Aosta
ski touring week 2024 
Early season
intro ski touring course based
in north Italy |
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| Course
overview |
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To
undertake an early season week of intro
level ski touring, is an ideal choice
for those planning a hut to hut ski
tour later in the season. During the
week you are based in the beautiful
Aosta valley of northern Italy, which
gives great access to a huge choice
of day ski tours, returning to your
hotel each night. |
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If
you have spent most of your time on
skis on piste or on popular off piste
runs, and want to escape the crowds,
this course will give you the skills
to access the mountains throughout the
winter season by learning ski touring
and more advanced backcountry skills,
as well as avalanche awareness. |
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For
this level you have skied a minimum
of two weeks off piste before, such
as a
one week off piste course, and another
week of off piste experience. Your
key ambition is to improve and get some
good instruction. If you would like
a date later in the season, you could
consider our Intro
Ski Touring & Backcountry week. |
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Previous
touring experience
is not required, as this course aims
to teach key skills starting with the
basics. Sometimes people have done a
day or two of touring before, but not
received any formal tuition, so use
this course as a springboard to future
tours. |
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Any
mountaineering skills or knowledge of
ropes are an advantage, but not essential
as all necessary techniques are taught.
During the week you are based in a hotel
in Aosta on a B&B. If you would
like to arrive a day early, or stay
a day afterwards, you can travel direct
to Italy if that suits your plans better. |
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Key
skills taught during this course include... |
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• using skins and touring skis
• avalanche
transceiver use
• glacier travel
techniques
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• kick
turns for ascent on skis
• use
of couteaux / harscheisen
• using
crampons and ice axes |
• choice of kit
for ski touring
• crevasse rescue
for skiers
• recognising avalanche
traps |
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Dates: these
are listed in the column on the right,
and they show the live availability
from our secure online booking system.
When you book online, you receive immediate
confirmation, your Alpine Information
Booklet, course specific kit list and
invoice. |
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Brief
Course Itinerary
The itineraries are for guidance, but should give
an idea of what you can achieve during the week.
Each week this course runs slightly differently
to cater for your preferences, the conditions, and
where the best weather and snow is to be found.
This flexibility allows you to have the course tailored
to your needs. Your guide will discuss the options
with you each day, so that you get the most out
of the course. The guide will be a local Italian
guide, who speaks a very good level of English,
and is a regular member of our guiding team.
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Sunday
Travel to Chamonix to arrive for any time
after the 16:00 check-in at the accommodation.
There is time for the rental of equipment,
or this can be done first thing the next morning
with the guide. You will meet all the others
on the course, and there are lots of nearby
options of restaurants for an evening meal.
The guide usually visits to introduce themselves
for an informal chat or if you have any questions.
Night in Chamonix on B&B basis. |
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Monday
After meeting your guide in the morning, your
kit is checked and any safety kit is issued,
then you are driven to one of the ski regions. Day
of introductory ski touring, practising how
to use the equipment and kick turns, as well
as off piste skiing to refresh your skills. A typical objective for the first day is Punta
Leysser 2771m from Vetan above Aosta, with
a vertical drop of 1100m. The ascent takes
c.4 hours. Night
in Aosta hotel on B&B basis. |
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Tuesday
Now
you have got your ski touring legs back, there
are a couple of good options for day tours
today. The first is Colle Serena 2547m from
Entroubles near S.Bernard, with a vertical
drop of 877m, taking c.3hr30. Another option
is the Col
Champillon 2708m from Ollomont in Val Pelline,
with a vertical drop of 1258m, taking c.4hr30.
Both these classic tours are famed for good
snow, in the two different valleys. Night
in Aosta hotel on B&B basis. |
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Wednesday
Great
tour options for today include the Testa dei
Frà 2818m from Morgex in the Valdigne,
with a vertical drop of 1124m, taking c.4hr,
or alternatively the Pointe de la Pierre 2653m
from Saint Pierre near Aosta with a vertical
drop of 1175m, and taking c.4hr. On any of
the days where there is any spare time, the
guide will teach you avalanche transceiver
skills, or route planning, to develop your
techniques . Night
in Aosta hotel on B&B basis. |
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Thursday
Our favourite ski tour for today is the Punta Croce 2478m, skiing up from Arpy in
the Valdigne. This beautiful tour has a vertical
drop of 778m, taking c.2hr30. The summit has
the ruins of an old fort, with a spectacular
view over Mont Blanc and La Thuile. Another
option is the Arp Vieille 2963m from Bonne
in the neighbouring remote Valgrisanches,
with a vertical drop of 1153m, taking c.4hr30. Night
in Aosta hotel on B&B basis. |
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Friday
On the final day of skiing, most groups go
for a big day of touring, though if the legs
are feeling tired then perhaps a shorter day
with more great off piste would appeal. Typically
you would ski one of the route options of
the previous days, which you hadn't tackled
yet. Your guide will be able to advise where
you would find the best snow. Evening social
drinks then a celebratory meal, with the final
night spent in Chamonix
on B&B basis. |
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Saturday
Breakfast
then the accommodation check out is by 10:00.
