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Haute Route ski touring: Chamonix to Zermatt

Since 1924, the winter version of the haute route, from chamonix to zermatt, is one of the most famous ski touring traverses in the world and a classic mountain journey. the route offers everything you would expect on a high mountains tour: amazing scenery, glacier terrain every day, tough climbs and great downhill descents., price: starting from 2390 €.

There are now multiple variations of this route, Chamonix Mont Blanc Guides offers you the classic 7 days route: starting from Argentière (upper side of the Chamonix valley), through some of the Alps' most spectacular scenery, arriving in Zermatt at the foot of the famous Matterhorn.

The Haute Route is an Advanced Level trip for experienced ski tourers. The tour involves several big climbs and long technical descents, with a number of sections where the use of the rope for security is necessary. Like most high altitude ski tours, reasonable weather and snow conditions are required in order to complete the whole tour.

Your high mountain guide:

• Alpinism state qualified
• English and French speaking

Please use the tabs above to read about the day by day itinerary, and other useful information.

Haute Route Day by Day Itinerary

Itinerary subject to change depending on weather / mountain conditions & participants fitness.

Evening before, telephone appointment with your guide for a Program briefing, plus gear check, and confirm meeting time on the morning of Day 1.

Your guide will bring the gear you have requested from us on day 1.

Night in the hotel (2 or 3 *** depending availability) in shared twin room on Bed & Breakfast base. Dinner is at your charge.

Day 1: Argentière hut or Albert 1er hut

Depending on the availabilties in the huts and opening of the cable cars, we either aim for Argentière or Albert 1er hut.

We head to the col du Passon through easy south and sunny slopes, a beautiful climb facing the impressive north face of the Argentière basin.

Once at the bottom of the couloir, we put our skis on our back-pack, put crampons on and ascend the 80m of couloir, to arrive at the col du Passon (3030m.)

Here we can admire the Tour Glacier and the north face of the impressive Chardonnet mountain.

We ski down to Albert 1er hut by crossing the glacier Plateau.

This first day is not that long and will be a good occasion to practice our ski touring skills and avalanche safety.

Hours: 5 to 6 h

Altitude range: -900m / +540m

Day 2:  Albert 1er to Champex

We climb the Col supérieur du Tour pass (3388m) then have an easy ski down the Trient glacier into Switzerland to reach the col des Ecandies (2796m).

Here we have some short steep sections and we will most likely use ropes and crampons. 
A superb ski descent takes us to the picturesque lakeside village of Champex, where we spend the night in a gite.

Hours: 5 to 6h

Altitude range: +1041m/ -1100m

Day 3: Champex to Prafleuri hut

We take a bus or taxi to Chable, part of the vast Verbier ski area. We can ski a few runs here before taking the skilift up as far as the Gentianes pass (2903m), and ski tour up to the summit of the Rosablanche (3336m). Here a panoramic view of peaks surrounds us, before we ski down to the Prafleuri hut (2624m).

Hours: 4 to 5h

Altitude range: +400m/ -2372m

Day 4: Prafleuri hut to Dix hut

A 6 am departure to cross the short col des Roux  followed by a long traverse above Dix Lake which we follow to the Pas du Chat.

We climb up to the Dix hut (2928m) opposite the imposing north face of the Mont Blanc de Cheilon.

Hours: 6 to 7h

Altitude range: +730m/ -430m

Day 5: Dix hut to Vignettes hut

A climb to Serpentine pass (3423m) - most likely using crampons - leads to the Brenay pass (3639m) and finishes with the spectacular Pigne d'Arolla (3796m).

Here we can admire the view stretching from the Mont Blanc to the Matterhorn before skiing between seracs down to Vignettes.

Altitude range: +868 m/ -602m

Day 6 : Vignettes hut to Bertol hut

We descend to the Mont Collon glacier then climb to the Evêque pass (3392m) dominated by the peaks of the Evêque and the Cardinal.


Traverse of the col Collon and a superb descent on the Arolla glacier to Plan de Bertol (2615m). An 800 m ski tour up brings us to the Bertol hut (3311m) perched on a rocky spur facing the Dent Blanche and the Matterhorn.

Altitude range: + 1100m / - 852m

Day 7: Bertol hut to Zermatt

We cross the Mont Miné glacier to ski up to the Tête Blanche (3724m) to take in the awe of the Matterhorn pyramid. Then we have the final descent to Zermatt on the famous Stockji and Zmutt glaciers.

You can then choose to stay and rest in Zermatt, or join the other group members who plan to head back to Chamonix.

Due to variations in clients arrangements from Zermatt, the cost of transport from Zermatt or additional accommodation will be at the charge of each individual.

We will of course reserve a hotel or taxi for you if you let us or your guide know.

Altitude range: +400m / -2000m

Haute Route Chamonix to Zermatt Technical Information

Technical level required for the haute route ski tour.

Snow slopes of up to 40 degrees in varying snow conditions (deep powder, wind crusted, hard packed, etc).

You need to have previous ski touring experience, master downhill and uphill kick turns, and be able to ski in all snow conditions (style is less important!).

Ropes and crampons will sometimes be necessary, and you may have to carry your skis on your back to traverse / climb certain sections.

Fitness level for the Haute Route Ski Tour

Daily altitude ranges from 800 to 1200m with up to 8 hours walking. You should practise an endurance sport regularly.

We climb about 350m per hour, which is not difficult in itself, however it can be strenuous with backpacks and changing weather and snow conditions.

Changes to the program

The high mountain guide reserves the right to modify or interrupt the program at any time for safety reasons, technical or physical problems with one or several participants or due to bad weather and snow conditions.

Meeting point

The day before the course, at the end of afternoon, Telephone appointment with your guide to review the program, equipment and confirm the appointment of day 1.

By train (SNCF): Chamonix train station via Saint-Gervais-Les-Bains - Le Fayet.

By plane: Geneva airport by coach or shuttle.

There are regular airport shuttles between Geneva Airport and Chamonix. Special discount rate on Mountaindropoffs, please ask us for the code.

Accommodation

3* hotel the night before, thereafter in catered alpine huts. Pillows and blankets are provided, but please bring a sleeping bag liner.

Half board in the huts (dinner and breakfast).
 You can buy lunche in the huts for the following days.

You should also bring your own additional snacks, e.g. energy bars, dried fruit and nuts (nothing heavy or squashable).

The gear list will be provided upon booking.

Haute Route Chamonix to Zermatt in 7 Days Pricing and Availability

The cost is based on a group of 4 up to 6 people. If you are a private group, please contact us to discuss dates and prices. 

IMPORTANT NOTE :  we get back to you as quickly as possible to confirm your booking, as all depends on the places available in the huts.

GET IN TOUCH directly by e-mail or phone/whats app +33 6 95 04 23 02 as we have other different dates / program and routes available too.

The price includes:

• Organisation of the trip
• High mountain guide (state qualified)
• 1 night B&B in 3* hotel in Chamonix the night before (day 0)
• 6 nights in mountain huts with dinner and breakfast
• Taxi on day 3

The price does not include:

• Transport to Chamonix
• Transport from Chamonix to Les Grands Montets on Day 1:  regular bus or train
• Transport from Zermatt back to Chamonix at the end (taxi is approx 90€ per person, depending the number of people and taking into account the guide)
• Lunches (buy them in the huts = count 20-25€ per day)
• Additional snacks and drinks in the huts
• Personal ski and safety equipment (touring skis, boots, harness, transceiver, shovel,probe)
• Any unplanned additional expenses due to weather forecast, snow conditions, lack of fitness, etc
• Alpine insurance (rescue, medical fees & repatriation)

IMPORTANT: if you plan to stay in Zermatt after the course, please note that you will still have to contribute to the guide's taxi fee to return to Chamonix. Price to be confirmed upon number of participants.

Home / Trips / Haute Route Ski Tour

Haute Route Ski Tour

The Haute Route Ski Tour is justifiably world famous and makes for an amazing weeks skiing, traversing across the high alpine glacier systems between Chamonix and Zermatt. The route has everything you’d expect of a high mountain ski tour; with great scenery, big climbs and long descents each day. Like many alpine ski tours, good weather and snow conditions are necessary on key parts of the route, but our specialist ski guides know the route intimately and our 7 day tour has a spare ‘weather day’ programmed in, which increases your chances of reaching Zermatt.

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Enquire about this trip

We really had a fantastic trip. It was great to meet Johnny, he was a fantastic guide, great guy & I’d happily trust and recommend him to anyone. I guess from our point of view we take a gamble when signing up with guides via the internet. We had looked at a couple of websites, but didn’t really shop around a huge amount as your website was really comprensive, had all the right kind of information and technical ability required etc. Happy to say that the website is bang on. We were very lucky indeed with the weather, and the group of folk were great & we had some good banter which is always a bonus. So we loved it, had an epic time! Nicola Smith

I’m sure you’ll get very similar comments from the rest of the group, but my father and I absolutely loved the trip. Overall we were incredibly lucky with the weather and Mark was a superb guide, incredibly knowledgeable, relaxed and fun to tour with. I for one will be looking into more tours and I’d love to go on another next year. Thanks and I look forward to getting in contact again to discuss next year’s adventures! Jody Saunders

Just a quick mail to say thank you for arranging the trip for Tom and myself – we enjoyed every hard step of the way through the Haute Route. I would just like to say that Neil our guide was fantastic, he went above and beyond his duties as a guide – I can not express enough how grateful we are to him. Please let him know he will always be regarded in the highest esteem. Kindest regards Colin Woodward

The Haute Tour was excellent! Despite poor initial weather forecasts we were very lucky to get fresh snow and great weather until the last day. Dave was fantastic throughout the tour. He kept us safe and my future Alpine Touring will benefit greatly from the advice he frequently gave me! Except perhaps the bit about not skiing fast 🙂 I was also very fortunate to have a great group of companions to travel with and we had a lot of laughs along the way which made the whole trip even more enjoyable. Thanks again to Dave for being such an excellent guide and to you and your team for organising such a great trip. Keith Goddard

Good guide in Dave: particularly liked the stress he put on certain skiing fundamentals, the importance of which was evident on many occasions. His skill in route finding, putting in the track and navigation was certainly very obvious and appreciated. I liked the challenge of trying to complete a route, which gives the whole trip a tangible purpose, though obviously means the skiing is not necessarily always ideal. Having said that I think we had great snow conditions. Also important was the make up of the group; of course I knew Rosie and Jay which helps, but the other guys were great company and I would be more than happy to join them again. Thanks for the trip, hope to see you next year! Rick Appleton

Just a quick note. I really enjoyed the trip (especially now I’ve had a day or two to recover), the whole experience was great with a variety of different conditions and uncertainty all adding to the overall sense of achievement at the end, including some great skiing thrown in! Looking forward to doing something next year, any suggestions would be appreciated! Tim Cashmore

Had a fantastic time skiing last week and it feels great to have completed the route albeit with a slight variation mid-week to mitigate the risk of bad weather and avalanche potential. In fact the bad weather added a bit of character to the week… Thanks for a great trip and I’m already looking forward to a tour next year. Steve Green

This was a trip of a lifetime and went beyond me wildest expectations. I’ve had many guides in my mountain adventures and I would say that Dave’s performance was the best I have ever seen and enjoyed. I think the rest of the group feels the same. John Wettstein

I simply wanted you to know just how pleased we were with everything from the initial planning phase to finally arriving in Zermatt. Dave Hollinger is an exemplary guide. He was able to assess the skills and abilities of all and make appropriate decisions which resulted in success for the entire team. I can without any hesitation recommend Alpine Guides as a great guide service… I look forward for another opportunity to ski or climb with you, you guys rock! Thank you so much and please extend my best wishes to Dave. Charlie Downs

The trip was a fantastic success. Very pleased with everything. All the logistics went off without trouble. Even had a bluebird powder day in Zermat the day after the tour. Was very happy with Dave Hollinger. He was focused on his job as guide, to keep us safe and got us to Zermatt. He kept things fun but never lost sight of everyone’s welfare. He got us to Zermat while other teams failed while maintaining a good margin. I know that some of the success belongs to the team, but it was Dave’s ability to gauge our strength and weakness and his talent in inspiring us that helped lead to this success. Thanks for all your help answering our questions and making arrangements. Ron Vardanega

Everything was first-rate. Your pre-trip correspondence, answering my numerous questions, was very much appreciated. Dave Hollinger, as you know, is a great guy and a consummate professional. Never once did I not trust his judgment and his commitment to the group’s safety. Pushing onto Zermatt the final day ahead of foul weather was a tough call, but one we all appreciated. The training day we spent with Dave was excellent. After 40 years doing this sport, I still learned a lot. The hut accommodations were fine and the food plentiful. Dave’s communication on what to expect was spot-on. We also very much appreciated the luggage transfer to the Hotel Derby. I can’t say enough about your company and the experience it provided us all. It was indeed the trip of a lifetime. Dave Johnson

Trip overview

The Haute Route is an Advanced Level trip for experienced ski mountaineers. The tour involves several big climbs and long technical descents, with a number of sections where we use the rope, ice axes and crampons for security.

NB Skiing Conditions on the Haute Route – before booking, you need be aware that like all multiday hut tours in the European Alps, reasonable weather and snow conditions are required in order to complete the whole tour.  In particular, if the avalanche risk reaches Level 3 – considerable – then for safety reasons, changes to the itinerary will be necessary.  If we don’t manage to get the full route done, it’s usually because of a large dump of fresh snow, in which case we’ll ski plenty of fresh powder during the week – so not all is lost!

NB This is a 7 Day Itinerary – not the usual 6 – which increases your chances of reaching Zermatt.

Trip Reports >> 2022 , 2019 , 2018 , 2017 , 2016

Suitability

If you have not skied with us before , then please read our Haute Route Advice page and  drop us a line before you make an online booking.

NB The Haute Route has become significantly harder in recent years, due to glacier recession and changes in snow cover on technical sections of the route.  Therefore, this is now an advanced level trip that is only suitable for fit and experienced ski mountaineers – you need several weeks ski touring experience , preferably including hut to hut tours, as well as mountaineering experience using ice axe and crampons on steep terrain before you book on the trip (ie you cannot be ‘aiming to get’ this essential experience between booking on the trip and the start date – you must already have the required experience before you book on the trip).  To take part you should be at Fitness Level 3-4  and  Tech Level 3-4  (see our Fitness/Experience guidelines).

Guiding ratio

One IFMGA guide skiing with 6 clients. An Aspirant Guide may also join this trip, to give a guide:client ratio of 2:6

Included in price

• 7 days of guiding
• All guides expenses
• 2 or 3 nights accommodation in the Chamonix valley, including breakfast and evening meal.
• 5 or 6 nights accommodation in mountain huts, including breakfast and evening meal.

Excluded from price (see course factsheet for cost estimates)

• Cable cars and taxis (organised by Alpine Guides)
• Lunches and drinks
• Evening meal in Zermatt
• Travel to resort
• Equipment hire

Our base for the week is the Chaumiere Mountain Lodge , in Chamonix. The hotel is well set up for touring, with a comfortable bar, good local food and quick access to the local skiing. Hotel rooms are provided on a twin (or occasionally triple) sharing basis, but if you wish to book a single room please let us know and we will confirm availability.  Hotel details can be found on our Accommodation page.

For overnights in the high mountains we will use mountain huts. For more info please read the Using Alpine Huts article which provides an overview of typical facilities, average costs to help you budget for lunches/drinks and general info on hut etiquette. Also, our  Ski Touring FAQs  page answers some of the most common questions we are asked about multi day ski touring and logistics etc.

ABTOT Protected

This trip is protected by ABTOT – Alpine Guides Ltd, Membership Number 5394.  For further information, please visit our Financial Protection  page.

Detailed Itinerary

Sample itinerary.

Please Note : there are numerous different combinations of huts and accommodation along the route and we frequently vary our itineraries to make best use of bookings and current weather and snow conditions. For example – if there is a significant fresh snowfall, the guide will often re arrange hut bookings in order to keep the team safe and increase the chances of success.

Subject to weather and snow conditions, we aim to take the Skiers Verbier Route which gives the most reliable passage to Zermatt:

You should arrange outward travel on Saturday, arriving by 6-7pm latest in time for the briefing at your accommodation. Your guide will run through kit checks and safety routines , as well as hand out any rental equipment, before going on to discuss the current weather and mountain conditions and how these affect our plans. Overnight in the valley.

Before setting off on the Haute Route, we do some warm up runs at the Grands Montets , before donning skins and heading out of the patrolled ski area. This leads to a great 500m descent with stunning views down on to the  Argentiere Glacier , which we cross and then skin up to the  Argentiere Hut .  En route we refresh on some key skills, which may include kick turns, transceiver training or crampon and ropework.

NB this is a warmup day and hut approach, not a beginners training day – ie the idea is to acclimatise and refresh the skills you already have (ie you must already be able to use crampons and do kick turns before you arrive in Chamonix!)  Your guide will assess your current ski standard, fitness and technical ability before committing to the tour – if you are not at the required standard, you may need to leave the tour early.

Typically ~400m ascent

From the Argentiere Hut a choice of routes now presents itself – either the Col du Chardonnet or Col du Passon . Both are the same distance, but in recent years the Col du Passon has become more popular, since the Col du Chardonnet has dried out and become a lower/abseil rather than a ski descent.

We follow which ever route is in best condition, as both lead to either the Le Tour Glacier and the Albert Premier Hut, or the  Swiss border and the Trient Hut , or finally the Relais D’Arpette above Champex. This first day is a long one, with 1250m of climb and two or three sections of roped climbing on foot – however the views and high mountain ambiance are amazing. Hut choice depends on the group, current conditions the best combination of hut bookings for the week.

1250m ascent, 800-1900m descent ~6-8hrs

*The day begins with a few hundred metres of descent down the right bank of the Trient Glacier, followed by a short roped climb on snowed up rock to reach the Col des Ecandies at the top of the Val D’Arpette .

(* NB If staying at the Relais D’Arpette, we’ll cross the Col des Ecandies and ski the Val D’Arpette at the end of day 2, rather than the start of day 3)

This deep, north facing valley gives a wonderful long ski run right down to Champex , where we meet a pre arranged minibus to take us the few kilometers down the valley to the Verbier lift system.

After lunch on the slopes in Verbier, if heading to the Prafleuri Hut we set off in the afternoon to traverse 3 cols with short descents in between, which leads to the glacier below the Rosablanche and a good north facing decent down to the Prafleuri Hut – this is a long day and we usually arrive at the hut around 5pm.

If staying at the Mont Fort Hut at the end of the day, we can get up a little later and enjoy a quiet descent of the Val D’Arpette before having an afternoon’s off piste skiing around Verbier, as the Mont Fort Hut lies within the Verbier lift system.

700m ascent, 1300m-2400m descent ~6-9hrs.

Prafleuri (or Mont Fort) to Dix Hut

From the Prafleuri Hut, an hours skinning leads to the Col des Roux , where the long descending traverse above the Lac de Dix begins. This section of the route is south facing, so in warm weather, must be completed early in the day.

In good conditions with a fast team, various alternatives may be taken here, in order to find some fresh snow. If starting from the Mont Fort Hut , it takes a couple of hours longer to reach the traverse above the Lac de Dix, coming around the North side of the Rosablanche before making a good descent off the Col de Sovereu . Although longer (1400m of ascent to Dix Hut), this route is quieter and offers good skiing.

Either way, at the end of the lake the long climb up to the Dix Hut begins – usually in the afternoon sun. On paper this is quite a short day from the Prafleuri Hut, but the uphill finish in the afternoon heat makes it feel much harder. Luckily the Dix Hut is in a superb position, with a great sunny terrace where you can enjoy the view and a well earned beer before dinner.

900m ascent, 600m descent ~5-7hrs

At 3790m, the Pigne D’Arolla marks the highest point reached on the trip and is a wonderful viewpoint across the whole of the Western Alps.

The ascent from the Dix Hut involves 900m of climb and takes about 3 hours, passing through some steep glacier terrain, including the passage of the Serpentine , which often has to be climbed on foot.

From the summit, it’s a 600m descent down to the Vignettes Hut , which lies perched in a spectacular position on a rocky ridge crest. Here again, in the right conditions it’s sometimes possible to take a different line in order to find fresh snow.

If staying at the Vignettes Hut, this is quite a short day. However, in good weather it’s also possible to continue a further 2.5 hours to the Nacamuli Hut in Italy, which is less well known and makes the last day a couple of hours shorter

950m ascent, 700m descent ~4hrs (1250m ascent, 1350m descent ~6.5hrs to Nacamuli).

The final day of the Haute Route is always one of the most memorable days out in any ski mountaineers career – crossing three cols and six glaciers, with a final huge descent down to Zermatt under the North Face of the Matterhorn .

