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Off-Piste Skiing and Ski-Mountaineering
Information covered on this page:
Dates |
Accommodation |
The Haute Route |
Preparation | Equipment |
Insurance | Booking Conditions
Feeling limited by piste-skiing? Want to escape the crowds? Looking for more of a challenge?
Join me in France for some really adventurous skiing - come and ski on the steep and deep, or
take a journey
through the high mountains staying in catered mountain huts.
By booking your own Guide for yourself or your small group, you have lots of
input into the content of your days out and the routes undertaken. If you have a
particular ambition but don't have the experience or expertise to tackle it yourself,
guiding is the answer. You make a booking for the dates you want, and I design your
itinerary to suit the available time and your sense of adventure! I'm available for a
limited amount of time during winter/spring 2007.
Dates
Off-piste skiing and ski-mountaineering day tours could be available as early as December and January, depending
on snow fall, although February onwards is more usual. The Haute Route is usually undertaken from mid-March to mid-May.
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Preparation
The fitter you are, the more you will get out of your time with us, as all skiing requires
considerable physical effort. Swimming, cycling, hill-walking and piste skiing
are all good preparation. To get the most out of off-piste skiing and ski-mountaineering,
you must be a strong piste skier, able to ski black runs in control and able to make a
steady descent on off-piste terrain.
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The Haute Route
The Haute Route is a popular ski journey through breathtaking scenery starting in Chamonix, the centre of French
Alpinism, and finishing by descending under the North Face of the Matterhorn into Zermatt. There are several variations,
each with its own advantage. The route we've outlined has become known as the Classic Haute Route, but other variations
are available on request. I often guide the Verbier Haute Route, which can be done in seven days. The maximum ratio is 1:7.
Day 1: Ski off-piste at Les Grands Montets or Vallee Blanche, with training in skinning,
avalanche awareness and use of
transceivers.
Day 2: Intro day tour, eg Cols des Aiguilles Crochues.
Day 3: Argentiere to the Trient Hut via the Col du Chardonnet and Fenetre du Saleina.
Day 4: Trient Hut to Champex. Bus or taxi to Bourg St Pierre, stay in valley accommodation.
Day 5: Bourg St Pierre to Valsorey Hut
Day 6: Valsorey Hut to Chanrion Hut, via Plateau du Couloir & Col du Sonadon
Day 7: Chanrion Hut to Vignettes Hut, either with an ascent of the Pigne d'Arolla or
direct. An extra day can be added in here by going to the Dix Hut and traversing the Pigne d'Arolla.
Day 8: Vignettes Hut to Zermatt, via Col de L'Eveque and Col de Valpelline. Stay overnight in Zermatt.
This is a long day,
and it can be split into two by staying at the Schonbiel Hut for one night.
Day 9: Day tour from Zermatt, eg the Breithorn (400m peak), or downhill skiing, or day in hand
for bad weather. Possibly travelling back to Chamonix.
Day 10: Possibly travelling back to Chamonix.
Fees and costs for the Haute Route are as follows:
Guiding Fees: £250 per day, divided between group. In addition the Guide's out-of-valley expenses
must be paid by the clients at the time.
Hut Fees: Approx £30 per person per night, this includes dinner and breakfast.
(We take lunch snacks with us, and stock up when we descend to the valley).
Valley Acommodation: Approx £15 per person per night plus food.
Cable Cars: Approx £65 per person
Transport: Transfer from Geneva airport to Chamonix and return: 42 euros per person each way.
Champex to Bourg St Pierre approx £30 per person (based on 6 sharing taxi).
Zermatt back to Chamonix approx £40 per person (based on 6 sharing taxi).
Equipment hire: Approx £30 per person per day (boots, skis, skins, avalanche transceivers)
Insurance: See below. Normal ski insurance does not usually cover off-piste skiing of any kind.
Please note that, apart from the guiding fees, these costs are an indication only - they will vary with exchange
rates.
Insurance
Insurance is absolutely essential when climbing abroad. You
must ensure you are
covered for rescue from the mountain environment, medical treatment, and cancellation,
as well as all the normal things such as personal belongings. Standard holiday insurance
does not cover for adventurous activities. Try either the British Mountaineering Council,
tel 0161 445 4747, or
Foundry Travel Services, tel 0114 275 5806 - both offer a range of services.
Booking Conditions
Please send a non-refundable deposit cheque with your booking form:
£250 per booking for up to 6 days guiding, £500 per booking for 7 days or more.
The balance of the fee will be due 14 days before the start of the course. If the booking
is made within 14 days of the guiding start date, please send the full fee with the booking
form. If you cancel for any reason and we cannot fill your date, we will expect you to pay
the full fee as arranged and claim from the insurance company as appropriate. If we fill
your date, we will refund your fee less the deposit. If we cancel, we will refund any
money paid in full.
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