards. Using normal downhill skis is fine. But they must be mounted with a special binding that allows your heel to rise when gliding along flats or going uphill. Similar you say to telemarking, well yes, but this is where ski mountaineering is different, once you have finished the uphill portion, you lock down the heel of the binding and are able to downhill ski just like with regular skis.As one can probably imagine, vast distances are rapidly covered and it is a very efficient way to visit or "tour" the mountains. Much more so than snowshoes which do not hold very well on steep or icy slopes (and don't glide downhill !).     

Well who can do this kind of skiing? Just about anyone that can already ski. It is not difficult to learn the added techniques and skills needed such as side stepping and making kick turns. It is important though that you are able to make decent parallel turns in most types of snow.  Being in good shape will also make it a lot more fun !

Other related winter programs>>