An early start is required to make the first climb up the Col de L’Eveque , before a nice descent and second climb up to the Col du Mont Brule . The final section of this is steep and frequently climbed on foot.

From the Col Brule, the Col Valpelline doesn’t look that far away, but it always takes a good two hours to reach. Cresting the final col, the Matterhorn rears up ahead, opening the way to the final 1900m descent down the Stockji and Zmutt Glaciers to Zermatt .

1250m ascent, 2800m descent ~8-10hrs from the Vignettes.

Spare Day – to allow for weather delays.

We’ve been guiding the Haute Route for many years now and are well aware that having an extra day in the itinerary significantly increases your chances of completing the route. It makes the trip a little more expensive, but you get 7 days skiing and it’s definitely worth it if you are serious about reaching Zermatt. If we reach Zermatt on Friday, then Saturday will be a spare day to ski off piste/tour either in Zermatt or Chamonix. PM Overnight in Chamonix valley.

Return travel should be arranged on Sunday morning, after your final nights accommodation.

Location and Travel

Your course starts and finishes in the Chamonix valley, at our base in Argentiere – the Hotel De La Couronne. The most common way to reach Chamonix is fly to Geneva, then take a shared minibus taxi transfer to the Chamonix valley (must be booked in advance).

Flights and transfers

• Fly to Geneva with numerous budget airlines, for an overview of the best options check out the excellent Sky Scanner website.
• Airport transfer from Geneva to Chamonix: Mountain Drop-offs offer the best all round service, with regular reliable transfers through the season. They offer a shared minibus taxi service which meets you in the airport and drops you off at the door of your hotel. Book your transfer here and use promo code ALPGUID to receive a discount on your journey.
• Alternatively hire a car at Geneva airport (1.2 hrs drive to Cham).

For flights and other travel options, including train, coach and driving, visit our Travel Planning page.

Fitness and Experience

Haute route experience requirements.

The Haute Route is an Advanced Level Alpine hut to hut tour, that is only suitable for fit and experienced ski mountaineers.  You need several weeks ski touring experience, preferably including hut to hut tours, as well as mountaineering experience using ice axe and crampons on steep terrain before you book on the trip.  More specifically, there are 4 pre-requirements for a safe and enjoyable Haute Route journey on skis:

1. Technical Ski Ability >  your off-piste ski ability should be at Ski Tech Level 3/4.  NB If you are a Telemarker, then it needs to be at Level 4.

2. Physical Fitness > you should be at Ski Fitness Level 3/4.

3. Alpine Ski Touring Experience > you should have several weeks previous ski touring experience on Alpine touring kit . This needs to be in the Alps, or on equivalent terrain eg. in North America, New Zealand, Scandinavia etc (ie ski touring in the Uk is not enough!) – preferably including some hut to hut touring, but a strong day touring resume is ok.  NB By a day tour, we mean a minimum of 2-3 hours uphill skinning in the day – ie  a shorter skin off the top of a lift in order to get a nice descent is something we’d consider as a regular off piste day.

4. Mountaineering Experience > you need to have some mountaineering experience using ice axe and crampons – ie you need to have experience moving on steep snow and/or rocky terrain terrain using an ice axe and crampons before you book on the trip (NB you cannot be ‘aiming to get’ this essential experience between booking on the trip and the start date – you must already have the required experience before you book on the trip).

The touring skills you should have before setting out include:

• Familiarity with touring kit –  know how to use touring boots/bindings/skins/harscheisen and other touring kit.
• Skinning skills – have efficient skinning technique and be able to skin safely, including on icy traverses.
• Uphill Kick Turns – be able to do safe and efficient uphill kick turns on exposed, steep (up to 35deg) and sometimes icy slopes.
• Skiing with a rucsac – ski well whilst wearing a heavy rucsac (~8kg) containing safety and overnight gear.
• Confidence on steep ground – ability to boot track up steep snow and climb rocky terrain, whilst wearing crampons and being tied onto a rope.
• Steep descents – happy being lowered down steep snow on a rope (either side slipping on skis, or on foot wearing crampons).
• Avalanche Awareness – must have worn an avalanche transceiver before and be aware of basic avalanche safety protocols.

Splitboards on the Haute Route

The Haute Route is possible on a splitboard, but being a long A to B tour, the route traverses a lot of terrain that it’s far quicker and easier to cover on skis.  Using a splitboard, different techniques and lines are required on a number of sections of the route, which means we are unfortunately unable to accept bookings for splitboards on our Haute Route trips .   If you’d like to do the Haute Route on a splitboard (either as an individual, or as a group of friends containing both skiers and splitboarders) then you need to get in touch with a guiding company that specifically offers Haute Route splitboarding tours.  If you need any help with this, then drop us a line and we’ll give you some recommendations.  A number of our other touring trips are suitable for splitboards however, so if you’d like some advice and recommendations on these, then please get in touch.

If you need to top up your fitness for this trip, please see our ski touring training advice  page.

For further information, please check out our Haute Route Advice Article . This a great source of info about fitness and experience requirements, the route, average weather and snow conditions through the season and what to expect each day before signing up.

Required Ski and Fitness Levels

Tech Level 3 Confirmed Off Piste Skier . You can put down a reasonable set of tracks in powder, but difficult snow types – eg heavy wet snow, crusts, poor visibility or 40dg slopes – can all cause problems (though you can cope with them safely, if not elegantly!) *Equivalent to Ski Club of GB Off Piste Level: Purple – Advanced* Likely to say : ‘I’d like to handle difficult snow/steep slopes more confidently in better style’ Our Advice : Off piste coaching still useful. Intermediate off piste weeks are at your level too. If you want to get into ski touring, try a touring course or intro level ski tour. If you’re an established ski mountaineer, then intermediate level tours are generally suitable. Tech Level 4 Advanced Off Piste Skier . You can put turns in through heavier snow and on icy 40dg slopes, but difficult breakable crusts and skiing a fresh track off piste in zero visibility are still somewhat challenging! *Equivalent to Ski Club of GB Off Piste Level: Gold – Expert* Likely to say : I’ve been skiing ten/twenty years – I’d like to do your ‘……’ tour. Our Advice : You will enjoy our advanced level trips, but don’t overlook the touring skills and physical fitness needed as well. Mileage is the best way to improve your ability level. Fitness Level 3 You do  3-4 hours cv training/sport per week . At this level you are happy doing a 5-6 hr hillwalk, 40-50ml cycle or 3-4hr mountain bike ride without being totally exhausted. If you are into challenges – then the thought of doing a road sportive, or training to do a 1/2 (or maybe even a full) marathon, wouldn’t seem too ridiculous. On foot: you should be able to do the full Langdale Horseshoe: Langdale – Pike of Stickle – Angle Tarn – Bow Fell – Crinkle Crags – Pike of Blisco – Langdale in a day without finishing up exhausted. On skis : you can skin uphill at 300-400m/hr for 3-4 hrs a day (ie 8-1200m of ascent each day) Fitness Level 4 You do  4+ hours CV training/sport per week . A 70+ mile cycle ride, or 20+ mile hillwalk on a weekend would hold no fears. If so inclined, you might be the kind of person who has done longer road sportives/challenge rides, a ~3.30hr marathon or other similar endurance events. Keen hillwalkers who happily knock off 3-4+ munros in a day also have this kind of fitness and endurance.  On skis : you can skin at 400m+/hr or could handle 4-6hrs skinning a day. (ie 1000-1400m+ of ascent each day).

Hut to Hut Touring Equipment List

Just remember, every extra kilo on your back knocks 10% off your enjoyment on the descents – so try and keep the weight down!

Technical Clothing (more info here )

• Waterproof Jacket – preferably lightweight and breathable
• Overtrousers/ski pants – preferably with side zips
• Fleece mid layer – or equivalent
• Socks – specialist ski socks or a warm loop lined pair of mountain socks
• Wicking thermal top – not cotton please…
• Thermal leggings or ski pants
• Thin inner gloves
• Warm ski gloves or mittens, if you suffer from cold hands
• Spare fleece /lightweight duvet jacket

Personal Items

• Water container – at least 1 litre
• Personal medications and blister kit – regular meds, zinc oxide tape, compeed and painkillers etc
• Lightweight head torch
• Ski goggles
• Sun glasses – CE rated 3 or 4 with side protection
• Sun and lip cream – factor 30+
• Wallet, passport, Alpine Club/BMC card (hut discount) and insurance docs

Hut Overnight Items

• Small wash kit
• Spare lightweight t-shirt/socks/pants
• Silk sheet liner
• (Hut slippers for indoor use, blankets/duvets and pillows are provided by the huts)

Technical Equipment (more info here )

• Rucsac 35/45l – try and avoid ones covered in too many features, just ski and ice axe attachments required
• Ski mountaineering boots
• Skis with touring bindings – some ‘freeride’ bindings are also suitable
• Ski strap – to keep skis together on your rucksack if we need to carry them
• Ski poles – with good size 5cm+ baskets (telescopic poles are not needed)
• Climbing skins – they come with the skis if you hire your kit
• Harscheisen (ski crampons) – they come with the skis if you hire your kit
• Metal snow shovel – must be a full metal shovel (plastic blades don’t work in real avalanche debris!)
• Avalanche probe
• Avalanche transceiver – must be a modern digital model (older analogue models are now obsolete)
• Harness , with 120cm sling and locking karabiner
• Crampons – lightweight model
• Ice Axe – lightweight model
• Helmet – a lightweight ski touring or climbing model – you may need this on certain parts of the route depending on conditions

Your guide will have all other safety kit, first aid and survival equipment.

Recommendations and Advice Visit the Knowledge Base section of our website, where we publish an annual review of the years best new skis, boots and touring equipment, plus a range of other interesting tips and recommendations. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, please get in touch!

Purchasing Equipment Backcountry UK in Otley offer an excellent ski touring boot fitting service, one of the best ranges of ski mountaineering equipment in the UK and top notch advice.

Hiring Equipment Please visit our Equipment Hire page for recommended hire shops in your resort, and Alpine Guides hire equipment price list.

For this trip you must have specialist travel insurance providing medical, emergency search/rescue and repatriation cover for off piste skiing and ski touring, as outlined in the trip itinerary. We also strongly recommend that you purchase cancellation cover , in case you’re unable to attend your trip due to personal circumstances or injury. Please arrange your insurance as soon as your trip is confirmed to run.

Further details can be found on our insurance info page.

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Ski Touring | The Ultimate Guide to Getting Started

Ski touring often sounds daunting, but it needn't be—and one of the best places to learn is right here in the UK. We've teamed up with Glenmore Lodge, Scotland's National Outdoor Training Centre to create this complete guide to getting started.

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Ski touring, a discipline which involves using specialised climbing skins that let you ski uphill, has exploded in popularity in recent years, and with good reason. Unlike alpine skiers (who rely on lifts) or cross country skiers (who need largely flat tracks) ski tourers can pretty much travel wherever they want.

Because of the element of physical exercise involved, ski touring appeals to all kinds of outdoorsy people, from hardcore endurance athletes to those who just like getting out into nature. The mental health benefits of outdoor exercise are well documented, and ski touring is a great way to keep up your cardiovascular fitness through the cold winter months. 

Of course, for skiers who love powder (and what experienced skier doesn't?) the advantages are obvious: ski touring lets you access fresh snow that others can't reach. Whereas most off-piste skiers are limited by what they can traverse to from the lift (or how far they're willing to hike in deep snow) ski tourers can head off into vast, trackless areas of backcountry beyond ski area boundaries. Learn a few more technical ski mountaineering skills and entire mountain ranges open up, with limitless possibilities. 

The discipline had a huge boost during the pandemic as many European countries closed their ski lifts. But even before Covid struck, ski touring equipment was the fastest selling category of ski gear according to the industry research body SIA. 

While the UK can't realistically compete with the Alps when it comes to ski resorts, Scotland is a great place to try ski touring. Scotland's lift systems are small, meaning that much of the best skiing in places like the Cairngorms National Park can only be accessed using touring gear. 

At the same time, the mountains are a manageable size, so you won't be faced with Eiger-style north faces right from the off (although there's plenty of gnarly skiing in Scotland if you know where to look). Taking a train to Scotland is also way better for the planet than flying to the Alps, and one of the main benefits of ski touring is its reduced environmental impact, especially when compared to other ways of accessing the backcountry like heliskiing or cat skiing. 

We've teamed up with Andy Townsend, Head of Snowsports at the Scottish National Outdoor Training Centre at Glenmore Lodge , to talk you through the basics of this fast-growing discipline—and share our top tips to help you start ski touring yourself.

Don't be intimidated

Getting started with ski touring can feel like a scary prospect, even for those with plenty of off piste skiing experience. Heading deeper into the backcountry requires careful preparation and planning, as well as a well-honed skill set. But none of it is rocket science. 

The good news is that if you're a proficient skier already, you've done the hardest part. As Andy Townsend says, "the trickiest and most time-consuming part of ski touring to master is the actual skiing bit!" We wouldn't recommend trying ski touring until you're an accomplished piste and off piste skier. But from a technical point of view, the uphill bit of ski touring is very easy. It just requires a reasonable level of fitness.

Do be careful

Ski touring might be technically easy, but venturing into the backcountry, far from groomed slopes, and the watchful eye of ski patrol, will always carry inherent risks. Avalanche safety is an essential part of ski touring. But there are also more basic precautions you'll need to take, like you would if you were going hiking in Scotland in summer. 

Packing adequate food, water and a first aid kit. Making sure your group's navigation skills are on up to scratch, and making sure everyone has enough clothing to stay warm if the weather changes—these aren't things that alpine skiers normally have to think about. They can usually nip into a mountain restaurant to eat or warm up, and consult a piste map if they get lost. As a ski tourer, you're on your own.

These days, some resorts have dedicated ski touring parks—areas that are controlled for avalanches, patrolled by pisteurs, and usually close to the pistes, to help those on their first ski tour get to grips with the basics. But there are still risks involved that far outweigh those you'd encounter with regular alpine skiing. As Andy Townsend says, "with ski touring, there is both a lot to learn and a lot to practice."

Go with a guide

Unsurprisingly, the best way to learn ski touring skills is from an expert like Andy. Which is why we suggest one unbreakable golden rule for first time ski tourers: always go with a guide. "Having someone hold your hand and share their knowledge while you head into the backcountry for the first time is invaluable," says Townsend. Glenmore Lodge offers a whole range of backcountry skiing courses , which include ski touring for beginners. 

Taking a course brings countless advantages. For starters, it will make your first ski tour infinitely safer. Guides will have know the terrain, local snow conditions and so on, and will be able to make the all important judgement calls about where it's OK to go. Guides also remove the stress of route and tour planning, and can help you avoid basic mistakes, like carrying too much heavy kit for the conditions. They will help you with technique while skinning uphill, and give you tips your downhill performance. But most of all, a guide will make your first ski tour way more fun. 

A guide with local knowledge will almost certainly be able to choose more manageable routes for the climbs, and find you better snow on the descents. In a mountain range like the Cairngorms, knowing where to find pockets of powder can really make the difference to your first ski tours. Even highly experienced ski tourers usually hire guides, so if you're in a group of ski touring beginners, it's a must.

• READ NEXT: The Aye of the Storm: Taking on Scotland's Backcountry

Learn your essential avalanche safety skills

It's a guide's job to take decisions about safety, line choice, which climbs are doable given group fitness levels and so on. But a guide can't be solely responsible for the safety of a group. Anyone who's venturing into the backcountry needs to take responsibility for themselves, and know how to use their avalanche safety equipment. 

The key here, Andy Townsend says, is not to view your avalanche transceiver, shovel, and probe as a form of protection. "These items are essential and everyone in your party should have them and know how to use them," he says. "But it is important that you remember they are rescue equipment not safety. You are only going to use them to rescue a companion, once you or a member of the party has been avalanched, after making a poor decision."

The difference is more than just semantic—it's making good decisions that will keep your group safe on the mountain, not your beeper, avalanche probe, shovel, or airbag. Learning how to make good decisions comes, of course, with experience—which is one reason why hiring a guide is essential—but the basics of good, safe, decision making can also be taught. "Attending an avalanche course with your regular ski partners is a really good way to ensure no one in your group is working to a different and potentially dangerous agenda," says Andy. 

At Glenmore Lodge, he and his colleagues teach a range of avalanche courses , and because of the variable weather, the Cairngorms are a great place to practise safety skills too. 

Mountaineers sometimes joke that "the Himalayas are good training for Scotland". But there's an element of truth in the idea that learning in Scottish conditions will prepare you well for other mountain ranges around the world.

Make sure you have the right ski touring skillset

"A ski tourer needs a very broad ski skill base before considering venturing into the backcountry," according to Andy Townsend. And as with safety skills, Scotland's often variable conditions make it a great place to learn these. 

There are two basic elements to a ski touring adventure — the way up, and the way down. Depending on your background, you may need to spend more time thinking about one or the other. As Andy Townsend says: "A proficient downhill skier with some experience of off piste snow will find the uphill part of the journey the most challenging and the descent the most enjoyable, while the mountaineer/hill walker venturing out on skis will find the uphill straightforward, but will find the downhill to be challenging, exhausting and potentially very dangerous until they master their skis."

As we mentioned earlier climbing uphill, the skill that a proficient skier will need to spend time working on, is technically relatively easy. The basic movement involves shuffling your skis forward one at a time, and zig zagging your way up the slope. The tricky part is the kick turn — the movement you need to execute when you reach the end of a zig zag and have to turn around. But if you start off practising on a gentle route with an easy slope incline, under the watchful eye of a good guide, you'll nail it pretty quickly. 

After that, it's just a question of cardiovascular fitness. Ski touring is a little like going for a slow jog, and while efficient technique can help you expend less effort, there's no getting away from the fact that if you struggle to run 5km, you'll probably struggle climbing a powdery slope. 

As Andy suggests, those who come from a hill-walking background might be able to breeze through the climb uphill, but they face a trickier challenge in mastering the discipline of ski touring overall. You don't have to be a pro to try it, by any means. On gentle slopes in good conditions, even a strong intermediate skier can have fun ski touring. But as Andy Townsend explains: "Snow can vary from turn to turn, and it is vital that the skier can cope autonomously with anything the mountain throws at you. 

"The energy wasted through poor technique and endless crashes is not the only concern. Being able to control your speed and turn exactly where you want to will allow you to avoid obstacles and hazards, which is especially important when you are far from immediate medical help." Townsend recommends spending lots of time perfecting your backcountry skiing technique in the 'sidecountry' (the terrain between groomed slopes, and around lifts) before trying ski touring proper.

Make sure you have the right gear

We've put gear at the end of this list because we believe that ski touring beginners should take everything else into consideration before they think about what ski touring equipment they need. The phrase "all the gear, no idea," (or its more earthy equivalent, "all the clobber, still a nobber") is common parlance in ski resorts. But while having kit that you don't know how to use might make you look silly within the resort boundaries, in the backcountry, it can be deadly. 

So, before you buy any of this specialist equipment, make sure you've done your homework, perfected your skiing skills and (ideally) signed up to a ski touring course. Many places that offer ski touring for beginners will be able to rent you ski touring gear for your first tour. but you may find that you want to invest in things like ski touring boots at an early stage. Here are the ski touring gear essentials. Touring skis

Dedicated ski touring skis are quite specialist compared to regular alpine skis. They are almost always lighter, with manufacturers often compromising things like torsional stiffness to save weight. This usually means they perform less well on piste or hard-pack, but you'll appreciate the reduced weight when you're climbing uphill on the skin track. 

Today's touring skis range from massive, fat beasts with waist widths of 120mm plus, to skinny whippet-like planks with less than 80mm underfoot. Wide skis float more in powder, and so tend to be better for the descents, especially in deep powder. But that extra width makes them heavier, which is why some ski tourers—often Italians with a penchant for lycra one-pieces, road cycling shades, and climbing helmets—prefer short, skinny skis. They might not be great on the downs but if you're racing uphill, you can absolutely motor.

Ski touring bindings

The crucial difference between ski touring bindings and regular ski bindings is that you have to be able to lift your heel up as you climb, to shunt the ski forward, as you would in cross country skiing. Unlike cross country skiing, you then have to be able to lock it down again for the descents. 

Companies have experimented with different types of touring bindings over the years, but these days most people prefer pin bindings, which are far lighter. There are some frame bindings (ie. classic alpine downhill style bindings) with heel lift settings that work. If you're a part time tourer these can be a good option, not least because they'll save you from having to buy a pair of pin compatible ski boots just for touring.

Ski touring boots

Dedicated ski touring boots differ from traditional alpine boots in three main ways. Firstly, like all ski touring kit, they tend to be lightweight. This can mean they're more expensive, as materials like carbon fibre are substituted for plastic to keep the weight down. 

Second, touring boots usually have a flexible cuff, with a walk mode that makes it easier to slide your skis forward when touring uphill. (They also have a locked in downhill mode for descending, of course). 

