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Chamonix Backcountry Ski Week

"An action packed week of glacier skiing and technical descents around the Chamonix valley for good off piste skiers after a taste of real 'all mountain' skiing. From the top of the lift systems we will be using ski mountaineeering equipment to access back bowls and big verticals around the range. As this is a flexible week, we able to travel to other areas if necessary to make the best use of daily conditions."
  
5 days
Inter-Adv
6:1
Dates: 16 - 20 Jan '12
  23 - 27 Jan '12
  30Jan-3Feb '12
Price: £575
Ski Ability: 3-5
Fitness: 2+
Experience: A good level of off piste skiing experience is required. Some touring experience is useful.
Included: Guiding Fees.
Other Costs: Accommodation, food, travel and uplift ~ £450
 
Summary
This is a real backcountry ski week. Using uplift and ski touring kit, we access extensive glacier skiing, technical day tours and make frequent visits to nearby resorts in order to catch the best possible snow.
Recent Trip Reports - Jan 2011, Apr 2010 , Jan 2007
 
Course Base
We spend the week in and around the Chamonix valley, traveling to other areas on day trips if appropriate. 
 
Sample Itinerary
Subject to weather and snow conditions, we follow the general format below:
chamonix off piste skiing itinerary
Day 0 - Sun PM, meet in Chamonix - discuss plans and sort equipment.
Day 1 - Mon
Shakedown day - off piste skiing + skills refreshement/training in use of skins, touring kit etc as appropriate.
Days 2 - 5 Tue - Fri

Day Tours, Off Piste runs and Glacier Descents around Chamonix.

Typical areas we visit include:

During the week we often ski in neighbouring resorts in Italy, France or Switzerland to get the best snow.
chamonix off piste skiing
 
Food and Accommodation
We run all of our ski tours on a guiding & instruction only basis. Food and accommodation must be paid for seperately. Our recommended hotel in Chamonix is the Hotel Les Lanchers ** in Chamonix Les Praz, run by Jon and Celine - who we will happily put you in touch with if you'd like to reserve a room. You are however free to make other accommodation arrangements if you choose (Chamonix has numerous hotels and rental appartments available at a wide variety of prices - click on 'reservation' at the Chamonix website for more details).
 
Travel
Chamonix is easily reached by flights to Geneva and an airport transfer, both of which are bookable online.
 
Ability and Experience
You need to be a good off piste skier (ski ability levels 3-5) with the ability to ski well and in control on heavily crevassed terrain. Although some ski touring experience is handy, good skiers can pick these skills up with extra coaching at the start of the week.  Off piste skiing requires good levels of fitness and stamina (see fitness level 2-3) - if we go skinning you can also expect to be climbing for 1-2 hours some days to get the best runs, so you need to have good levels of cardiovascular fitness too.
 
Equipment
We will supply you with a full kit list. You are responsible for bringing personal clothing, a rucsac and ski mountaineering skis, boots and kit (local hire is available). We are delighted to be working on this tour with Backcountry UK, who provide excellent service and advice as a leading retailer of ski mountaineering equipment in the UK.
 
     
 
 
 
         
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