Most arrange their airport transfers to leave
around this time, to catch a flight from Geneva
about midday. Depart for home.
ITINERARY NOTES: Where possible we follow
itineraries. Mountain adventures are weather
and conditions dependant, so occasionaly we
are forced to alter the plans. If this is
the case, suitable alternatives are offered.
Please use this outline itinerary as a guide
to the types of route / activity that you
will attempt. |
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| Course
Prices |
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Standard
course |
5
full days IFMGA guiding, 1:6 max ratio
7 days holiday in total, Sunday-Saturday |
£1399 |
Live
availability |
Click
on the planner logo to the right to
see the real time live course availability
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Secure
online booking system |
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Course Inclusions: 1) IFMGA Mountain
Guides for five days, 2) Pre course information
booklet, 3) Equipment discount voucher for our Windermere
shop, 4) B&B hotel / gite for two nights in
Chamonix, and four nights in Aosta in Italy (inc.
bedding & towels), 5) Free 36 page technical
Course Instruction Booklet, 6) Road transport to
the Aosta valley from Chamonix, and to and from
the slopes each day, 7) Preferential rates on ski
and safety equipment hire. |
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| Exclusions:
1) Travel to and from Chamonix, 2) Cable cars (not
normally required), 3) Ski and equipment hire, 4)
Personal laundry, telephone calls, lunches, &
any purchases in mountain huts / hotels / restaurants,
5) Any optional stays in a mountain hut on a half
board basis for you and the guide, 6) Transport
outside the Aosta valley, 7) Sunday pre-dinner drinks
& Friday celebratory drinks, 8) Activities insurance,
excess baggage charges. |
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| Group
sizes: 3 - 6 people per
IFMGA mountain guide. For group sizes of over 6
people, there are multiple guides, and the teams
travel independently of each other. |
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Current
course availability
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| Testimonials |
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| Press
& media |
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| Films
& videos |
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| Photo
gallery |
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| Location
data for this trip |
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The
trips meet in Chamonix, and you are driven to
the Aosta valley in the Italian Alps. Chamonix
is easily accessed via a 90 minute transfer from
Geneva airport. |
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Time
Difference
GMT +1hr |
Local
Currency
€ Euros |
Travel
from UK
1hr flight |
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| Skis
& equipment advice |
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| Because
we know it is so important to you to have the most
suitable equipment and clothing for off piste skiing
and touring, we have devoted a page especially to
it, which you can access by clicking on the image,
or by clicking
here. This page outlines the key equipment
you should bring, and gives examples of skis that
are suitable for the course. If you have any queries,
please do not hesitate to get in touch with us. |
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| Suggested
reading and kit |
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View
full course equipment list,
with examples of kit, click
here |
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| So
why choose us? |
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We
are specialists in ski touring. See our blog,
by clicking on logo (on right). |
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Itinerary
flexibility to allow you to take full advantage
of the weather and conditions each day, so
that you maximise the amount of time spent
skiiing each day. |
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Our
prices are fixed in £ pounds sterling,
to protect you from euro currency fluctuations,
so that you can budget accurately. |
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We
have a team of over 30 IFMGA guides, and a
resort support team, who all want you to have
the best skiing possible! For more details
on the guiding team and qualifications, please click
here. |
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| Any
further questions? |
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A
key part of choosing a company is being able to
come and talk about your plans with an experienced
course advisor face to face. In an increasingly
virtual world, we know our clients value speaking
to real people, getting open and honest advice.
The vast majority of our clients are British, and
our office and outdoor store is based in Windermere
in the English Lake District.
 
Get
in contact to arrange a meeting, and come in for
a coffee to discuss your course in person with a trip
advisor. |
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