And third, touring ski boots usually have holes in the sides of the toes to make them compatible with pin style touring bindings. Holes aside, the toes look a lot like those on any other ski boot, and they're usually compatible with normal frame bindings too.

Ski touring poles

Ski touring poles aren't all that different from regular ski poles, except that they tend to be lighter, and they're usually telescopic, with a clasp mechanism of some sort that can lock them at different lengths. 

As a ski tourer, you often find that you'll want your poles shorter on steep climbs and longer when you're using them to push yourself along flats. If you're on a ski tour which involves traversing a particularly steep slope, it can sometimes be useful to set one pole shorter than the other for balance. 

Ski touring skins

Climbing skins, or ski touring skins, as they're also known, are an essential part of ski touring equipment. The early versions used by the sports' pioneers were literally made of animal skin, which was laid along the ski with the fur facing the rear. This meant you could shuffle the ski one way, but the fur would grip on the snow, stopping it sliding backwards—the essential innovation that made ski touring possible. 

The original skins were permanently nailed on, but that made sliding downhill trickier. Today's skins are made of synthetic fur, with sticky glue on the other side, so you can peel them off when you need to descend. They usually have tail clips, to ensure they're stretched tight over the whole body length of the ski.

Avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe

These are the three essential bits of rescue kit you should buy as soon as you start venturing into the backcountry—whether that's to ski tour, or simply ride powder off the side of the lifts. 

The avalanche transceiver, or beeper, sends out a signal so that if you get buried beneath the snow, others in your group with avalanche transceivers set to "search" mode can find you. The probe, a collapsible pole usually made of carbon or aluminium, allows them to fine tune their search once they've picked up your signal. The shovel—which should be light enough and pack down small enough to fit in your pack—lets them dig you out. 

Places like Glenmore Lodge which teach ski touring for beginners will usually rent out beepers, shovels and probes. But as you ski tour more, This is kit you need to know like the back of your hand, so you can use it quickly in case of emergency.

Ski touring backpack

A ski touring backpack needs to be lightweight and waterproof enough to handle heavy snow, as well as large enough to carry skins, shovel, probe, extra layers, and all the other bits of kit you need for ski touring. 

Crucially, it also has to be comfortable when fully laden, as you'll be spending long days on the skin track wearing it, and it shouldn't move around too much when you're coming down the mountain at speed. A decent padded waistband is a must, as is a chest strap.

These days, many ski touring backpacks have avalanche airbag systems in them. The way these work is best explained by filling a cup with a mixture of sand, stones and gravel, and giving it a good shake. You'll notice the larger objects rise to the top. If you're being carried down the hill by an avalanche, inflating the airbag makes you a larger object, which means you're more likely to end up at the top of the slide when the snow sets.

An avalanche airbag system isn't as essential as the other rescue kit, which you should never go into the backcountry without. But while it's not part of the basic gear you need on all your ski tours, it can definitely help improve your chances of survival in the event of an emergency. 

To find out even more about ski touring in Scotland, go to glenmorelodge.org.uk .

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Ski touring for beginners – The ultimate guide

Ski touring is more than just a sport or activity; it’s a form of meditation. Helping you reconnect with nature, refining and tuning in to your mind, skills and technique.

Relying on your knowledge and the elements, side by side with your friends and the landscape, can you think of anything better? It could be considered a daunting undertaking, but not to worry, this article is perfect as a “how-to” for ski touring as a beginner.

If you’re looking for a new challenge and the chance to see the mountains in a different light then ski touring could be a way for you to do that this winter. Forget about endless lift queues and packed pistes – touring opens up miles of new terrain for you to explore. What could be better on a powder day than heading off into the backcountry to find that perfect run of untracked snow or finding yourself close to nature amidst some of the most stunning scenery in the world.

Discover powder paradise with the right gear

Imagine this: A day of fresh snowfall, adorned in your durable ski jacket for women or trusty ski coats for men from Ridestore's latest collection. As you embark on your ski touring journey, you venture into serene backcountry, carving fresh trails amidst nature's most exquisite winter tapestry. Embrace the beauty of ski touring — where the wilderness becomes your playground.

Ski touring for beginners - quick find navigation

Things to consider before going on your first tour

The pre-trip planning is a massive part of the adventure. Galvanising your friends, booking, packing and mentally preparing is all part of the fun. Considering ski touring involves so many moving parts, and we aren't just talking about the unpredictable mountain weather. It's essential that plenty of planning goes into your voyage!

Teamwork is an important aspect to consider. You need to have trust and faith in the people you are going with. It means understanding their queue, mannerisms and having confidence in their knowledge. There is a lot of unspoken communication out in the mountains; E.g. knowing when to take breaks when people are tired or indeed scared. After all, if something goes wrong, it can make for significant consequences. Our advice is to train, read up, practice with your friends to ensure the most epic, gnarley and safe adventure possible.

Start small

In terms of skiing ability, you’ll need to be a strong intermediate to be able to tackle the off piste terrain on the downhills. As you get started, find a safe area not too far from the pistes where you can practice your technique and get comfortable with your equipment. As with any type of skiing, it is an extreme sport, so start small and plan a gentle route that will give you the chance to get a taste of ski touring without compromising on safety. There’s no medals for pushing yourself too far too soon! Another good option would be to hire a guide who will know the area and can assess your ability. As well as leading you on a safe route, they will also be able to help you improve your technique so you’re skinning efficiently and not wasting energy. One of the most daunting things for newcomers to touring is the idea that you need an Olympic athlete level of fitness to propel yourself up the side of a mountain. This isn't the case, and if you’re capable of a slow jog then you’ll be fine. Remember to pace yourself and start with short tours that you can build on as your fitness increases.

What is ski touring?

Skin up, Ski down

Put simply, ski touring is a combination of cross-country skiing and alpine downhill. Rather than relying on lifts to get you up the mountain you use specialist equipment allowing you to do what’s known as ‘skinning’. Skinning is the technique of moving uphill on your skis in a gliding motion. This will give you the freedom to explore far beyond the confines of the pistes and once you’ve reached the top of that perfect line, it’s yours for the taking.

Ski touring equipment

The equipment needed to tour is different to that used for alpine skiing – it’s all designed to be as light and comfortable as possible. Every kilo saved is one less you have to bring up the mountain with you!

Touring skis and boots have a setting which allows the wearer to ‘walk’ in them when skinning and another for skiing back down. You’ll also use skins which adhere to the bottom of your ski and are what gives it grip on the uphill. If you’re venturing into the backcountry you’ll need avalanche safety equipment including a transceiver, probe and shovel and the ability to use it.

Ski touring skis

The main difference between a touring ski and an alpine ski is weight – touring skis have been designed to be light enough to allow the user to skin easily – they’re also wider and shorter to provide greater maneuverability. Whilst it is possible to put some types of touring bindings on a pair of alpine skis you may find the extra weight an issue – limiting the distance you’re able to cover. 

However there is a compromise  – these lighter touring skis won’t perform as well on the downhills and may feel chattery and less solid which could be an issue in heavier snow. 

There are a huge range of touring skis on the market depending on what you’re planning on doing on the mountain so it’s worth doing your research to find a pair you’re happy with. As with alpine skis it can get extremely technical when considering waist width, weight, length and rocker profile, so for a beginner to touring you could consider renting equipment from a hire shop to allow you to try different setups and find the best fit for you before committing to a purchase.

Ski touring boots

A running theme with touring equipment is weight saving and boots are no different. Ski touring boots are made from lighter materials and are designed to give flexibility and comfort when skinning. They have a shorter cuff and fewer buckles than alpine boots and often a lugged rubber sole more like a hiking boot to give grip when walking on rough or slippery surfaces. 

Touring boots have both a hiking mode which loosens the boot allowing the ankle and calf to flex backwards and forwards in a ‘walking’ motion and a downhill mode providing more support. Some tourers prefer to loosen or unfasten the top buckle of their boots while climbing to give more freedom of movement. It is possible to skin in traditional alpine boots as long as they are compatible with your touring bindings however you’ll probably find them uncomfortable and heavy over any great distance.

Ski touring bindings

Whereas a traditional alpine binding holds the boot to the ski at both the toe and heel points, a touring binding features a pivoting system which keeps the toe in place while allowing the user to lift their heel in a more natural walking motion when skinning. The heel can then be clamped back into place for the downhill.There are a variety of touring bindings on the market suitable for different uses and experience levels. 

Frame bindings look and work in a similar way to traditional alpine bindings and are popular with newcomers to touring who can’t justify purchasing a second pair of skis and boots and won’t be covering great distances. They can be fitted onto any ski and used with any type of ski boot. They can also be used for alpine downhill skiing and have the same safety features as traditional bindings – meaning an adjustable DIN setting and release system. However these features all add more weight which will affect performance uphill.

Pin or Tech bindings use pins to hold the boot in place and can only be used with specialist ski touring boots. They are designed to reduce weight  and are used by experienced tourers looking to save every kilo possible. Pin bindings don’t have the same safety features as frames and can only be used for touring. All touring bindings will have a heel lift system which changes the angle at which the heel meets the binding making it easier to climb steep gradients. Heel lifts can easily be added or removed without taking the ski off by using the end of the pole to move them into place. 

Ski touring skins

Skins attach to the base of your skis and are densely packed with fibres that provide grip and allow you to climb uphill. They get their name from the seal skin that was originally used to make them, but modern skins use two fibres – Nylon and Mohair in their construction. Nylon is cheaper and hard wearing but wetter snow tends to ball up under it whereas Mohair (made from Angora goat skin) gives better glide making it less tiring on the skier but will wear out more quickly. Most manufacturers tend to use a mixture of both to get the best qualities from each material. Lots of brands offer skins which have been pre cut to fit the shape of popular models of touring skis or alternatively you can buy wide trim-to-fit skins which can be cut down at home to fit your skis. 

Skins clip onto the front and tail of the ski and are backed with adhesive which secures them to the it’s length. When removing your skins after a hike it’s important to store them properly to protect the glue – they need to be folded in half with the glue inside so it’s not exposed to the air. If you’re going to be taking your skins off and on a lot during the day, put them in a jacket pocket so your body heat will keep them warm. If you’re new to touring it’s worth practicing attaching and removing your skins before you head out for the first time so that you feel confident when it’s time to do it on the side of a mountain.

Ski touring backpack

When venturing into the backcountry you’ll need somewhere to carry your layers, water, snacks and safety equipment along with anything else you see fit to bring. There are a lot of touring backpacks on the market varying in size, features and price and what model you go for will depend on what you’re planning to do on the mountain. Those heading out for short days close to resort can opt for something smaller and more compact but if you’re planning on leaving at dawn and returning at dusk you’ll need something larger, potentially with an inbuilt avalanche airbag.

Ski touring helmet

Helmets are an important piece of safety kit whenever you’re on the mountain but especially in the backcountry with its unpredictable terrain and conditions. Yet again the main thing to look out for in a touring helmet is weight, but just because a helmet is light doesn’t mean you have to compromise on safety and extra features. Look out for good ventilation to keep you cool during strenuous climbs, easy adjustability when wearing gloves, removable padding and goggle compatibility.

Ski touring poles

Touring ski poles are lightweight and telescopic, allowing their length to be adjusted according to the user’s height. They have an elongated grip which can be held at various points to make it easier to manage gradient changes and a strap handle to reduce pressure on the arm. Large baskets prevent the pole from sinking too far into deep snow as it is planted.

Ski touring clothing

When planning what to wear for ski touring it’s helpful to think of it as a mountaineering activity rather than alpine skiing. Whereas you might struggle to stay warm while hopping on and off lifts in resort you may find that it’s more difficult not to overheat when touring. As you may have guessed keeping clothing light and breathable is key. 

Touring is a sport of temperature extremes – during the strenuous climbs you’ll break a sweat even in wintery conditions  but once you stop for a break or start your descent you’ll quickly lose that heat.

Layers, layers, layers

Layers are the key to staying comfortable on the mountain. You’ll need a good variety in light fabrics that you can add and remove as needed. As a starting point try a base layer in a breathable, sweat wicking fabric like Merino wool, a mid layer which will provide some insulation, a winter jacket with either down or synthetic padding that can easily be rolled up into your backpack when not in use and a lightweight hard or softshell jacket as a water and windproof top layer. 

Having warm hands and feet makes a huge difference to your enjoyment of the day so good quality ski socks are essential as are a couple of pairs of gloves. You’ll want a liner glove to wear while skinning which is thin enough to allow you the dexterity to fasten fiddly buckles and take your skins on and off and a warm pair of skiing gloves to wear over the top when skiing. A hat is also a must have – you might want one that’s thin enough to wear under your helmet.

Trial and error will be necessary to find the combination of bases, mid-layers and jacket that work best for you and of course what you need will vary depending on how cold the day in question is – an icy day in January will be very different to blue skies and sunshine in April!

Ski touring jacket

You might be tempted to repurpose the beloved ski jacket that’s seen you through countless first lifts and aprés bars for touring but be warned – the thick well insulated jacket that’s kept you warm on a windy chairlift will prove bulky, heavy and cumbersome when you’re trying to roll it up into your backpack for a long skin up. 

What you need is a lightweight soft or hardshell jacket without padding to wear as a top layer when necessary to protect you from snow and wind. There are loads of  ski jackets  out there, but look for something which has decent technical features without being too heavy.  Soft shells will give more breathability and freedom of movement whereas hardshells offer better protection from wind and water.

Ski touring pants

Again you’ll probably find that the salopettes you wear in resort won’t be suitable for touring due to their weight and warmth. A better bet is to find a pair of either soft or hardshell  skiing pants  and wear a base layer underneath. As with your jacket, you’ll want a pair that are breathable and allow a good range of movement – you’ll need enough width over your boot to be able to loosen or undo it when you’re skinning. Side vents which you can zip open if you get too warm are a useful feature as are instep patches to protect against sharp ski edges and good pockets. 

Ski touring safety

Mountain safety in general is a vast subject to tackle. Something that we have written about much more informatively and extensively in other articles. Click below to read to begin your research on preparing for a safe and fun adventure in the mountains.

• Avalanche Safety Basics- The Ultimate Beginners Guide
• Basic Protective Equipment For Freeride Skiing: Checklist

It’s easy to get caught up in how beautiful the mountains are and forget the dangers particularly when you’re new to touring. You’ll need to carry safety equipment with you whenever you’re out on the mountain, including a transceiver, probe shovel and avalanche airbag and know how to use them in the event of an emergency. You may be able to rent safety equipment from a hire shop in resort before committing to buying your own. 

Taking an avalanche safety course before venturing too far away from the pistes is also a good idea or hiring a guide for the day if you’re new to the ski area and unsure of which parts are safe to tour.

Ski touring fitness

As mentioned earlier the perceived level of fitness required to ski tour may seem daunting to a newcomer to the sport, but it needn’t. Build up your cardiovascular fitness before winter with cycling, walking or running and strengthen your legs with the usual pre-season squats, wall sits and lunges. The main thing to remember is not to try anything too ambitious too quickly – nothing will put you off touring like hours of skinning while your legs are on fire on your first day.  Start with short, manageable routes and build up in length and difficulty as your fitness increases.

Best places to go ski touring

Italy - cortina d’ampezzo.

The Dolomites provide some of the most beautiful mountain scenery in the world and a perfect backdrop to ski touring. The area surrounding the resort of Cortina has some fabulous backcountry to explore with hidden valleys, frozen lakes and pine forests. If you’re planning a longer tour there are plenty of mountain refuges to stay in – all offering that world famous Italian hospitality.

France - Chamonix

Chamonix is up there with the most famous ski resorts in the world and part of that is the vast area of backcountry on offer. There are lots of routes of varying difficulty which can be completed in a day – giving you the chance to take in glaciers, couloirs and generally stunning scenery. Chamonix is also home to the Vallée Blanche arguably the most famous off piste run in the world and while you don’t need touring equipment to tackle it, it’s a solid starting point for those venturing away from the lifts. 

Switzerland - Zermatt

As the finishing point of one of the most famous ski tour routes in the alps, the Chamonix to Zermatt Haute Route, Zermatt has earned its place as one of the best areas for ski touring. You’ll find a large amount of backcountry to explore and terrain to suit different ability levels all set amongst glaciers and with the Matterhorn providing an iconic backdrop.

Norway - Sunnmøre Alps

Ski touring plays a huge part in Norway’s history and culture and the country boasts vast and unspoilt backcountry away from the hustle and bustle of the large Alpine resorts. The area around the Sunnmøre Alps offers higher altitude than other parts of the country, good conditions, a long season and beautiful scenery with jagged peaks leading straight down to deep fjords. 

Austria - St Anton

St Anton is a great base from which to explore the backcountry of the Tyrolean Alps. There’s plenty of ground to cover and lots of different options available, from long hut-to-hut tours to day and half-day routes suitable for all levels. And if you’ve still got some energy left at the end of the day, St Anton is famed for its lively aprés ski.

Ski touring - FAQ's

What is a ski touring ski boot.

Ski touring boots are basically for skiing in the backcountry/off-piste. Ski touring boots are for those who want to save weight when touring uphill and fit into specific bindings on specialist skis. Ski touring boots are made from lighter-weight plastics (ski touring is about agility and efficient energy use) and have a smaller cuff, thus making the uphills that much easier.

What are ski touring skis?

Ski touring skis are unique and masterfully crafted skis. They are different from your garden variety all-mountain ski. They need to be both light and agile for the touring part of the adventure but robust and rigid enough for maximum contact in the downhill ride. The way the ski is designed, crafted and finished is different and is optimised for touring bindings. It's worth doing your research and asking experts.

How to store ski touring skins?

It's vital you store your skins correctly between use. For between-season storage – anything more than a few days – use the "glue saver" sheets that come with the skins. Over the summer, when your skins are out-of-action, store them in a cool, dry place and away from direct heat.

How do I know where to go ski touring?

Ski touring is possible anywhere within reason. The criteria in which you select a resort could be; Am I planning on taking a three day ski touring adventure Vs a day trip? If you plan to ski tour on shorter trips, then pick a resort with a nice affordable hotel and good restaurants as well as lot's of easily accessible terrain to explore. If you want to camp while you tour for an extended trip, look at towns away from ski resorts, where you can move between locations. These trips need a lot more planning but essential to consider what's important to you and your squad.

Who can try ski touring?

You should be a strong intermediate skier to handle the off-piste terrain. Starting small with manageable routes and a guide is recommended.

Can I wear my regular ski jacket and ski pants for ski touring?

While you could, touring-specific wear is designed to be lightweight and breathable, catering to the high-intensity nature of the activity.

Hey Riders, note from your gal Angelica here. All information was correct at the time of writing through research and extensive knowledge and experience. However, things change during different periods in the season and some websites offer out of date information and links may change.

Maybe you have some better information to offer or any addendum or changes to make, in which case, feel free to email me on [email protected], and we can consider adding them in! Let me know. . .

Related Reading:

• Avalanche Safety Basics
•   Ladies ski trousers / Skiing pants
• What To Wear Snowboarding Or Skiing
• Ski clothes for women / Ski clothing for men
• Snowshoeing For Beginners

Domestic Ski Tours

International ski tours, ski courses, rock climbs, alpine rock climbs, rock climbing courses, domestic alpine climbs, international alpine climbs, alpine climbing courses, aiare avalanche courses, aiare rescue courses, avalanche awareness courses.

Haute Route Ski Tour

The Haute Route is most likely the single most famous ski traverse in the Alps. Pro Guiding Service has guided this super classic ski tour from Chamonix to Zermatt about 45 times in 5 different variations. We have guided the original route via the Valsorey hut, the "classic route" via Verbier, from Zermatt to Chamonix ending in Courmayeur and other variations in between. Our guides speak French and English. Martin Volken, the founder of Pro Guiding Service and IFMGA guide, grew up in the Zermatt valley and speaks German, French, Italian and English. Because of Martin's background as a Swiss Mountain guide, we have many local connections in the area. Believe us, it makes a difference.

Trip Information

The Haute Route crosses eleven glaciers on its way from Chamonix to Zermatt at an average elevation of 3,000 meters (9800 ft). Depending on the route variation you might end up skiing in three different countries. The French and Swiss Alpine Club huts (Refuge Albert Premier, Cabane de Trient, Mont Fort, Prafleuri, Dix and Vignettes) are sophisticated by US standards, the mountains are more alpine in character than anything in the lower 48 states, and packs are small enough to let you enjoy the skiing even at the highest elevations of the trip. Ski touring in such spectacular mountains coupled with the multi-cultural exchange will make this trip a unique experience.

Overall Difficulty Level:  Difficult; due to combination of physical effort, some tricky skinning and altitude. 

Skills Required:  Advanced skiing ability and prior ski touring experience is required. 

