For each of the trips and courses that we offer, we give information about the ski ability, fitness and experience levels required. You can find these in the 'ability and experience' section of each course page. This is the bit you need to read carefully in order to decide if a trip is going to be suitable.
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If you are unsure about whether you fit the description, then please get in touch - as a quick chat with one of our team will help confirm if it's the right trip for you. |
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| Trip Levels |
To give you a quick overview we describe trips as either introductory, intermediate or advanced. The exact physical and technical requirements do vary, so you need to read the ability and experience requirements for each individual course. Trips and courses that are given 2 levels (eg inter - adv) are suitable for a broader range of skiers - we tailor the exact itinerary to the level of the participants. |
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NB When putting together groups, we make a big effort to make sure you are skiing with people of a similar speed and ability in order that you'll have a good trip (we do this for several reasons - but chiefly because we'd like to see you again and it makes our own life easier whilst guiding!) |
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| Ski Training Courses |
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The key focus on our courses is providing you with the skills and training that you need, set into a real context so that you gain as much experience as possible. By their nature, all training courses are at introductory or intermediate level.
The majority of training takes place on 'real' days out on the hill, mixing skiing with skills and technique sessions. Because of the training content, there is generally less ascent and descent than on a fully guided week.
When you join a course we don't expect you to have a full range of experience and ability yet - that's what you've come for - but if you are fit and keen (fitness level 2) then you'll get much more out of it. Likewise, you need to be at the minimum ski standard required at the start of the course (ski level 1-3 - see individual course requirements).
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| Backcountry Ski Weeks |
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Our backcountry weeks offer a mix of day touring, off piste and adventure skiing in search of the best possible descents and snow. The common theme is that we are valley based during the week and some uplift is regularly used. All these trips are in the intermediate to advanced category because of the good standard of off piste skiing required.
This is the kind of week that appeals to off piste skiers and tourers looking for challenging terrain on a descent orientated backcountry ski holiday.
The terrain we ski requires a good level of off piste ski ability (ski level 3-5) but generally involves no more than an hour or two skinning a day (fitness 2-3). Some touring experience is useful on these weeks, but not essential and pack weights are lighter because we return to the valley each night.
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| Multiday Ski Touring |
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Multiday ski tours are the most strenuous but also the most rewarding trips that we offer. Typically we ski from hut-to-hut on a week long tour, taking in summits and descents along the way.
The range of difficulty varies considerably between different tours - but for all multiday ski tours you need to be a competent off piste skier, with some previous ski touring experience and a good level of fitness.
These weeks are hard work, as you have to carry all of the kit that you need on your back - so some pre trip training will be required (see our ski fitness advice page).
Below we describe what's typically involved for different level ski tours.
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Introductory Ski Tours |
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The pace on these tours is more relaxed and all are suitable as a first weeks hut to hut touring. Typically we skin for 3-4 hours a day with 7-900m of ascent. Descents can be steep in places, but are never extreme. Likewise, you don't need specific mountaineering knowledge, as sections on foot will be short boot tracks on snow. |
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Intermediate Ski Tours |
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These tours run at a slightly quicker pace (typically 300m/hr) and generally involve longer days with 3-5hrs skinning and 8-1200m of ascent a day. During the tour there may be exposed sections where a fall would result in serious injury - so both your skiing and ability to do kick turns whilst skinning needs to be up to scratch. A familiarity with ice axe and crampons will be necessary. |
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Advanced Ski Tours |
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For fit and experienced ski mountaineers. On these weeks you can expect to be skinning at 400m/hr for up to 1400m+ on some days. Much of the terrain we pass through is steep, where falling may not be an option - so you must be safely able to do do uphill kick turns on 35+ degree slopes on hard spring snow. Likewise, you need to be able to ski all snow types in control and be happy skiing on slopes of 40 degrees. Tours with technical mountaineering objectives require some alpine climbing experience. |
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| Important |
Please remember, you need both the required fitness level and ski ability level in order to enjoy a particular trip - as our guides have to judge your abilities before embarking on any serious objective or extended ski tour (current weather and mountain conditions are also taken into account). If they decide that a particular objective should not be attempted, then a good alternative will always be offered. (If your fitness or skills are in doubt however, we may have to exclude you from certain activities. It is very unusual for us to do this, but it can occur if you are not realistic about your current experience or fitness levels - or you do not prepare sufficiently for the trip.) |