Fitness Level:  Strenuous

You must be in shape for this multi day ski tour.

Private Trips Available

The afternoon before the trip : We will come and meet you at your hotel in the later afternoon before the trip start. We usually meet our guests in the lobby of the Hotel de l'Arve (a very comfortable and quiet 3 star hotel in the center of Chamonix), but this hotel is subject to change.  After a casual meet and greet, we will go through a gear check and get you fully briefed for the next day.

Day 1 : This day is more casual, but very important. It is our shake down day, warm up day, get comfortable with the altitude day. Depending on the conditions it could be a day in the Aiguilles Rouges or a descent down the famed Vallee Blanche.

Day 2:   The first day of the tour can be a bit hectic, since we have to be all packed up and ready to go right away so that we can catch the first gondola in Argentiere. We generally transfer by bus from Chamonix to Argentiere, since the bus stop is located about 100 meters from the hotel. The cable car ride to the Grands Montets (3297 m) and ski down to the Argentiere Glacier (2500 meters) finally gets the show on the road. From here we will start the tour in earnest by touring up to the Col du Chardonnet (3323 meters) and on to the Trient Hut (3170 m). This is actually one of the more strenuous days of the tour, so good fitness and proper acclimatization before the trip will make a big difference.

D ay 3: The nearly 2000 meter ski descent from the Trient Hut to Champex (1477 m) is outrageous. Who does not like to start a ski touring day with a long descent? After about five minutes of skiing we will ski past a spectacular ice fall on the side of the Trient Glacier, then ascend for about 5 minutes on crampons to the Col des Ecandies at 2793 meters. The following descent down the Val d'Arpette into the little town of Champex is beautiful, in particular because it leads straight to a bakery where a taxi will pick us up and drive us straight to Verbier. We will stop in for a short break in Verbier and then continue on to the Mont Fort hut in the middle of the ski area. All in all, this is probably the least strenuous day of the Haute Route, but it is very eventful, since it involves skiing, crampons, coffee, taxi rides, multiple gondolas, a world class resort and to cap it off an evening in the beautiful Mont Fort hut .

Day 4: We will tour to the Prafleuri Hut via the Col de la Chaux and the summit of Rosa Blanche (3336 meters). The tour starts with a mellow initial climb up the generally freshly groomed slopes of the Verbier ski area for about 1000 feet of vertical gain, before heading up to the Col de La Chaux proper at 2940 meters. The following terrain reminds some people a bit of the Whistler Blackcomb backcountry. Beautiful, but it does not have the edgy grandeur of the terrain closer to the southern crest. Of course the summit of the Rosa Blanche will give us a spectacular view into that terrain. From the summit we will ski down the Glacier de Prafleuri to the Cabane de Prafleuri at 2624 meters.

Day 5: We get to leave the Cabane to Prafleuri with our headlamps on, which is always a cool experience. The first ascent takes us up about 1000 feet of vertical up to the Col de Roux. The reason for the early start lies in the large east facing slopes that are looming over us while we traverse above the Lac de Dix. This "traverse" is really a mixture of skiing on a sidehill, some traversing and some "poling." All in all the Lac de Dix traverse takes about 1. 5 hours. From the south end of the lake we have to ascent a short steep section (Pas de Chat) to get to the lower reaches of the Glacier de Cheillon and up the last little bit to the Cabane des Dix (2928m).

Day 6: From the Cabane des Dix we will tour over the Pigne de Arolla (3796m)  and ski down to the Cabane de Vignettes (3157 m). Less distance, more vertical is the name of the game. We will also reach our highest elevation of the tour at nearly 3800 meters, but by this time everybody seems to feel fine at altitude. Worth mentioning is, well everything really. The sunrise on the 1000 meter north-east face of the Mont Blanc de Cheillon is unforgettable and we will be touring right under it on our way up to the mighty glacier plateau of the Col de la Serpentine. Glaciologically this plateau is very interesting, since there are glaciers flowing away from it in every direction (Glacier de Cheillon to the north-west, Glacier de Tsijiore Nouve to the North, the Glacier the Brenay and Glacier de Serpentine to the South) and the summit of the Pigne d'Arolla is looming over all of it. Because of this, good visibility is important as navigation can become tricky. If the weather does not cooperate, we can "go around the Pigne d'Arolla" via the famous iron ladders across the valley from the Cabane de Dix to gain the Pas de Chevres. From there we have the option to ski all the way down to the cool little town of Arolla and continue via the famous Cabane de Berthol or get to the Cabane de Vignettes via the gentle Glacier de Piece. The location of this hut never fails to impress.

Private Trips

• communication devices
• hut fees with breakfast and dinners
• 2 hotel nights in Chamonix before the trip start
• taxi transfer
• luggage transfer to Zermatt
• gondola rides
• personal gear
• trip cancellation insurance and rescue insurance
• transport from the airport to Chamonix and from Zermatt to the airport
• hotel night at the end of the trip in Zermatt
• any taxi, bus or train rides due to poor weather and or snow conditions

Equipment List

• 1-2 Lightweight or midweight tops (avoid cotton)
• Lightweight or midweight long underwear bottoms
• 2 pairs warm ski socks
• 2 pairs liner socks
• non cotton underwear
• Fleece or wool or similar warmth layer
• Wind shirt or soft shell jacket - wind & water resistant, breathable
• Waterproof/breathable jacket with hood
• Soft shell ski pants
• Waterproof/breathable pants
• Down or synthetic puffy-type jacket
• Warm hat - should cover ears
• Sun hat - baseball type or visor
• Lightweight gloves
• Ski gloves or mittens
• Day pack – large enough to fit everything inside (around 30-40 liters) - dedicated shovel pocket preferred
• Water bottles - enough for a full day - wide mouth best to prevent freezing shut
• Sunglasses - adequate for snow travel
• Sunscreen - SPF 25+, waterproof
• Lip Balm - SPF 15+
• Headlamp - lightweight LED recommended
• Face mask/covering - for when close contact is unavoidable
• Hand sanitizer (there is no running water in the huts)
• Earplugs - essential for sleeping
• Personal toiletries - keep it simple: toothbrush, tiny toothpaste, bath wipes
• Small personal first aid kit - just the basics: blister care, ibuprofin, prescription meds, etc.; your guides will have a substantial group first aid kit

Snow Travel Gear

• Snow travel equipment - alpine touring or telemark skis or splitboard
• Boots - touring ski boots or snowboard boots
• Poles - adjustable poles are ideal so you can adjust the length when going uphill/downhill
• Climbing skins
• Ski brakes or removable ski leashes
• Ski or splitboard crampons - ensure they are compatible with your bindings and ski/board width

Safety Gear

• Avalanche Beacon
• Shovel - compact, lightweight, metal blade preferred
• Probe - dedicated probe only (240cm or longer strongly recommended)

Technical Gear

• Ice Axe - lightweight, 45-55 cm is ideal
• Boot Crampons – ensure they fit your boots (steel required for Bernese Oberland and Monte Rosa, all other trips aluminum okay)
• Anti-ball plates for crampons
• Climbing Harness - lightweight, (no padding; ex: Petzl Altitude, Black Diamond Couloir)
• 2 Locking Carabiners - at least 1 large HMS style and 1 regular locker
• 2 Non-locking Carabiners - any style, we recommend wire gates
• 1 Single Length Dyneema/Dynex Runner/Sling (60cm/24in diameter loop)
• 1 Double Length Dyneema/Dynex Runner/Sling (120cm/48in diameter loop)
• 1 Cordelette - 6 mm cord, 6 meter length
• Notebook and writing utensil
• Compass - adjustable declination a must
• Altimeter watch
• Helmet - recommended (not required)
• Maps - contact guiding office for appropriate quadrangles
• Map case - large Ziploc bags work well
• Sleep sack - lightweight silk or cotton
• warm socks - to sleep in
• Thermos - vacuum type is best

Gearing Up Adventurers Since 1999 

The best way to get to Chamonix is via bus from the Geneva Airport. There are several private companies that provide transportation from the Geneva airport to Chamonix. You can try ChamExpress or Mountain Drop-offs .

It is better to wait until you get to Chamonix. That way you pay the change rate only once (as opposed to from dollars to Swiss Francs then to Euros). So wait until you are in France to change Dollars into Euros, but we recommend changing dollars into Swiss Francs in Geneva, as the majority of the trip actually takes place in Switzerland. In fact all the huts we are staying in, are Swiss huts. If you do not want to change too much money into Swiss Francs right away, you can also get more money in Verbier on the second day of the trip.

It is extremely important that you stay properly hydrated and fluids are not cheap in high alpine huts. Count on spending about sfr. 15 to 20 per day on tea, water, beer and wine for sure. Of course there are other things that will tempt you such as chocolate, cakes, sandwiches, and the Swiss classic: Rösti. All things added up, sfr. 200 for the week should probably be enough.

You have options. You can carry all your lunch food (as it is not included in the trip cost), but hardly anyone does that. Most people buy some bread, cheese, dried meat, sausage, chocolate, trail mix etc. in Chamonix that will last for a couple of days. Then they repeat this in Verbier and end up supplementing it with some items they buy at the huts later in the week. You can also have the hut keeper prepare a lunch packet. They are good, but pretty pricey at about $12 per lunch.

This will be organized by Pro Guiding Service and is included in the trip. Please make sure that your extra luggage consists of one manageable piece.

Yes, we speak French, German and Italian. Speaking the right language or even better the right dialect does not only simplify logistics, but it opens a lot of doors to extra favors.

There is no need for that. You will be able to buy a ticket at the counter in Zermatt and just walk onto the train. The travel time from Zermatt to Geneva is about 3.5 hours. If you intend to do further travel in Switzerland , you might consider purchasing the Halfprice Pass from the Swiss Railway System. The cost of a one month pass is roughly US $134, but once you have the pass, all public transportation is - well - half price. You could start saving money very quickly.

Although tipping is not a requirement, it is considered standard practice in the guiding industry and is appreciated by our guides. We generally recommend roughly 10%-15% of your trip cost or a flat amount that you are comfortable with.

Why Book With Us? 

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Skiing The Haute Route: Everything you Need to Know

A Classic Ski Tour: The Haute Route

In the world of ultimate ski trips, there is one that is often at the top of every adventure skier’s bucket list – The Haute Route. Meaning “High Road” in English, The Haute Route traverses the French and Swiss Alps from Chamonix, France to Zermatt, Switzerland. As we head into Spring ski season, I can’t help but reflect on our Haute Route trip in 2017 with a group of very experienced ski friends and two professional guides (highly recommended for this trip). During the seven-day trip, our group set out to conquer the Haute Route while crossing glaciers and high mountain passes  using mountaineering equipment and touring skis .

For a preview of the trip, check out the trailer video below.   The full video  of the trip is long but well worth the time as it’s a documentary of our entire trip.

Chamonix to Zermatt

Haute route day 1 – skiing argentière to refuge albert premier.

Our Haute Route trip begins with us all meeting in Martigny. From here we take the train to Argentière, then take the lifts up and Ski/Hike to Refuge Albert Premier. Originally we were to go to the Refuge Argentière, but it was completely booked. I think most people were there since Albert Premier was not so crowded.

Climbing stats  – 6 miles (9.6 km), 5 hrs 49 minutes, 2810 ft (856 M) ascent, 2396 ft (730 M) descent

Our guides inspected our gear at 7am, and off we went on the 7:45 am train to Argentierre.  Our Haute Route trip has begun!

The train ride up the Gorge du Trient was very cool, and time went by very quickly. From there, the walk from the train station to the telecabin station for the Grand Montets was our warm-up for this – our first day of the Haute Route.

Originally we had planned to take the Lognan Telecabin, followed by the Grand Montets with a nice ski down across the Argentièrre Glacier to our first big climb of the Col de Passon.   Unfortunately, the wind gods were not with us. It was snowing and blowing like crazy. The Grands Montets telecabin was closed (and it has since actually burned down).  Instead, we had to take the HERSE chair lift which added to our hike for this first day, so instead of skiing down to our first big climb – we climbed to it!

Upon arriving at the top of the HERSE chairlift, we’re ready to take a small downhill run on some icy pistes and begin our first ascent of the well known Col du Passon. Our goal for the day is to make our way to the Refuge Albert Premier. The original plan was to stay at Refuge Argentière, but it was booked a month ahead of time, so our plan shifted to the Refuge Albert Premier.

Inside Albert Premier, it is comfortable and not very crowded, as most start with Refuge Argentiere instead. Dinner is good, and thanks to Eric for carrying up the delicious dessert wine – a 2011 Grains de Malice seen on the table.

Haute Route Day 2 – Refuge Albert Premier to Cabane du Trient

First Breakfast in a hut – and early start off to Trient.

Climbing stats  – 4.75 miles (7.6 km), 5 hrs 38 min, 2437 ft (715 M) ascent, 907 ft (277 M) descent

On our second day of the Haute Route we covered the ski trek from Refuge Albert Premier to the Cabane du Trient. This took us through the Col du Midi, with some scary high winds. Most would do the Col Superieure du Tour, but the guides thought this track would be better with the high winds.

It was around this point that the guides noticed that Phil’s nose wasn’t his normal nose and that he was developing some signs of frostbite. Phil was “mister covered face” for the rest of the day!

er covered face” for the rest of the day!

Inside the Cabane du Trient where we enjoy dinner and take in the awesome views of the beautiful sunset before turning in for the night. A great way to end day two of the Haute Route!

Haute Route Day 3 – Cabane du Trient to Cabane des Dix – multiple stages

Well, this is a crazy day. Originally we were supposed to go from Cabane du Trient to Cabane du Mont Fort.  However, the guides realized the trip the day after – from Cabane du Mont Fort to Cabane des Dix – would be too much for our group. Two itineraries were proposed:

Option 1) Ski down to Champex, and take bus to Arolla, stay in hotel, and ascend to Cabane des Dix the next day.

Option 2) Skin up about a mile on day 3 to a helicopter approved landing area, then Heli over to Rosablanche and continue on to Cabane des Dix by ski that day.

Option 2 was only about 120 Fr more per person than Option 1, so all of us went with the Heli option.

Climbing stats  – part 1 to the Heli landing spot – 1.3 miles (2 km), 1 hrs 15 minutes, 706 ft (215 M) ascent, 361 ft (110 M) descent

Now it’s time to Climb the Rosablanche to the top, climb down, and trek over to the Cabane des Dix.  The below image illustrates the next phase.

Climbing stats –  part 3 to the Rosa Blanche to Cabane des Dix – 7.8 miles (12.6 km), 7 hours, elev gain 2631 ft (802 M), elev loss 3937 ft (1200 M) 

After skiing the great snow off of the Rosablanche, our descent down to the Lac des Dix began with a run down the Couloir de la Rosablanche. This couloir is well known to the ski racers of the Patrouille des Glaciers – the race between Zermatt and Verbier. For an image of what this Couloir looks like filled with racers going up,  click here!   

Haute Route Day 4 – Rest Day at the Cabane des Dix 

After a long Day 3, we decided to make Day 4 a rest day. Great day to explore the hut a little more! Martin, our guide, explained that too often groups get into their huts at night, eat, go to bed, and never really get to know the character of their hut – this extra day at Cabane des Dix was awesome!!

Some of our group stayed in the hut and relaxed for the day. A few of us skinned up to La Luette to hit a local peak. For those of us that skinned up to La Luette, we were granted with what Martin called “Mouse knee-deep powder” at the beginning, but real powder at the top!

Climbing stats  – 3.75 miles (6km) , 3 hrs 55 minutes, 2000 ft (610 M) ascent, 2000 ft (610 M)descent

Tip:  Skip carrying a picnic lunch and go for the Rösti option in the Cabane, it is the way to go! Plus, none of the other huts could come close to the Cabane des Dix with regards to Beer selection – they must have had 10-15 choices, while others had 2.

Haute Route Day 5 – Skiing Cabane des Dix to Cabane des Vignettes

Day 5 starts early. Up at 4:30 am, we leave at 5:30 for the ascent on the Pigne D’Arolla. We had some illness in the group the day before (altitude sickness and perhaps some Asthma), and were worried about a possible need for evacuation. But, thankfully, we pulled it all together and we were ready to go for this big day! It was “headlamps on” and snowing when we started, and we were definitely the first group up and out the door!

Climbing stats  – 6.33 miles (10.2 km) , 11 hrs 56 minutes, 3080 ft (939 M) ascent, 2271 ft (692 M) descent

Side Story: What can happen on the Haute Route

There is a little side story that happened just around the time the picture above was taken. Visibility was horrible, you couldn’t see landmarks, etc…. Our guides stopped, checked their topo maps, altimeter and compass. I offered them a peek at my GAIA app that had topo and a GPS location on it, but they said “no, we’re ok.”

Another guide from Chamonix, leading another group who had been here the week before, passed us and veered to the right. I’m sure there might have been some second-guessing from our guides, but they were confident and we continued on.

We were the first group to hit the Serpentine. Who do you think pulled up behind us about 40 minutes after we last saw them? The group from Chamonix! Our guides were very modest about this, saying it could happen to anyone. But we couldn’t help but snicker at how the Tortoise (definitely our group), beat the hare – at least to the Serpentine!

Interested in other Backcountry Ski Tour options? Check out  this guide  that outlines all the different ways you can experience Backcountry Skiing.

Haute Route Day 6 – Cabane des Vignettes to Schönbielhütte

Day 6 started with a departure at 6:30 am. This was one of the longest days for all of us with 3 Col’s to climb – the Col de L’Eveque, the very steep Col du Mont Brulé, and the mentally draining Col du Valpelline. The ski run down beside the Matterhorn was amazing, but the final ascent up the Moraine ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moraine ​) to the hut was gruelling. There were times when rocks slid down the hill towards us. The joke of the day was that it was the Chamois pushing the rocks down on us.

The departure from the Cabane des Vignettes was not exactly pleasant as everyone in the hut was leaving at the same time. It was probably 120 people, and the sketchy icy path out of the hut potentially leading to a 500m fall off a cliff! Most people on this trek would go all the way to Zermatt (which I had done back in ’85), but we chose an alternate route including a stopover at an uncrowded Cabane Schöbielhütte. This is a super cool hut right next to the Matterhorn. That way we could then arrive early in Zermatt on our last day with no rushing necessary.

Climbing stats  – 13.66 miles (22 km) , 11 hrs 14 minutes, 4196 ft (1279 M) ascent, 5696 ft (1736 M) descent

Haute Route Day 7 – Schönbielhütte to Zermatt

Day 7 is our easy day – a cruisy, relaxing run all the way down to Zermatt. 

Climbing stats  – 7.23 miles (11.6 km), 1 hrs 58 minutes, 6 ft (2 M) ascent, 3477 ft (1060 M) descent

Does the Haute Route sound awesome to you? Looking to get started with Backcountry Skiing? Check out our Backcountry Skiing  Know Before You Go  blog.

Guide to Ski Touring in the Alps

Burn some calories whilst exploring the mountains at a slower pace with our guide to ski touring in the Alps.

A great way to explore the mountains at a slower pace, ski touring combines off-piste skiing with hiking and mountaineering. If you hate crowded pistes and queuing for lifts and are keen on discovering routes that are off the beaten track, then ski touring might be for you.

What is Ski Touring?

The discipline involves traversing up the mountain using skins (a piece of fabric attached to the base of the skis to stop them sliding back down when climbing uphill). For particularly tricky terrain, you may need to use crampons and ropes. Despite the physical exertion, the rewards can be huge with outstanding views and long descents making fresh tracks in untouched powder. Plus, all that effort means guilt-free hot chocolate and a hearty dinner at the end of the day.

Things to Consider when Ski Touring

• Fitness In order to enjoy ski touring to the fullest, you need to be physically fit and it helps to have some off-piste skiing experience.
• Equipment The basic equipment you will need includes freeride skis with touring bindings and skins, a splitboard if you’re a snowboarder, crampons and most importantly an avalanche rescue kit with a transceiver, probe, airbag and shovel. It is also important to wear lots of layers so you don’t overheat or get too cold.
• Safety It is always recommended that unless you are familiar with the mountains you take a guide with you who is. They will be able to advise on the best routes and will have expertise on the terrain and weather conditions. You should also consider brushing up on your avalanche knowledge.

Best Resorts for Ski Touring

Zermatt With its high altitude and accessible backcountry, Zermatt is one of the best resorts for ski touring. With the backdrop of the magnificent Matterhorn, it is also one of the most beautiful destinations. There are around 45 routes to explore from challenging glacier tours to more gentle routes. Good for beginners is the climb from Fluhalp (2,616m) to Pfulwer (3,314m). The tour offers impressive panoramic views and takes around two hours to complete. More demanding is the Shwarztor Tour; a short ascent and traverse followed by an extensive freeride descent over varied terrain. Also testing is the Trjiftisattel Glacier Tour, a tour in which you traverse no less than four glaciers. Tignes Making up one of the largest ski areas in the world, Tignes offers quick and easy access to an expansive amount of backcountry touring areas. Due to its high altitude, the resort offers tours well into spring and there’s even the opportunity to tour the mountains by torchlight. The 3 Col’s is a peaceful six-hour tour with around three hours of uphill so a good fitness level is paramount. Another popular route is Vallon des Arses; an easy itinerary that starts from the Pissaillas summit. Another great area to explore is the Vanoise national park, in particular, the Col de la Sana, a tour that connects Tignes to Val d’Isere , ending in the Manchet Valley. Chamonix The Chamonix valley and Mont Blanc massif is particularly popular for ski touring with around 21 routes to discover. With snow-sure skiing and extensive backcountry, Chamonix is the ideal destination for touring. From the Aiguille du Midi there are numerous routes to explore. One of Chamonix’s classic ski tours, the Crochues-Berard four to six hour traverse takes you through the stunning Aiguilles Rouges to the village of Le Buet. Another classic is the Col du Belvedere tour, a four to five hour route with a steep descent into the Berard valley. Other options include Glacier du Toule, a route that takes you down towards Cormayeaur, and Pas de Chevre, with an ascent to the top of Grand Montets and a descent down to the Mer de Glace and on into Chamonix.

Multiday Ski Tours

Haute Route This five to six day tour takes you on a journey across huge glaciers and steep passes from Chamonix to Zermatt. The tour traverses two of the highest Alpine ranges - the Mont Blanc Massif and Swiss Valais. The route covers 120 km incorporating around 6,000m of ascent and descent with remote terrain and variable snow. With correct preparation, the tour is achievable by good intermediate off-piste skiers but you should have prior day-touring experience. Central Bernese Oberland Starting at Interlaken in the Jungfrau region of Switzerland , this week-long tour has a spectacular setting, crossing over high glaciated passes and culminating in a glorious 2000m descent down the Lotschental. Suitable for very fit, intermediate level off-piste skiers, there are various route options as well as opportunities to make descents of several summits, including 4,000m peaks.

Dolomites Circuit Renowned as one of the most beautiful destinations for ski touring, the Dolomites is a great place to try ski touring for the first time. Steeped in history, the range is characterised by remote valleys and towering limestone cliffs. The Dolomites are also known for exceptional cuisine and hospitality making this a charming spot for a ski touring trip. The Dolomites has over 100 hut-to-hut routes to explore but this traditional Grand Tour takes you through the eastern half of the mountain range, beginning in Falcade and finishing in Cortina d’Ampezzo . Over the course of a week, you’ll ski through two of the most beautiful natural parks in the Dolomites, explore the Marmolada Massif (the highest mountain and largest remaining glacier in the Dolomites) and experience a trio of cultures - Italian, Ladin and German.

Relax after a hard day ski touring in one of our luxury chalets with a private hot tub.

The Ultimate Guide to Zermatt

The Ultimate Guide to Tignes

Top Tips for Skiing Safely

Introduction to Skiing Off-Piste

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The Haute Route Ski Tour is the most famous ski tour in the Alps and is a must for any enthusiastic ski tourer! It is a legendary high Alpine journey linking two historic Alpine centres, Chamonix in France and Zermatt in Switzerland. Total distance is about 120kms and there are 6,000m of ascent and descent.

The Haute Route ski tour traverses exceptionally high terrain and its popular reputation is fully justified on account of the fabulous mountain scenery you pass through. Whilst the Haute Route is undoubtedly very popular, our carefully selected route allows you to enjoy all the high points of the Verbier variation but avoid over-trafficked areas.

There are many other variations on the Haute Route that we can run on a private basis. Some like the 'Grand Lui' or 'Classic' variations involve greater technicality and are thus run on a lower guiding ratio.

Not sure if you're up to the challenge? Give our blog a read here for further information.

2025 departures :  We retain the right to reassess the final price in the event of any changes in supplier costs.

Day Itinerary

Arrive in Chamonix and meet the guide and the rest of the group in the early evening for a welcome meeting, briefing and equipment check.

We start the tour with a warm-up on the Grands Montets ski area in the morning. Your guide will run skills sessions on avalanche search and rescue, skinning technique and use of crampons/ice axe. This will give you a chance to use all your kit and get your ski legs ready for the challenge to follow! In the late afternoon we ski and skin to the Argentiere hut for the night.

Starting from the Argentiere hut we ski and skin towards the Col du Passon 3028m, which is our preferred route due to the technical difficulties you now encounter descending the Col du Chardonnet. From the col there is a short descent down to the Glacier du Tour from where we ascend to the Col du Tour 3288m. We then cross onto the Trient plateau in Switzerland and arrive at the Cabane du Trient 3170m where we spend the night. Approx 1100m ascent, 1200m descent (6-7hrs).

One of the best descents of the trip - initially down the Trient Glacier before turning east and making the short crampon climb over the Col des Ecandies 2796m and then down the wild and remote Val d'Arpette which ends in the village of Champex 1466m. From here we take a taxi transfer to La Chable and ascend using the lift system in Verbier. A quick piste ski down from Mont Fort accesses a short skin to the Col de la Choix. A short descent and then ascent  to the Col de Momin 3003m gives amazing views of the Grand Desert and Rosablanche up ahead. If time allows we make the short ascent of Rosablanche 3336m then descend via the Glacier de Prafleuri to the privately owned Prafleuri Refuge 2624m where we spend the night. Approx 900m ascent, 2400m descent (8-9hrs).

We make an early start and skin over the Col des Roux 2804m and then follow a long descending traverse on the west side of the Lac des Dix. At the end of the lake we make the long ascent via the Pas du Chat 2372m which leads us to the Cabane des Dix 2928m our stop for the night. Approx 900m ascent, 600m descent (5-7hrs).

A spectacular day. Beginning from the Cabane des Dix we make the long ascent to summit the Pigne d'Arolla 3790m (the highest point on the Haute Route). From here you get stunning panoramic views back towards Mont Blanc and onto the Matterhorn. A steep ski descent then leads to the spectacularly perched Cabane des Vignettes 3160m. Approx 950m ascent, 700m descent (5-6hrs).

There are few days in alpine ski mountaineering to match this one. Covering 30km, we cross the three cols of the Col de L'Eveque 3386m, Col du Mont Brule 3218m and the Col Valpelline 3562m and seven glaciers. A  fitting finale to the Haute Route before arriving in Zermatt. Approx 1,100m ascent; 2,400m descent (8-10hrs).

On arrival in Zermatt we stop for a celebration drink before taking a train to Tasch station below Zermatt where we meet a pre-booked private minibus to return to Chamonix at our hotel. Overnight in the hotel in Chamonix.

The group will disperse after breakfast.

The price shown is for the route via Verbier, please contact our office for prices for the Classic or the Grand Lui variations.

Price includes:

• all guiding fees and expenses
• 2 nights of B&B hotel accommodation in Chamonix at the start and end of the trip
• all hut fees are on an HB basis
• taxi transfer between Champex and La Chable on Day 4
• private return minibus transfer from Tasch to Chamonix

The price does not include:

• evening meals in Chamonix
• lunches and beverages
• personal insurance
• hire of ski equipment
• travel to and from Chamonix
• unscheduled local transfers and uplift costs

We recommend that you book your return journey home for late on the second Saturday in case of any delays due to bad weather delays on the ski tour.

*Single rooms subject to availability and supplement.

We proudly offer our returning customers a discount.

The promotion is valid for qualifying bookings made before the end of October 2024 ( using the discount codes provided ) at the checkout.

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This is an extensive list of the recommended clothing and equipment you will need if you are coming on one of our Haute Route Ski Tours. During the tour you will be staying most nights in catered high mountain huts and will need to carry all the equipment and clothing you require for the duration of the tour. The huts are comfortable but basic with limited facilities – running cold water, European-style toilets, dormitory-style accommodation. All the huts provide ‘hut slippers’ – these days they are usually crocs - and so you will not need to carry additional footwear. Any clothing or other items not required on the tour can be left in a travel bag at your first hotel ready for your return on the final night. We recommend keeping the weight of your pack as light as possible. If you are new to alpine multi-day ski touring, try taking your pack out on the slopes before the tour to see how it feels. You quickly realise the benefit of ‘skiing light’. If you are uncertain or need further information, don't hesitate to contact us.

When choosing clothing for ski touring you want to think light, warm and versatile. During the trip weather conditions will change and you’re likely to go from warm afternoons where you’ll be carrying most of your gear in your rucksack, to icy-cold mornings when you’re wearing everything to keep warm! Getting hold of the best and lightest kit available is always worth it and most of the major brands will be able to supply a suitable kit.

This season, we’ve partnered with Ortovox to provide us with the very best safety kit and clothing. Our guides will all be decked out in the latest Ortovox jackets and trousers and will keep warm, dry and comfortable thanks to their technical wool base- and mid-layers. Our guides couldn’t recommend their kit more highly.

• Roll neck rather than a scarf. We use and recommend the ‘Buff¹ ¬ a light, stretchable tube. Excellent despite the name! They do both a fleece/cotton version for warmth or just a cotton one (to keep the sun off).
• Headwear to include warm hat and sun-cap or wide-brim hat for extra protection from the sun. Mountain Tracks fully supports the wearing of helmets for skiing, although not mandatory for any of our trips we do recommend them.
• An outer shell jacket made of waterproof and breathable material like Gore-Tex or similar with a built-in hood. The lighter the better and so a shell is recommended rather than an insulated jacket.
• 1-2 thin fleeces - rather than a thick layer between your skin and the outer shell - an approach which gives better heat retention and good flexibility. These tops are known as ‘mid layers’. The principle of ‘layering’ e.g. allowing you to easily add/remove layers depending on the temperature and the activity is recommended to ensure comfort on the mountain.
• Insulation layer like a down or Primaloft jacket is a good item to have ready to wear in the event of cold weather, it can live in your rucksack as a spare layer and can come in very handy for sudden changes in the weather.
• For the lower half it’s essential that you have a pair of thermal base layer pants (long johns).
• These can then be combined with either:
• (a) a good pair of ‘technical shell’ pants in a waterproof and breathable fabric like Gore-Tex (b) a pair of mountain or alpine pants in a softshell material together with a pair of lightweight, breathable over trousers with long side zips.
• Top and bottom underwear made of a synthetic, wicking material. Very popular at the moment are the wool based layers from companies such as Ortovox . They are comfy, breathable and warm when needed and can be worn for days without your friends catching a whiff!
• Good quality Gore-Tex gloves or mitts and a thin pair of softshell or fleece gloves for when it is hot and for ski touring in. Silk inner gloves can be useful if the weather is cold and you suffer from cold hands.
• Technical Socks - Investing in good quality ski socks will improve fit, warmth and feel when skiing for long periods. Bring along a few pairs.

For all touring trips it is essential you ski with an all-mountain/freeride type skis, ski touring boots and ski touring bindings. If you have your own skis but they do not have ski touring bindings then you will need to rent skis. The same applies if you have downhill ski boots, you will need to rent ski touring boots. Skis

This winter our lead guides are using Elan skis . Praised by magazine testers and professional skiers alike for its unique blend of lightweight performance, the Ripstick 96 is proven to be the ultimate freeride ski in all snow conditions. The Ripstick 106 is the ultimate freeride ski for any terrain. From boundary line to the base lodge, peak to the parking lot, and trailhead to tailgate this ski excels in all conditions. The new Ripstick Tour 94 is designed on a wider platform, enabling the skier to float better, ski faster, and turn easier in backcountry conditions.

It is built to blend high performance at a low weight, for the perfect mix of freeride downhill performance and efficient ascending capability. With Ripstick Tour 94, the confidence to conquer long ascents and charge challenging descents is the name of the game.

There are many ‘all-mountain/freeride’ skis to choose from and we also recommend skis from Salomon, Dynastar, Movement, Black Crows, Trab Skis, Scott and Volkl.  Look for a ski that is the right size for your height, typically the tip of the ski should be somewhere around your nose height.  As for the width of the ski or “side cut” a mid-fat ski – 90-110mm under the foot is a good place to start; this offers plenty of flotation off-piste while remaining suitable for day tours and they should also handle reasonably well on piste and mixed terrain.

Elan Skis: www.elanskis.com

Dynastar Skis:  www.dynastar.com

Movement Skis: www.movementskis.com                                        

Black Crows Skis: www.blackcrows-skis.com/

Trab Skis: www.skitrab.com/en-us/

Scott Skis: http://www.scott-sports.com

Volkl Skis: http://www.voelkl.com

There are plenty of other great skis to choose from so if you’re planning on buying skis for ski touring or general skiing and have any questions do not hesitate to call us, or Lockwoods, to discuss the options available.

If you are planning on buying skis for ski touring and general skiing and have any questions do not hesitate to call us to discuss the options available to you. Boots

It is essential that you have ski touring boots for these trips as walking uphill is much more comfortable in these types of boots with a walk mode and great flex; a dedicated touring boot or a hybrid hike & ride boot is best. 

Our guides are using ROXA boots. They recommend R3 ski boots , the lightest high-performance alpine ski boot in its class. The 110 TI is geared for big mountain chargers who may use “Tech” and/or Alpine bindings and often hike or skin to find their lines . The RX Tours is targeted toward skiers who prefer to blaze their own trail and leave the lift lines behind.

Scarpa has led the way in touring boots for many years but they have been joined by other manufacturers like Dynafit, Salomon, Scott, Black Diamond, Dalbello and K2; all producing their own versions of ski touring boot.

• Scarpa’s Freedom boots are their Hybrid offerings, with great ski performance, a walk mode and Vibram sole. Their Maestrale (men’s) and Gea (women’s) boots are also highly recommended. • The Scott Celeste and Cosmo boots have stood the test of time and are good all-around choices. • Salomon’s Quest Max series offer boots with a walk mode in various flex’s with good downhill performance. • Dynafit offer the Mercury or Vulcan boots plus a range of lightweight options like the TLT6. The best of the rest are: Fischer - Transalp Black Diamond – Quadrant and Factor K2 – Pinnacle boot Dalbello – Lupo or Sherpa Langue – XT series offer a ski boot with a walk mode in various flex options Boot Liners These days many manufacturers offer ‘thermo-fit¹ liners as standard equipment. You may also want to consider a custom liner as these are heated and molded to your foot and boot for a perfect fit. They can make all the difference especially if you have trouble finding really comfortable ‘off-the-shelf’ boots. Zipfit liners are a great option for anyone seeking total customisation in fit and comfort. They will replace the original liner. Custom Footbeds Essential kit – to provide additional comfort and ski control. If you want to get footbeds made or a pair of new boots fitted then we suggest you visit somewhere like Profeet for a professional fitting. Don’t forget if you have footbeds in your downhill boots but need to rent touring boots then you can bring the footbeds with you and put them in the hire boots. Bindings For all ski touring trips ski touring bindings are essential. Fritschi and Marker both make excellent ski-touring bindings and you have a few different options to choose from. Many more people are seeing the advantage of the “pin” binding system now offered by a number of manufacturers as these are light and offer ever-improving security despite their minimalist looks!

It’s essential you have ski touring bindings on your skis. Although Pin bindings have been around since the Dynafit Low Tech bindings over 30 years ago since their patent expired the technology has advanced substantially. Salomon, with their Shift Binding, are at the forefront; they’re ‘multi norm compatible’ so fit a selection of boots and are lighter than most freeride bindings. Our lead guides are using the Shift binding this winter, so if you’d like to know more about them give Lockwoods a ring. Ski Poles We recommend telescopic poles. They must have wide powder baskets (4-5 inches/100-120mm diameter) otherwise you’ll be up to your armpits on the ascents. Go for an alloy rather than carbon poles which are lighter but have a nasty habit of snapping near the basket due to ski edge nicks. Rucksack For most ski tours especially multi-day hut-to-hut tours you will need a 35 - 40 litre rucksack . You might get away with a big 30 liter pack if you are an experienced ski tourer and know what to pack. Most people will find a 35-40 liter pack is a good size for touring. Key features of a good ski touring pack:

• a method of attaching your skis in either an A-frame (one either side) or both together on a diagonal ski carriage
• easy access into the main compartment without having to empty the sack to get something at the bottom
• separate pocket for avalanche shovel, handle and probe
• small top pocket for items like wallet, sunglassed/goggles etc; an ice axe loop
• built-in rain cover and a secure method of attaching/stowing a ski helmet 
• good hip/waist belt and adjustable shoulder straps

Ortovox Haute Route 40 rucksack will be a good choice for ski touring trips. 

Avalanche airbag rucksacks can be used for touring but they are heavy, adding somewhere between 5-8kg just for an empty pack plus canister. So unless you are sure you can carry it and fit all you need in, we do not recommend you use one. 

Over a long multiday tour, every gram of weight is important as you have to carry and move it yourself. Carrying a heavy pack will hinder and tire all but the most experienced and fit ski tourer.

• Ski Skins – these are skins which, now made of artificial fabric, stick to the bottom of your skis and allow you to walk up hill. They must be cut to fit your skis exactly, so if you are bringing your own skis you must provide your own skins.
• Ski Crampons (aka couteaux) - most ski touring bindings have ski crampons specifically designed for the binding. We always carry these just in case. Again if you are bringing your skis and touring bindings you must provide your own ski crampons. 
• Ice Axe - general lightweight mountaineering / alpine pick. Ideally this needs to be short enough to fit in your pack.
• Boot Crampons - ideally lightweight aluminum ones although steel crampons are required for more demanding tours
• Climbing Harness - a simple lightweight harness. The key feature is that it should have fully adjustable leg loops for putting on over ski boots, crampons, etc.
• Helmet - Some people choose to ski tour with a helmet, this is up to you. If you bring a Normal ski helmet they are heavy to carry. Many manufacturers now have lightweight ski touring helmets that work well.

The “Safety Trilogy” - required on all our ski tours and off-piste courses.

• Avalanche Transceiver/Beacon
• Snow shovel
• Avalanche probe

We recommend Simple and intuitive ORTOVOX AVALANCHE RESCUE KIT 3+ 

Remember it is not enough just to carry this equipment; you have to know how to use it. 

How about joining one of our specialist avalanche courses – check out  www.mountaintracks.co.uk/activity/avalanche-training

• Good pair of ski goggles with a lens for low light is essential in the event of snow and poor visibility
• Good quality sunglasses with 100% UV protection
• 35 – 40 liter rucksack
• 1 – 1.5 Liter water bottle – we don’t recommend hydration systems (e.g. camelbak) in winter as they can freeze.
• Food – bring some of your favorite hill nibbles (chocolate, energy bars)*
• Suncream and lip salve
• Camera with a large capacity memory card!
• Money – most hotels, shops and restaurants accept credit cards, but not all the alpine huts do. You should allow about 30-40 Swiss Francs or 20-30 Euros per day for lunch and drinks (amount approximate and depends on consumption)
• Lightweight sleeping bag liner – now compulsory in most huts.
• Wash kit with small personal first aid items – should include:
• Toothbrush and paste - a mini one is ideal
• Anti-bacterial hand cleaner
• Wet wipes – essential to try to maintain hygiene
• Tissues and toilet roll
• Plasters – of various sizes and possibly some adhesive wound dressings.
• Pain Killers – aspirin or Paracetamol/Nurofen
• Antiseptic cream or wipes
• Blister kit – compeed and elastic tape to hold it in place (essential)!
• (Note: Guides will have comprehensive first aid kits and are qualified in mountain first aid)
• Small light quick dry towel e.g. a Lifeventure Soft fiber towel
• Most huts have limited washing facilities
• Earplugs – it can get quite noisy!
• Headtorch - lightweight and carry spare batteries.
• Book, pack of cards and or Ipod/MP3 player – It’s nice to have something to read or listen to when you are in the huts or to challenge your fellow travelers to a game of card. These items are not essential but if you have space you might appreciate them.

Food and Water We suggest you bring with you or buy in resort snack food that you can take out on the hill with you each day. Things like cereal bars, dried fruit and nuts, chocolate, sugary sweets or your favorite hill snacks. When you’re staying overnight in huts its best to take supplies for the days you are away. Huts do sell food but it’s expensive and sometimes stocks run low. If you have any food allergies or dietary requirements especially if you are a Coeliac (Gluten free) or have a dairy allergy we strongly recommend you bring some food with you that you can supplement your dinners with. The huts are fairly good at providing for vegetarians but less so for other dietary needs. You have to buy bottled water in the huts as usually any running water is non-potable. Bottled water is expensive in French and Swiss huts; you can be paying upto 12-16CHF per 1.5L bottle of water. So please ensure you budget for this cost.

• Ski Touring - Hiring Most resorts have ski shops that hire ski equipment and we try to provide relevant contact details for all our courses and tours. Prices do change by resort/country, but here’s an approximate guide to hire costs for 6-days hire: Touring Skis plus skins and ski crampons €150-180 Touring boots €80-90  Boot Crampons €45-50 Ice Axe €30-40 Harness €20-30 Helmet €20-30 Transceiver/shovel/probe €75-80 Our guides also generally have additional sets of safety equipment (transceiver/shovel/probe) which they hire out to clients for €65 for 6 days hire. Must be booked in advance.

The town of Chamonix-Mont-Blanc is situated at 1042m (3,396 ft) above sea level. It sits at the foot of Mont Blanc, the highest peak in Western Europe at 4807m (15,770 ft).

Chamonix is considered by many as Europe's mecca for outdoor sports and draws many enthusiasts from all over the world. Unlike many of the purpose built resorts, Chamonix is a proper working town with a large population of about 12,000 inhabitants. This number can be boosted by as many as 80 - 100,000 during the peak months in summer and winter.

As befits a town of this size there are plenty of shops, hotels, cafes, bars, pubs and nightclubs.

Our top reasons to visit Chamonix : 

Home of the Vallée Blanche, one of the world’s great off-piste descents

Great destination for weekends and short breaks

Easy access from the UK and just 75 minutes by road from Geneva airport, which has regular flights from many UK airports

Thriving, working town full of shops, bars and restaurants = good shopping, good après-ski

The Alpine capital of France renowned for big mountain skiing, alpinism and extreme adventure

Mont Blanc – the highest peak in Western Europe

Very long ski season with skiing possible until well into May

Good range of accommodation for all budgets

Chamonix Ski Area

The skiing area of Chamonix is generally considered to have some of the best off-piste skiing in the world. Much of this is accessible from the lift systems and includes descents of over 2,000m. The Chamonix valley extends over 20km and there are several separate lift systems and mountains which provide enormous variety and all are included on the Mont Blanc pass.

Off Piste runs include:

The Vallée Blanche

The longest off-piste ski descent in the world (24kms).

Pas de Chevre

Ascend to the top of Grand Montets and ski down to the Mer de Glace and on into Chamonix.

Glacier du Toule

You can ski the Glacier du Toule down towards Courmayeur and then catch the cable car back up to the top of the mountain and ski the Italian side of the Vallée Blanche.

From the back of the Le Tour lift system there is fantastic off-piste skiing towards Vallorcine and Switzerland.

Some of the very best areas can only be reached with an hour's ski tour from the pistes. The effort expended is more than rewarded with the awesome skiing across untracked terrain.

Chamonix is just as much about the climbing and mountaineering in the summer months, with easy access into the high mountains and many magnificent climbs and routes available plus an extensive network of high alpine huts its also a mecca for climbers.  Mont Blanc draws over 20,000 ascents a year both by ski and foot and any good weather day in the summer months will see numerous people achieve the summit.

Resort Information:

Resort Height: 1,042m

Highest Lift: 3,842m

Nearest Airport: Geneva

Transfer Options : From Geneva the transfer time from the airport is about 75 minutes to Chamonix. We recommend that you book a seat with one of the many transfer companies who offer shared minibus transfers to and from the airport. Mountain Tracks recommends  Mountain Drop Offs  or  Cham Van  who both offer comparativly priced transfers and run an efficient services.

More about Mont Blanc

Mont Blanc is the highest mountain in Western Europe. Its height is 4,807 metres (15,780 feet), but varies from year to year by a few metres, depending on snowfall and climate conditions. The mountain lies at 45°55′N, 6°55′E between the regions of Haute Savoie, France and Aosta Valley, Italy

The first known ascent was made on August 8, 1786 by Jacques Balmat and Michel Paccard.

Map of Chamonix

It is a condition of booking that you are insured for your chosen activity and the cover must include medical expenses, personal accident, personal liability, third party risks and rescue (including helicopter rescue). You are strongly advised also to take out cover against cancellation and curtailment.

For UK residents Ski Club Travel Insurance may be a suitable option.

For more details and to purchase a policy online visit http://www.skiclubinsurance.co.uk/ If you need assistance arranging your personal insurance please let us know.  

You should arrange to arrive in Chamonix by late afternoon on the first day. 

The most convenient airport is Geneva and from here the transfer time up to Chamonix by road is just 1 hr 15mins.  To travel between the airport and Chamonix we recommend you reserve a seat on one of the many commercial shuttle buses. Mountain Tracks can book this for you and the usual prices are from £40 per person one-way. Please supply your full flight details to us so we can make the reservation.

Want to take the train to the resort?  No problem – it’s possible to get to Chamonix by train from the UK using the Eurostar from London St. Pancras to Paris, then the TGV to Bellegarde and a regional train to Chamonix.  The journey can be done in 1 day. However, please note to arrive in Chamonix by 5pm you should be departing Paris between 9am and 10am, there is a small selection of options ranging from 5hr to 7hrs of travel. If you need to arrive late in the evening for any of our trips please discuss with us as soon as possible. 

The London to Paris Eurostar timetable here 

ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) 

What is ETIAS?

• Starting in the first half of 2025, travellers from over 60 visa-exempt countries will be required to have an ETIAS travel authorisation to enter most European countries within the Schengen Area .
• ETIAS enhances security by checking the details of travellers before they arrive.
• It is similar to systems like the ESTA (USA) and eTA (Canada).

Who Needs ETIAS?

• Travellers with British passports or passports from other visa-exempt countries must complete the ETIAS process.
• Holders of EU or Schengen Area passports or valid EU/Schengen Area visas are exempt.

Application Details:

• ETIAS costs a 7EUR processing fee, waived for those under 18 or over 70.
• Validity: Three years from application, tied to your passport’s validity.
• New passport = new ETIAS.

Application Form Questions:

• Basic personal details (e.g., passport info, name, address, citizenship, gender).
• Additional questions during the process (e.g., criminal history, past travel, health).

Application Fee:

• 7EUR euros.
• Electronic payment via debit/credit card.
• Most applicants receive approval within minutes.
• Valid ETIAS visa waiver for three consecutive years.

Remember to apply for ETIAS approval to explore your favourite European destinations! More details will be confirmed by ETIAS authorities . You can find additional information at the following links:

• ETIAS Official Website 

EES (Entry/Exit System)

The Entry/Exit System (EES) is an automated IT system developed by the European Agency for the operational management of large-scale IT systems. Its primary purpose is to register travellers from third countries each time they cross an EU external border. Here are the key points:

What is EES?

• The EES is an automated IT system designed for registering non-EU nationals travelling for a short stay.
• It records and stores the date, time, and place of entry and exit when these travellers cross the external borders of European countries using the EES.
• The system calculates the duration of the authorized stay and generates alerts to EU Member States when the authorized stay expires .

Who Is Affected?

• The EES applies to non-EU nationals travelling for a short stay (up to 90 days within any 180 days) to European countries using the EES.
• Exemptions apply; for example, holders of EU or Schengen Area passports or valid visas are exempt from EES registration.

Advantages of EES:

• Saves time by replacing manual passport stamping.
• Automates border control procedures for more efficient travel.
• It helps identify travellers who overstay or use fake identities or passports.
• Contributes to preventing, detecting, and investigating serious criminal offences.
• EES Official Website

All our ski tours are led by our team of IFMGA Mountain Guides. The team is led by Olly Allen, Matt Dickinson and Nick Parks. 

• Group Size The maximum ratio for this tour is 6 skiers with 1 guide. The minimum group size is 4. The maximum is 12 with 2 guides.

French IGN 1:25,000 Chamonix.

Swiss 1:50,000 Martigny 282 (S), Arolla 283 (S) and Mischabel 284 (S).

Note: ‘S’ indicates that ski routes are shown.

The Haute Route, Chamonix-Zermatt by Peter Cliff ISBN 1871890217

To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone, all participants must meet the specified skill and stamina levels required for each trip, as outlined on the trip’s page at the time of booking.

Please keep the following in mind:

Trip Requirements: Before booking your trip, please review and confirm that you meet the necessary skill and stamina levels. These requirements are in place to ensure the safety and enjoyment of all participants.

Guides' Discretion: Our guides and instructors are dedicated to maintaining the highest safety standards. They have the authority to exclude any participant who does not meet the required skill or stamina levels or whose participation could compromise the group's safety. This decision will be made with the utmost consideration.

Responsibility for Costs: Should you be unable to continue with the trip due to inadequate skill or stamina, any additional expenses incurred will be your responsibility.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation. Our goal is to provide a memorable and safe adventure for everyone. If you have any questions or concerns about the requirements, please do not hesitate to contact us.

For further information please refer to the Terms & Conditions . 

• The most popular ski tour in the Alps
• 6 days ski touring with IFMGA Mountain Guides
• Wonderful high altitude ski tour
• Guided on a maximum 1:6 ratio

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Skills & Stamina

Skill level.

Off-Piste Coaching 

Our Introductory level is suitable for people who can ski red and black pistes in resorts without problems and you can deal with moguls and some ice. You will be new to off-piste skiing or maybe have dabbled a little on the sides of the piste or even attended a previous off-piste specific course. You would like to ski powder snow with confidence and learn to link turns off-piste in a variety of terrain as well as being able to control your speed and adjust your turn radius.

Ski Touring

Introductory level ski touring trips are appropriate for people looking for their first touring experience. The pace is relaxed and typically we skin for 2-4hrs per day so ascents are about 500 - 800m vertical. You need to be a reasonable off-piste skier (at our Off-Piste Development level), able to link controlled parallel turns in powder snow and ski through trees in control. You need to be prepared to hike short sections on foot carrying your skis on your rucksack (though you won’t need any specific mountaineering knowledge, so crampons and an ice axe are usually not required).

Off-Piste Coaching and Adventure  For our Intermediate graded off-piste ski courses and trips you will have at least a couple of weeks off-piste skiing experience and /or received some previous instructions on an off-piste specific course. You can link 10-12 turns together in reasonable control, speed and style, following the fall line in most conditions. If you’re looking to improve your technique in deeper snow and steeper slopes then our Off-Piste Coaching Development trips are for you. These are instructor-led courses.

If you want to get some miles under your skis then look at our Off-Piste Adventure Intermediate trips which are led by our team of Mountain Guides. On the Adventure courses you can expect to hike or ski tour short distances to get to better snow and terrain, although no  previous ski touring experience is required.

These tours will involve around 3-5hrs of skinning per day, achieving around 800 – 1000m of vertical ascent. We would expect you to be able skin to a pace of 300m of vertical ascent per hour. You need to be able to execute good uphill kick turns on steeper slopes and have some familiarity with use of crampons and ice axe. You need to be a reasonably strong off-piste skier able to deal with a variety of snow conditions (powder, crust, slush) and able to ski on steeper and narrower slopes with the requisite ability and confidence for exposed sections.

For our Advanced Off-Piste Coaching courses you should be an excellent piste skier and have many years experience of skiing off-piste. You should be able to ski off-piste in most conditions linking controlled parallel turns, ski bumpy terrain, trees, narrow gullies and enjoy pushing yourself to achieve new things. Your skiing should be reasonably fluid and autonomous i.e. you can already adapt your turn radius and speed to the terrain and snow conditions off-piste. This course will focus on the technical and tactical skills to ski steep terrain, jump turns and line choice as well as refreshing your avalanche skills and mountain safety. The mission is for your skiing to become more dynamic and reactive!

You are an experienced and confident off-piste skier able to handle most snow types and conditions, you can ski steep slopes (30 degrees+) and make short turns in gullies and ski through trees. These skills have been learned over a number of years of skiing off-piste with mountain guides or experienced groups of friends. You are happy to ski tour to access descents and better snow, so you will have previously used ski touring equipment and can do effective and safe uphill kick turns. You aspire to ski the best snow available and are happy to push yourself to reach the best snow and terrain.

Advanced-level tours are for experienced ski tourers who’ve previously completed another hut-to-hut trip or multiple day tours. A large proportion of the terrain may be steep and exposed; thus confidence in your uphill kick turns on 35+ degree slopes is a must, as is your ability to ski slopes of 40 degrees. You will be a strong, fluid off-piste skier able to handle all conditions. You will be confident of using crampons and an ice axe and happy scrambling/climbing on snow and rock on short climbs to summits, and in gullies to gain a col.

You can ski fluidly and autonomously on all terrain. You often ski couloirs and gullies and seek out steep slopes and you can jump turn in narrow couloirs and have experience of abseiling and sideslipping on steep terrain. You can ski fast with fluid ‘freeride’ style turns and can jump off small rocks and ski trees with no fear or problems. You are happy to ski tour and hike to reach the best snow and terrain and you should have some basic knowledge of using crampons and ice axe. Your aims are to push your skills and challenge yourself further.

Expert level ski tours are pure ski mountaineering journeys in the high mountains. You must be confident skiing steep exposed terrain and ski touring for at least 5 hours per day with long ascents. You will be expected to climb on your feet carrying your skis on your pack to summit mountains above 4000m in altitude. You must be completely confident with your crampon placement and use of an ice axe and you will have some basic rope skills and be happy walking along exposed ridges on mixed terrain to gain the summits of peaks.

Stamina Level

• Level 1 You are fit enough to ski all day with only short stops for food and drink. You can ski off-piste all day without being too tired at the end of the day; you can ski in this way for multiple days on your holiday. You can also hike or ski tour for around 2 hours per day. You’re used to doing cardiovascular exercise 3 to 4 times a week (bike, run, gym) to maintain your fitness, and you’re able to push yourself if needed for short periods of time at a higher rate than usual.

You can ski all day comfortably off-piste with only short stops for food and drink, you can do this for multiple days on your holiday. If necessary you can ski tour for around 1-2 hrs up hill plus your happy to do a few short hikes to access good snow with your skis on your shoulder or rucksack. Your stamina and endurance fitness is good and you work hard to maintain a good level of fitness. You will be exercising 3-4 times a week and also at the weekend; thus running a half marathon, doing a 50 mile cycle ride, 3-4 hours on a mountain bike or a full day’s hill walk would all prove possible with this stamina level.

You can ski all day comfortably and will be expected to ascend on skis at around 400m/hr and be able to skin for at least 5hrs with up to 1000m to 1300m of ascent per day. Your stamina and endurance fitness is good and you work hard to maintain a good level of fitness. You will be exercising 3-4 times a week and also at the weekend; thus running a half marathon, doing a 50 mile cycle ride, 3-4 hours on a mountain bike or a full day’s hill walk would all prove possible with this stamina level.

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IFMGA / UIAGM / IVBV

The IFMGA / UIAGM / IVBV symbol is the logo of the International Federation of Mountain Guides Association.

Nick, Olly and Matt are all fully-qualified UIAGM Mountain Guides and members of the British Mountain Guides Association.

The International Ski Instructors Association is the world body for professional ski instructors.

The ISIA was formed in 1971 and there are currently 39 member nations representing the very best in ski instruction around the world.

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Exploring the World’s Best Ski Touring Destinations

Ski touring, with its origins dating back to the 1800s and the establishment of the iconic Haute Route between Chamonix and Zermatt, offers a unique cross-country experience distinct from traditional downhill skiing. This form of ski mountaineering involves traversing valleys and peaks with point-to-point and centred routes featuring a mix of climbs and descents. Its popularity has grown, allowing skiers to escape crowded ski lifts and explore untouched, powder-filled terrains. The advancement in ski touring gear, including lighter boots and skis, alpine pin binding, and hinged snowboards, has made ascending hills more accessible and enjoyable.

However, ski touring in backcountry terrain demands caution, particularly regarding avalanche risks, necessitating knowledge and proper equipment for safety. The Alps remain a premier destination for ski touring enthusiasts, offering various routes for varying skill levels and iconic locations like Mont Blanc and Matterhorn. These regions are also celebrated for their vibrant après ski culture. Ski touring has also gained traction in North America and Japan, attracting those seeking isolation, enchanting landscapes, and the freedom of exploring vast, uncharted, snowy expanses.

Ski Touring in Austria: Experiencing the Best of Tyrol and St Arlberg

Ski Touring enthusiasts seeking idyllic alpine resorts must look no further than Tyrol. Rich in tranquillity and notable for its classic Christmas card scenes, Tyrol offers access to some of Europe’s most exceptional ski slopes. Hohe Tauern National Park lies in the shadow of Grossglockner, Austria’s highest peak. This serene retreat provides an ideal environment for perfecting ski techniques and venturing into splitboarding.

Shifting the spotlight to St Anton, it is an optimum gateway into the St Arlberg snow-cloaked region. The region boasts of splendid backcountry ski terrains customisable to fit all skill levels. It makes many short day touring trips available where explorers can absorb the atmospheric scenery, a beautiful testament to the grandiosity of the Alberg mountain range.

The Great Alberg Tour beckons for those who are after something a bit more challenging. It involves skiing into multiple destinations, including Valluga, Zurs, Lech, and Stuben, which presents an unrivalled exploration of the entire Arlberg ski region.

Canada, British Columbia

Ski touring at revelstoke mountain resort: a mecca for freeriders.

Revelstoke Mountain Resort, positioned in the province of British Columbia, proudly holds the title for the largest vertical in North America, standing at an impressive 5620ft. Despite having only three principal ski lifts, the resort offers an astounding variety of terrain derived from those points alone.

This resort is well-recognized for offering some of the finest tree skiing on the planet. Enriched with powder, just a fantasy for most ski enthusiasts, Revelstoke promises a ski experience virtually beyond compare. Given the extraordinary natural qualities of this location, it has rightfully earned its place on the bucket list of any serious skier.

For the intrepid spot seekers desirous of exploring the hinterlands of the resort, the adjacent bowls offer fantastic skiing opportunities. The ‘cat skiing operation of Revelstoke is conducted in these stimulating surroundings. The magic of this location is unveiled in the north bowl of Revelstoke. Here, incredible lines worth exploring can be traced.

A modest climb from the peak of ‘The Stoke’ chair lift introduces you to this captivating bowl. A graceful descent here is sprinkled with delightful cliff drops and BC pillow lines throughout the course. The splendid ski town surrounding the resort brims with its rich railroad heritage still exhibited with modesty.

Revelstoke Mountain Resort has solidified its reputation as a Mecca for freeriders, subtly prompting every visitor to enhance their abilities. Its remarkable features and brilliant terrains offer a ski touring experience that is second to none.

Callaghan Country: A Prime Location for Ski Touring Near Whistler

A mere 13km from Whistler transports skiers to what feels like the untouched and undisturbed edges of the wilderness, a dimension where the backcountry cannot get more raw, pristine, or isolated. Only accessible via snowcat, skidoo or skinning, this terrain reveals itself as a powder hound’s gold mine and possibly Whistler’s most well-guarded secret.

It’s not hard to understand why. The spectacular vistas of this locale are interrupted only by a single lodge capable of accommodating 24 guests. The result is an overwhelming sense of solitude, where it’s entirely possible not to encounter another person throughout the entirety of a day.

The ski ascent is typically a two-hour stretch, but the destination more than justifies the journey. The area unfolds into an expansive, untracked forest, boasting boundless opportunities for tree riding that could be considered epic.

The location is also an abundant snowfall area, with an average annual snowfall reaching a hefty 6 meters. Many visitors, haunted by the exhilarations they’ve experienced amidst the area’s stark stillness and impromptu snowboarding adventures, inevitably want to re-experience the place. It is a destination that compels visitors to return time and time again, a corner of the world that affirms its hold on peoples’ memories.

Ski Touring in Finland’s Serene Hossa National Park

Nestled in the northern fringes, Hossa National Park is an idyllic destination for ski touring enthusiasts. The ethereal realm, distinguished by sprawling pine heathlands and the unassuming presence of bears, offers a taste of serene solitude. The park, which lies adjacent to the Russian border, lacks bustling ski crowds. Instead, it is home to just a handful of husky sledders who brave the terrains and the occasional tracks left behind by roaming elks and wolverines.

Hossa taunts not just with its quietude but also glimpses of a rich cultural past. Ancient shamanic rock art adorning its landscape testifies to its historical wealth. Living conditions in the area celebrate tradition and simplicity. Food here is foraged from the abundant forest, and reindeer, symbolizing survival and resilience, constitute an integral part of life.

The pursuit of ski touring in Hossa National Park is an immersive experience. Offering the thrill of hut-to-hut touring, it provides tourists with exhilarating, untouched isolation. The journey through its thrilling, snowy landscapes promises a rendition of adventure in its most authentic form. To those with a fondness for unmarked trails, Hossa’s hidden corners await with their untamed charm and moments of unforeseen excitement.

Exploring some of the Best Ski Touring Destinations in France

Discovering the ski touring paradise of chamonix.

Chamonix, a celebrated hub for ski touring escapades, backcountry skiing, and versatile mountaineering, is a treasure trove for outdoor adventurers. Its enviable location grants easy access to some of the world’s most remarkable off-piste terrains. Its 11 ski areas showcase a variety of terrains, promising endless adventures to the enthusiastic explorers.

Notably, one can escape isolation far beyond the bustling crowds and meticulously groomed pistes with little effort. A brief day touring expedition leads to untouched champagne powder, presenting an opportunity to craft personal trails in less than two hours.

For those seeking a more strenuous undertaking and ready to face a significant test, the infamous Haute route ought to be on their bucket list. This grand adventure connects Mont Blanc to the majestic Matterhorn in Zermatt. However, embarking on this world-renowned journey is strongly recommended under the supervision of an expert off-piste guide for safety and the best possible experience.

In essence, Chamonix promises unmatched allure for those who appreciate the thrill, beauty, and solitude of ski touring. It is not only a place of natural beauty, where towering peaks meet sprawling expanses of powder, but also a place of challenge and thrilling adventure, making it a destination worth exploring.

Ski Touring Adventures in the French Pyrenees: Discover Ariège

Embrace the opportunity to venture into the wilderness through ski touring in the mesmerizing peaks and ridges of the French Pyrenees. This novel sport allows enthusiasts to delve further into the untouched natural splendour of these mountains, presenting an innovative approach to exploring the slopes. Ski touring is an exciting athletic pursuit, combining the enjoyment of a snowy landscape with the exhilaration of downhill riding.

The journey isn’t merely about reaching the peak but mastering the art of touring. Learning the basic techniques of this snow sport is part of the adventure, and these skills provide entrée to serene and pristine areas, secluded from the conventional mechanized ski resorts. Quite juxtaposed with a typical ski trip, the quiet atmosphere engenders an ideal space to develop a more intimate relationship with nature.

Safety is a cornerstone of the ski touring experience. Part of the allure is the chance to descend off-piste, but always under the watchful supervision of experienced guides. As such, enthusiasts can revel in the riotous joy of these pristine slopes while still maintaining a strong emphasis on safety.

Ski touring is also an unexpectedly social event. Far from the madding crowd, one sees creatures not often encountered. It is not unusual to come across marmots during these ventures. The sport presents an exceptional way to connect with fellow enthusiasts, sparking camaraderie amidst the chilly peaks while getting up close with native wildlife.

Ski touring in the French Pyrenees is, quite simply, an enriching, exhilarating, and unique way to experience the snowy magnificence of these majestic mountains.

Discover Ski Touring Opportunities at La Clusaz Resort in the Aravis Range

Experience the mystique of the Aravis Range up close on a transformative ski touring excursion, casting aside the conventional ski lifts of La Clusaz resort. The resort is rendered advantageous by exceptional winter-long snow and sun conditions, providing an ideal setting for ski touring enthusiasts. For a guided trail skiing experience, the slopes of Etale and Beauregard come highly recommended and are accessible during the opening of the skiing season.

Skis or splitboards offer unhindered access to untouched slopes buried under layers of secret powder during these captivating excursions. These trails lead to the unparalleled beauty of the Combe of Aravis, a memorable experience for any skier. On this journey, away from the overwhelming crowds, riders are presented with various slopes tailored to their skill level, allowing for prolonged and satisfying off-piste routes. Optimally, partaking in these ski touring trips under the guidance of a private ski instructor ensures a rewarding and personalized experience.

Ski Touring at La Plagne: Uncovering the Ultimate Off-Piste Experience

La Plagne is a lucrative offering for ski touring enthusiasts. Its magnificent terrain and the significant ski area it shares with Les Arcs make it an irresistible destination. Unlike many resorts where alpine skiing is only feasible at elevated heights, La Plagne provides the freedom to enjoy the off-piste at various altitudes.

A memorable instance occurred during a continuous snow deluge, ironically a frustrating circumstance. The severe weather conditions forced the closure of many high-altitude lifts. However, this situation unboxed hidden treasures in the form of verdant valleys tucked under the Arpette lift, which proved to be a haven for ski touring.

Finding optimal tree skiing and glade terrain opportunities can often be challenging in France. However, La Plagne effortlessly caters to these needs, boasting a variety of forested paths to keep explorers engaged.

A firsthand account from a native French couple living in La Plagne added laurels to the already popular ski resort. The couple exclaimed about the hidden off-piste treasures along the side of the Glacier Bellecôte. Promising and adventurous as it sounds, one cannot resist adding this journey to their future ski touring plan.

In conclusion, La Plagne is a dynamite of stirring winter landscapes waiting to be unearthed. It’s a must-visit area for ski touring, with a diverse range of terrains and thrilling experiences guaranteed.

Ski Touring in Germany’s Enchanting Black Forest

The captivating splendour of the Black Forest in Germany during winter is a sight for all to behold. Densely filled with deep, dark forests lightly dusted with snow, it exudes an atmosphere perfect for leisurely exploration. It’s an ideal destination for ski touring, where the vastness of the wilderness sits at the ready for adventure seekers.

Among the many charming features of this winter paradise are the welcoming gasthofs (guesthouses), known for their warm evening hospitality. Notably, these establishments delight their guests with the tasty treat of Kirsch-laden gateau, a sweet punctuation to any day’s skiing.

Whether reliving fond memories of initial ski vacations from childhood or seeking a more physically challenging venture, the Black Forest has it all. The ascents provided by Feldberg and Herzogenhorn are particularly alluring, promising the perfect combination of thrill and physical challenge to intermediate and advanced skiing enthusiasts. These magnificent climbs provide a high level of athletic engagement and offer breathtaking views of the winter landscape.

Germany’s Winter Black Forest presents a versatile ski touring destination with its rich wilderness, radiant hospitality, and diverse skiing terrains. Offering something for everyone, from beginner to expert, it’s the perfect blend of adventure, serenity, and warmth.

Ski Touring in Tröllaskagi, Iceland: From Arctic Mountains to Ocean Views

Fringing the edge of the Arctic Circle, the Troll Peninsula – or Tröllaskagi – in Iceland offers a veritable paradise for ski touring enthusiasts. This expansive area boasts abundant opportunities for adventure, with its vastness still largely untouched by explorers. The opportunity to ski from the mountain’s peak directly down to the frost-kissed Arctic Ocean is a thrilling feature of this unique ski territory.

The ski slopes in this region are particularly exceptional, offering unrivalled panoramic views of beauteous, pristine terrains ready to carve your skis into. Touring visitors should anticipate diverse skiing conditions, ranging from the inviting crunch of fresh powder to challenging 1500-meter-high vertical cliffs on the fringes of the Arctic mountains.

Beyond the slopes, Tröllaskagi offers a range of alluring activities that make exploring it a multifaceted experience. After an exhilarating day in the mountains, soothing relaxation options await with natural Icelandic hot springs. Alternatively, near the lodge, one finds the tempting waters of swimming pools. For those wishing to immerse further into the pristine Icelandic wilderness, boat tours provide the unparalleled opportunity to observe majestic whales in their natural habitat.

Exploring Italy’s Top Ski Touring Locations: The Dolomites and Beyond

Ski touring adventure across the dolomites.

Situated within the southern Alps, the Dolomites provide an inviting arena of backcountry escapades, thanks to a network connecting 12 diverse ski resorts. With an abundant treasure of untouched powder embodying an irresistible appeal, it is worth opting for a guided exploration. Contrasting certain Swiss resorts, entry to this off-piste terrain comes with a degree of exclusivity; hence, an expert companion is advised to help uncover these concealed marvels. The Marmolada , the highest peak in the Dolomites, sitting at 3343m, hosts awe-inspiring tours that are nothing short of remarkable. For fulfilling your ski touring desires, journeying north through Alta Badia and onwards to Cortina provides a stunningly scenic skiing experience.

While the Dolomites may not yet enjoy the renown of a superlative Alpine ski zone, many valleys offer unforgettable ski mountaineering and touring exploits. These valleys weave through the Dolomites’ towering formations, granting access to an array of awe-inspiring trips. Consider embarking on an outing in the Fanes-Sennes region, using the Rifugio Fanes as a launchpad for well-charted tours. Alternatively, the Val di Fassa provides numerous routes veering from the main valley to attractions such as the Vajolet Towers and Val San Nicolo.

Additionally, Lagazuoi–Conina calls for the employment of axes and crampons in conquering the ascent of Forcella di Lago, leading to an exhilarating descent into the visually spectacular valleys that lie beyond.

Embark on a Ski-Touring Adventure in Madonna di Campiglio, Brenta Dolomites

Prepare to explore and immerse yourself in a stunning ski-touring adventure set in the heart of the Brenta Dolomites, specifically Madonna di Campiglio. Experience lunar landscapes, traverse through snow-clad forests, admire peaks bathed in sunlight, and revel in the tranquillity of nature.

This journey spans three days, providing you with an opportunity to explore and understand the mountain terrain thoroughly and encapsulating. With a medium-difficulty route presenting an average altitude difference of 700 meters, this adventure promises moments of challenge along with unrivalled scenic beauty.

The daily excursion lasts approximately 6 to 7 hours, allowing enough time for exploration, rest, and to truly soak in the awe-inspiring environment around you. To ensure a positive experience, you will be accompanied by professional, congenial Italian guides who are intimately familiar with the terrain. Their expert guidance ensures a rich and engaging experience and your safety and comfort.

Embark on this unique ski-touring expedition in Madonna di Campiglio and create memories that will last a lifetime. Discover in full the beauty of the mountain and the shifting scenes accompanying differing altitudes – the adventure of a lifetime awaits in the Brenta Dolomites.

Exploring the Mount Rosa Valleys: A Ski Touring Experience in Gressoney, Italy

Embarking on a ski touring adventure allows enthusiasts to delve into the hidden gems of the Mount Rosa valleys. This remarkable journey carves a path through untouched, snow-blanketed terrains, offering the thrill of breathtaking descents through pristine white landscapes.

Guiding each adventure is Francesco, a certified mountain leader whose intimate knowledge and experience of the area unravels a personalized experience for each tourist. His invaluable local insight deciphers the most desirable routes, modulating the trails based on individual skill levels. This makes every run exciting yet within each guest’s comfort and ability range.

The Monte Rosa region is notably revered as a ski touring haven, proffering a plethora of excursions suited to varied preferences. Adventurous tourists can indulge in multi-day trips along the acclaimed Trofeo Mezzalama, while those seeking less strenuous escapades can explore the picturesque lateral valleys of the Lys.

Ski touring at Monte Rosa isn’t merely a recreational activity but a means to intimately bond with the essence of these paradisiacal terrains. Here, each swoop down the slopes embraces the mighty mountain’s spirit, making the experience indelible for every visitor.

Norway: Family-friendly Trails and Night Adventures

Exploring norway’s fairytale ski tour: the peer gynt trail.

The Peer Gynt Trail showcases the remarkable character of ski touring, boasting a perfect blend of challenge and enjoyment for the entire family. This illustrious trail is nestled within the heart of Norway’s most renowned fairytale backdrop, a land celebrated for its mythical folklore of trolls and fairies.

This frosty paradise, christened in honour of Henrik Ibsen’s infamous anti-hero, harnesses the power to ignite one’s imagination with narratives of maidens and mountain kings. Positioned exquisitely within the breathtakingly picturesque Espedalen Valley, it spans 70 kilometres, offering unrivalled skiing experiences.

The icy journey through the Peer Gynt Trail unfolds various landscapes, from frozen lakes that shimmer beneath the Nordic sun to remote farmsteads reflecting the nation’s rich heritage. The trail also wades through woodlands characterized by the radiant silver tones of birch trees before culminating amidst the awe-inspiring spectacle of looming mountain ranges visible in the distance.

Where ski touring is concerned, the Peer Gynt Trail undoubtedly presents a distinguished and wholesome experience, enticing beginners and seasoned snow chasers alike to embrace the captivating allure of this Nordic gem. Make the Peer Gynt Trail your next skiing destination, Whether for the sheer thrill of skiing or to immerse oneself in this mythical setting.

Ski Touring for All Ages in the Sunnmøre Alps, Norway

Nestled in the heart of Norway, the Sunnmøre Alps represent a splendid fusion of ski tours suitable for beginner and intermediate skiers. The region is known for its particularly exciting locations that provide thrilling experiences without jeopardizing the safety of its adventurers. Notably dramatic in topography, it remains a spectacle even for those who have frequented the trails; with rugged peaks dramatically overshadowing the stretching fjords, it never ceases to dazzle.

Norway’s ski touring culture is quite robust and is evidenced by the wide variety of individuals partaking in this winter pastime, ranging from families with young children to elderly folks in their 70s and 80s. This fervent participation is witnessed particularly around the areas of Stranda and Ålesund. The enduring commitment of these seasoned skiers acts as an inspiration for many – they might traverse the trials at a slower pace but the fact that they continue to engage in these tours they have walked throughout their lives is nothing short of remarkable.

Exploring Narvik: Scandinavia’s Best Ski Resort for Touring Beginners and Experts

The scenic charms of Narvik are undisputed, as it holds the reputation of being the top ski resort in Scandinavia. Despite having slightly smaller ranges, it captivates visitors with a unique combination of dramatic beauty and recreational activities. The ski resort brings forth an exceptional feature where one can ski directly down to the fjord, ensuring an exhilarating vertical experience for skiing enthusiasts. This picturesque landscape, coupled with the thrilling descent, is truly appealing even to the most discerning skier.

Ski touring at Narvik emerges as an excellent choice for beginners. The resort significantly simplifies its journey with conveniently accessible tours from the lift, making it an optimal starting point. Simultaneously, it doesn’t shy away from satisfying proficient and expert skiers. The backside of the mountain delivers amazing tours that can quench the thirst for adventure and challenges, only intensifying their Ski touring experience.

Interestingly, Narvik shares its borders with the much-renowned Lofoten yet conserves its tranquillity. Despite its more famous neighbour, it does not falter in providing just as engaging and intriguing terrain. The diversity and appeal of its landscape make Narvik a compelling destination for ski touring, offering exciting adventures regardless of the skill level of the visitor.

Experience Night Ski Touring in Møre of Romsdal, Norway

In recent years, night ski touring, guided by a headlamp on the summit trails, has risen in popularity in Norway and has evolved into one of the most challenging expeditions in the region. This unique journey offers a special blend of adventure and serenity that is hard to find anywhere else.

The tour commences at Uteguiden’s office in Stranda, a glimpse into the heart of Norwegian snowy landscapes. From there, transport is arranged to the initial point of the expedition. Upon arrival, the real adventure starts. Tourists embark on an uphill adventure, guided solely by their headlamps and the light of the stars above.

This after-dark escapade isn’t just about skiing; it’s also a captivating journey under the star-studded sky of Norway. If one is fortunate enough, there might be a chance to marvel at the stunning display of the Northern lights painting the night sky. This remarkable display and silent ski touring make for an unforgettable experience. Without a doubt, this tour will be remembered for a lifetime.

Exploring Ski Touring Routes in Tatra Mountains, Poland

Located in Poland, the Tatra Mountains offer an exceptional alpine environment for ski touring. Bursting with diversity, these slopes can cater to various skiing preferences. The western region of the Tatras is characterized by undulating hills, providing a sense of calm and tranquillity for those who ski down its gentle landscapes. Conversely, thrill-seekers may opt for the High Tatras; its terrain is punctuated with granite rocks, creating a more jagged and challenging landscape.

Regardless of where you choose to venture, comfort in the Tatra Mountains is guaranteed. The region boasts an excellent network of mountain huts, marking it a top-tier ski touring destination. This network not only provides accommodation of the highest quality but also allows for flexibility in planning your skiing journey. Vacationers can architect grand tours spanning multiple days or opt for brief, one-day excursions.

Apart from its geographical assets, the Tatra Mountains demonstrate an excellent example of affordable and accessible ski touring. The economic cost of touring in this region is surprisingly low, although its quality is not compromised. Unique in its eastern European allure, the Tatra Mountains hold an allure for those seeking an exotic ski touring experience. This charming destination houses an array of environments and offerings for all types of skiers, making it an ideal location for your next ski-touring adventure.

Exploring Ski Touring Destinations in Spain

Thrilling ski touring adventure in panticosa, huesca province, spain.

Ski enthusiasts are bound to find delight in Panticosa, a haven that offers cold, crisp snow and the thrill of riding on virgin frost. This thrilling four-day adventure culminates with an invigorating climb up the Dientes de Batanes. While the journey does not necessitate advanced technical skills, prior experience in cross-country skiing is recommended due to the wide range of intermediate to high-level stages on this route.

Initially, participants engage in an insightful training day before they embark on the journey to the Bachimaña refuge, a venture that presents a stimulating vertical ascent of 550 meters. This is followed by an electrifying ride towards the Pico Marcadu, encountering an even greater vertical surge of 800 meters.

The pinnacle of the adventure manifests in the climb up the Dientes de Batanes. Conquering this peak symbolizes the ultimate achievement of this expedition, followed by the descent to Baños de Panticosa, signalling the culmination of this exhilarating trip. Make no mistake, the ski tour in Panticosa presents a unique experience that fuses challenge with reward, creating unforgettable memories for those brave enough to undertake the journey.

Exploring Ski Touring Opportunities in Picos de Europa, Northern Spain

Nestled in Northern Spain, near the Cantábrico Sea, the Picos de Europa presents a stunning limestone mountain range. This area, though not a ski resort, has excellent car accessibility and offers an alternative skiing experience, as its slopes, rising majestically above 2000m, can be navigated without the need for chairlifts, pommas or T-bars.

Hundreds of picturesque skiing lines can be found across the range’s three massifs – the Western, Centre and Eastern. These varying steepnesses offer an exciting challenge, and due to the mountains’ closeness to one another, substantial distances can be covered in a single day. Those who wish to extend their exploration can take advantage of the rudimentary mountain huts that pepper this awe-inspiring landscape, providing a rustic retreat amongst breathtaking surroundings.

Planning a ski tour or backcountry trip in the Picos de Europa is best suited for the months of April to May. During this time frame, sunny days are more plentiful, the snow takes on a spring-like charm, and the risk of avalanches falls to a comforting low.

Catering to a range of skill sets, from intermediate to advanced, Picos de Europa is an excellent choice for those seeking off-piste excitement. It is a prime location for lighthearted ski mountaineering and those looking to discover a remarkably unique and captivating off-piste ski destination.

Jämtland, Sweden – Exploring Ski Touring Opportunities

In the heart of Sweden, Jämtland presents itself as an excellent destination for ski touring. Its sublime mountains serve not only as an enchanting backdrop, but also a tremendous adventure playground. The popular misconception is that the gargantuan magnitude of mountains makes for a splendid tour; however, this is far from the reality. In contrast, even smaller mountains can offer highly enjoyable experiences, especially for those located nearby.

Jämtland region is particularly known for its beginner-friendly routes. These easy-paced tracks navigate through dense, luscious birch forests, allowing beginners to master their skills before venturing into more challenging terrains. It’s a place where novices can feel comfortable while still enjoying the thrill of the adventure, thus attracting a wide range of ski enthusiasts.

Moreover, the area around Offerdalsfjällen comes highly recommended. It’s lauded as a perfectly satisfying destination for an exhilarating half-day of ski touring. Whether you have just picked up the sport or are looking to hone your skills, there’s something in Jämtland for everyone. And even then, tantalising prospects abound, with much of the region’s vast potential still remaining untapped. It’s undoubtedly a place where one is only beginning to scratch the surface.

Exploring Top Ski-Touring Destinations in Switzerland

Ski touring in engelberg, switzerland: johan’s experience.

Engelberg is an exemplary destination for ski touring; it offers an accessible entry point for beginners, with terrains only a few hundred meters from the groomed skiing area.

Venturing on tours offers a satisfying sense of accomplishment, providing an overarching view of the entire tour’s journey, which is highly beneficial for those familiar with the sport. For those with a more advanced skill set and perhaps the company of a guide, the opportunity to explore the mountain’s backside awaits. The reward for this additional effort is unparalleled.

Another unique aspect of Engelberg lies in the “farmer gondolas,” essentially the local farmers’ means of reaching their elevated Alpine farms, typically without roads. Although not explicitly intended for skiers, use of these gondolas is permitted. Yet, it necessitates a degree of understanding of the region, making it advisable to have a guide. Offering more than just transportation, these gondolas deliver you directly to remote high-altitude farms, making for a singular and memorable experience that Johan particularly cherishes. Amidst the hustle and bustle of the nearby cities and the modern resort of Engelberg, these isolated farms offer a sort of temporal escapism, giving a feeling of journeying back in time.

Zermatt, Switzerland – Ski Touring Paradise

The idyllic resort of Zermatt in Switzerland is a dream-come-true spot for those craving ski touring. Blessed with copious quantities of uninterrupted snow, this quintessential Swiss ski resort showcases 38 peaks in a spectacular panorama.

Zermatt’s expansive Matterhorn playground is renowned for having some of Switzerland’s best off-piste terrain. It presents an adrenaline-pumping stretch all the way up to an awe-striking altitude of nearly 4,000m at the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise.

Furthermore, Zermatt resort offers an exciting array of 10 marked off-piste areas, known as itinerary runs, that beautifully meander their way through the vast ski region. These routes can be a thrillingly challenging experience for adventurous snowbirds. For those longing for an untrodden snowy wilderness, an ascent to tackle the renowned Stockhorn face is a must-try. This iconic spot is recognizably notable for its gargantuan moguls.

Touring along the east ridge of Cima di Jazzi’s summit can be another captivating option for escapists. At around 3,800m, ascending to these heights guarantees respite from the throngs of other skiers.

In terms of the sheer volume of skiing options, Zermatt tops the list. It houses an astounding 360km of pistes and more than ten itinerary runs. One of its most attractive features is the easy access to large swaths of backcountry skiing, where an ascend of over 2,000m is often accompanied by a thrilling descent of over 1000m on the country back.

The lofty altitude of Zermatt ensures an ever-lasting snowfall while treating its visitors with breathtaking views over the Alps. Further adding to Zermatt’s charm is its traditional and serene town, where the exclusive use of electric buggies upholds the quiet.

Experiencing Off-Piste Ski Touring in Verbier’s 4 Valleys

Verbier, known for its luxury après-ski and gourmet dining, also caters to those seeking to explore off-piste routes and hidden trails. Its main allure for many lies in its tranquil skiing terrains, offering an abundance of thrilling descents, undulating couloirs, and legendary itinerary runs in the 4 Valleys area.

Touring skis will be tremendously advantageous when venturing into these unspoiled expanses. Imagine traversing along the Bec Des Rosses, the most formidable and awe-inspiring among the peaks in the four valleys. Distinct from its counterparts, it is only reachable by a two-hour journey via the Mont Fort cable. Visitors willing to conquer this ascent will be welcomed with an array of downhill paths nestled between jagged rocks and elongated ridges. This location, however, demands a well-honed skiing prowess.

Those searching for a less challenging experience may explore the back of Mont Fort. At an impressive height of 3228m, it is highly esteemed among the local skiing community. Here, awe-inspiring views of Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn await, offering skiers a stunning visual spectacle of their surroundings. Regardless of the chosen route, Verbier’s ski touring adventure promises an unforgettable expedition for its visitors.

Ski Touring in Alaska, USA: Only for the Adventurous

With its steep, exposed slopes and remote feel, Alaska undoubtedly holds high esteem among seasoned skiers. The state, often viewed as a final frontier for experienced freeskiers and snowboarders, offers the unique thrill of steep mountain skiing under exceptional conditions, further enhanced by its maritime weather that ensures the slopes remain covered in snow rather than ice.

Contrary to popular belief, Alaska’s skiing scene isn’t solely dominated by heli-skiing. Although it is undoubtedly the quickest way to reach the vast mountainous terrains, it does not undermine the excitement and ardour of traditional skiing. Ski enthusiasts often venture into the Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve wilderness, setting up basecamps to explore the breathtaking slopes for days. The sheer remoteness and the exhilarating ski experience often leave an intense, lasting impression, invoking a sense of awe and profound aliveness.

However, Alaska’s challenging terrains often test even the most daring skier’s passion for thrill and speed. This is a place where even a look from the top overwhelms you with the sheer vastness and steepness of the snow-covered landscape. The initial few runs can be intimidating and overwhelming, demanding physical and mental acclimatization. Nevertheless, as one familiarizes themselves with Alaska’s unique snow conditions, the experience eventually metamorphoses from a daunting challenge into a loved adventure. Hence, Alaska’s ski trails are not merely a destination but an unforgettable experience that pushes your boundaries.

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Dolomites Ski Touring

Dolomites Haute Route Ski Tour

Looking for a challenge? Join us on one of the most memorable backcountry and off-piste ski tours in the Dolomites. Follow Haute Routes, or Alta Via, as you hike, skin, and ski the dramatic hidden backcountry of Marmolada, Sella, and Val di Fassa, far from the crowds.

•   6 Days / 5 Nights
•   from € 3.710 pp.
•   Val di Fassa / Alta Badia
•   January to March
•   Ski – Moderate to Challenging

Trip Overview

• Backcountry ski across a Haute Route – High Route or Alta Via – experiencing the distinctive geology and fascinating blend of cultures found in the Dolomite Mountains
• Ascend the Marmolada (3,350m / 10,990'), the highest mountain and only remaining glacier in the Dolomites, and ski down its incredible open bowls
• Enjoy superb skiing with our Professional UIAGM/IFMGA Ski Guides , who will show you the best of the Dolomites backcountry on skis
• Ski tour from hut-to-hut, staying in cozy mountain rifugi with the civilized comforts of a warm bed and the delicious hearty cuisine the Dolomites are known for
• Perfect for experienced skiers looking for a challenging ski tour!

Trip itinerary may vary based on weather conditions, fitness levels and abilities of participants, and/or the recommendations of the Dolomite Mountains Team and your mountain guide. Daily mileage and altitude gain may vary depending on the device used.

Arrive in Canazei, Val di Fassa

Arrive in Canazei (1,842m / 6,043') in Val di Fassa on your own (private transfer available on request), and check into your hotel.  The 20-kilometer (12 mile) Val di Fassa (Fassa Valley) runs from Moena to Canazei, surrounded by the “masterpiece” mountains of the Dolomites including the Catinaccio with the Torri del Vajolet, the Sella Group, Sassolungo, and Marmolada. Canazei is one of seven municipalities of the Val di Fassa, and, surrounded by the most important Dolomite peaks, Canazei is one of the most famous Alpine resorts worldwide. Enjoy dinner at the hotel, with your first taste of the fantastic regional cuisine.

Hotel in Canazei, Val di Fassa (D)

Val di fassa.

In the morning, meet your professional UIAGM/IFMGA ski guide for a trip briefing and equipment check (and rent any equipment if needed). Begin your ski tour in the Ciampac area. Ride the cableway from the centre of Alba di Canazei up to Ciampac, a natural viewpoint in the Sassolungo Group, of the Sella and over towards the Marmolada, the "Queen of the Dolomites." The Ciampac is one of the most famous and exciting black slopes of the entire Val di Fassa. It is a very technical run, about 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles), long with a 660-meter (1,969-foot) descent, dropping sheerly right down to the village.  After you’ve enjoyed a few runs, the “real fun” begins! Strap your climbing skins onto your skis and ascend the Val dei Monzoni (Monzoni Valley). Once you reach the top, enjoy a superb downhill run to your rifugio (1,982m / 6,503') for tonight.

Rifugio (B,D)

Marmolada glacier.

Today begins with a skin up following the Alta Via 2 crossing the Ombretta mountains. Enjoy a long, pleasant downhill ski to Malga Ciapela (1,446m / 4,744'), at the foot of the Marmolada Massif. Marmolada, aptly named as “Queen of the Dolomites,” boasts the highest peak of all the Dolomites, reaching a height of 3,342 meters (10,965'), features the largest remaining glacier in the Dolomite Mountains. It also provides some of the most spectacular off-piste skiing experiences on earth. Tackle Antermoia, Bellunese Vecchia, Punta Penia, In Fra i Sass, Lydia, or the Forcella Marmolada (Marmolada Pass) itself!

Val Contrin

Departing Malga Ciapela, skin up and then descend to Alpe di Malga Ombretta (1,904m / 6,247') at the bottom of the majestic south face of the Marmolada Glacier. Ascend again on skins beneath the sheer cliffs of Marmolada's South Face. A great descent awaits you, bringing you to Penia (1,556m / 5,105') at the bottom of the Val Contrin. Still want more today? You’ll have ample opportunity to take additional runs on the Marmolada Glacier, doing laps on your favorite runs from yesterday, or exploring new territory on this incredible mountain!

Sella Massif

Hotel in alta badia (b,d).

Breakfast and departure on your own (private transfer available on request).

Accommodation

Great hotels with Dolomite Mountains. Whether intimate lodge, family run B&B, or luxury spa resort, our hotels are unique, eminently local, and hard to leave.

Want to learn more about our Hotels and B&Bs? The Dolomites has a multi-faceted culture and history that is reflected in each village we visit, and we make sure to provide you with the most authentic experience of the region possible through the hotels and B&Bs we offer. Hotels and chalets are available in the larger villages, while agriturismos (working farms with accommodations similar to B&Bs) are more common in rural areas. And we always make sure you have access to inspired regional cuisine, and the best panoramas you can get in the Dolomites!

Prefer luxury accommodations? You can also book a custom departure of this trip using our  Luxury Hotels . For details, please  contact us .

Want to learn more about our Mountain Inns & Rifugi?              Rifugi – or  mountain huts  in English – are the classic accommodation for hikers, climbers, mountaineers, and ski mountaineers in the Alps. Set in spectacular locations high in the Dolomites, rifugi are accessible only on foot (with a few exceptions that are reachable by car). These marvelous establishments are open primarily in the summer, with a select few in winter, and offer meals and sleeping facilities.

The Dolomite rifugi are considered the best in the Alps. While some are dormitory style with bunk beds, many meet the standard of a simple guest house with private rooms and en-suite bathrooms, and each has its own unique character and charm. Bedding and linens are provided, hot showers are available, and meals are served in common dining areas – like a small mountain inn set high in the mountains with the most incredible vistas in the Dolomites. Whether you’re hiking in summer or skiing in winter, an overnight rifugio stay is not to miss on a Dolomite holiday.

To learn even more about rifugi in the Dolomites , check out our  Rifugios in the Dolomites  article, and learn about one of the best ways to experience these incredible mountains!

Guided: Guide Ratio 1:4 (maximum 4 skiers per guide) Dolomite Mountains  Professional UIAGM/IFMGA Mountain Ski Guides  have many years of experience skiing the Dolomites. We have guides that speak Italian, English, French and Spanish. From the moment you arrive in the Dolomites they will look after you. They know the best ski runs, mountain restaurants, and how things work in the Italian mountains. Technical Equipment for Backcountry Ski Touring Trips

• Ski crampons (aka harscheisen): most randonnee bindings have ski crampons specifically designed for the binding. We always carry these just in case. Fritschi now make them an integral part of their ski binding and although there were some initial teething problems, the newer models are now working well.
• Ski skins:  fitted skins are recommended especially if you have very wide skis.
• Boot crampons:  Ideally lightweight aluminum with ‘quick fit clip-on bindings.'
• Climbing harness:  a simple lightweight climbing harness. The key feature should be that it has fully adjustable leg loops for putting on over ski boots, crampons, etc.

Boot/ski crampons and climbing harness can be rented locally at an extra cost, your guide will advise according to the local conditions and activity.  Safety Equipment for Off-Piste trips The “Safety Trilogy” – applicable for all our off-piste trips involves the use of the items listed below. These can be rented in resort at an extra cost:

• Avalanche beacon / transceiver (be sure to bring two sets of fresh batteries!)
• Snow shovel
• Avalanche probe

Remember it is not enough just to carry this equipment; you have to know how to use it.  Most mountain resort areas offer courses where you can learn and practice these skills. If you are not familiar with this equipment, are unable to attend a course before your trip, or simply would like a refresher, we can provide training for you as part of your trip!

OFF-PISTE SKI DESCENTS The Dolomites seem to have a never-ending supply of lift-accessible off-piste ski descents!

On this great itinerary, you'll enjoy lift-serviced off-piste skiing in the Alta Badia area. From Alta Badia there are incredible off-piste descents of Marmolada, Piz Boè, Sella, and Tofane, to name a few. To see a list of some of our favorites that you may enjoy during your trip,  click here . LEARN MORE

Want to learn more about skiing in the Dolomite Mountains? Check out our  Winter Article Resources , featuring articles on  The Not to Miss Ski Tours of the Dolomites ,  Dolomites Ski Resorts ,  Transitioning from On- to Off-Piste , and  MORE ! 

Check out our  video gallery  with some of the  best free-ride videos  in the Dolomites and check out our new vi deo  Freeride Off-Piste: Val Culea Integrale in the Sella Group .

  EXTEND YOUR ADVENTURE

Still want more adventure?  We can two additional days of skiing in the Cortina d’Ampezzo area! From Cortina d'Ampezzo there are incredible off-piste descents of Cinque Torri, Lagazuoi, Tofana, and Cristallo Massifs, to name a few.  Click here  to see some of our favorites!

Still want even more? Why not  extend your adventure! Dolomite Mountains offers  fantastic extensions  that you can enjoy before or after your trip in the Dolomites. Explore  Venice ,  Verona ,  Lake Garda ,  Florence , or  Milan , or any of the many other magical places found throughout Italy. There's no more perfect way to recover from jet lag upon arrival, or delay your return to reality at the end of your trip!

All itineraries are subject to change due to circumstances beyond our control including, weather, road or trail conditions.

Guided Private Trip:  € 4.990 per person (2 members) € 3.710 per person (4 members) € 3.920 per person (6 members) > 2 guides

Single room supplement:  on request,  in hotels only High Season Dates: 24th January – 16th March --- 15% surcharge Holiday Blackout Dates:  (7-night minimum hotel stay required) Christmas / New Year — 22nd December – 7th January

The cost is based on the specified hotel category (please see the cost inclusions list). If you would like an upgrade, please get in touch with us for a quotation. We will do our best to accommodate you in the specified class of accommodations. However, if there is no availability in this category, we will offer you the next available classification at a supplementary price. Please note that prices may increase between the time of quotation and booking. Your Dolomite Mountains consultant will inform you of any such changes.

Cost Includes:

• Trip briefing
• Logistics and maps of the area
• 1 night accommodation in 4-star hotel in Val di Fassa
• 3 nights accommodation in rifugios
• 1 night accommodation in 4-star hotel in Alta Badia
• All breakfasts & dinners
• Local English speaking Professional UIAGM/IFMGA Ski Guide
• Dolomiti Superskipass
• Transfers in the area as per itinerary
• A €15 donation to Wow Nature’s reforestation projects makes your trip carbon-neutral 
• Luggage transfer on days 3 and 5
• Local tourist tax
• Italian VAT tax

Itinerary in Pictures

Dolomites Haute Route Ski Tour : Looking for a challenge? Join us on one of the most memorable backcountry and off-piste ski tours in the Dolomites. Follow Haute Routes, or Alta Via, as you hike, skin, and ski the dramatic hidden backcountry of Marmolada, Sella, and Val di Fassa, far from the crowds.

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Ski touring and ski mountaineering trips & routes in the chamonix valley.

The Chamonix valley and Mont Blanc Massif are excellent for ski de randonnée (ski touring). Ski touring is a great way to access nature as it was intended to be seen. The Massif is a vast area of spectacular, glaciated mountains.

The lifts provide easy access to the mountain wilderness that make this region special. With the necessary equipment and a bit of hard work, riders will be able to escape the crowds on the slopes and find some great skiing.

There are many well known routes. Here we provide a little information about the most popular tours. If you have any doubts about your ability or knowledge of the area, use a mountain guide .

Examples of Classic Ski Mountaineering Routes

From the Aiguille du Midi there are numerous routes. One of the most famous descents in the valley is the 17km long Vallée Blanche. This can be skied without touring gear and is often the first off-piste experience for many skiers. For o complete list of ski touring routes in the Mont Blanc Massif and the Aiguilles Rouges visit our ski touring routes page.

Several itineraries begin at the Grands Montets, certain with itineraries leading into Switzerland. This is the beginning of the classic itinerary, The Chamonix-Zermatt Haute Route: a memorable trip from Chamonix to Zermatt with an option to continue on to Saas Fee.

The Ski Mountaineering Club Chamonix Ski Alpinisme was inaugurated in 2009. Since then it has been a very active and dynamic section of the Chamonix Sports Club. Visit their website for more information.

Rent or buy your ski touring mountaineering equipment . Find here the list of all shops that provide cross country ski equipment rental and where you can buy new gear.

Routes in Chamonix

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Latest News

An Alpine ski tour from Andermatt to Engelberg

The Urner Haute Route features some of the wildest terrain in the Alps

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Ski touring in the Alps can be "glorious", taking you away from the crowds and into snowy valleys so "still and silent", you might imagine yourself in Antarctica. The most famous ski tour adventure is the Haute Route from Chamonix to Zermatt, but there are many others, said Tom Robbins in the FT – and none are better than the Urner Haute Route in Switzerland. The Chamonix-Zermatt route was devised by members of Britain's Alpine Club in 1861 as a summer itinerary, and first skied in 1903. These days it is so popular, it can feel "a bit like a procession", whereas the Urner – between the off-piste havens of Andermatt and Engelberg – is relatively quiet. Known as "the skier's haute route", it includes "a succession of steep north-facing descents", in some of the wildest terrain in the Alps. 

Perched in the Uri Alps, Andermatt was once a garrison town so bleak that when D.H. Lawrence visited in 1912, he couldn't face staying the night. Latterly, it has become a hang-out for the "jet set", owing to a £1.3bn investment that has transformed it into an upmarket ski and golf resort. But up in the peaks and valleys, things feel as "rugged" as ever. The route begins with a ride on a little rack-and-pinion train up to the Oberalp Pass, where you fix adhesive skins to your skis, and set off uphill. Engelberg lies only 30km away as the crow flies, but the journey passes through such a "tangle of ridges and valleys" that most people set aside five days for it. 

You don't need to be an "extreme skier", but you should be fairly fit and have some touring experience. It's also best to go with experienced guides, not least because of the risk of avalanches, and to book accommodation in advance. Options include "lonely" refuges such as the Maighelshütte, and village stops such as the "picture perfect" Gasthaus Göscheneralp. 

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Ski Touring Norway

Guided ski touring trips.

Sunnmøre Ski Touring

Lyngen Ski Touring

Svalbard Ski Touring

Self-guided cross country skiing.

Peer Gynt Trail Cross Country Ski

Troll Trail Cross Country Ski

About Ski Touring Norway

In the heart of winter, where the  Northern Lights  dance across the sky and  fjords  mirror the alpine majesty, Ski Touring Norway crafts journeys that are nothing short of poetic. Our mission is to stitch together the country’s n atural grandeur and cultural richness  into a tapestry of unforgettable memories.

Norway is a skier’s paradise, a land where towering peaks meet crystalline waters. Ski through the  Sunnmøre Alps , where each turn reveals a new, breathtaking vista, or glide across well-groomed trails that meander through  ancient forests and open plateaus . Here is the essence of ski touring Norway.

From the raw, untamed beauty of the  Lyngen Alps  to the serene landscapes of  Jotunheim National Park , our tours offer a slice of Norway that’s as diverse as it is awe-inspiring.

But our adventures aren’t just for the adrenaline fanatics. We cater to every stripe of winter enthusiast. Whether you’re into backcountry skiing in Norway’s  steep powder slopes  above fjords or prefer a more leisurely  cross-country experience , we’ve got you covered.

We take the fuss out of planning so you can focus on the adventure. Our self-guided tours come with  GPS navigation  via a user-friendly app, local recommendations, and  24/7 support . For those seeking a guided experience, our  IFMGA-certified guides  and a top-notch sailboat are ready to take you to Norway’s hidden gems.

Come and write your own winter poem with us, where each snowflake is a verse and every trail a new stanza in your life’s adventure. Ski touring above Norway fjords, backcountry slopes, or cross-country trails — whatever your style, we’ve got the ink for your winter tale. Ready to turn the page?

7 Best Ski Touring Spots in Norway

1. lyngen alps.

An alpine symphony of rounded peaks and open faces. Here, each turn is a new verse in your winter ballad, and sail-to-ski options make your adventure limitless.

2. Svalbard

A realm where the Arctic whispers its secrets, Svalbard is a canvas of untouched snow and celestial wonders. Ski beneath the Northern Lights or in the glow of the Midnight Sun.

3. Sunnmøre Alps

A visual narrative of powder, peaks, and unparalleled beauty, all wrapped in the safety of avalanche workshops. Each vista competes with the last, yet all are winners.

A blend of quaint fishing villages and mountainous majesty, Lofoten offers tailor-made expeditions that cruise along vast coastlines to deliver you coveted powder snow.

A landscape that combines the best of Lyngen and Lofoten, Senja offers alpine peaks overlooking beautiful fjords. Whether you’re a beginner or a pro, Senja has a route that will reward you with spectacular views and a thrilling descent.

6. Jotunheimen

The “Home of the Giants” offers towering peaks and expansive plateaus, inviting you to carve your legacy on its ancient, snow-covered skin.

Where urban sophistication meets mountainous thrill. Conquer the slopes, then descend into a town that pairs alpine adventure with culinary delights.

Why Choose Norway as your Ski Touring Destination?

• Adventure in the wild : Unlike manicured resorts, Norway offers an untamed skiing experience. Venture into the wilderness to find elusive off-piste terrain, challenging even the most seasoned skiers.
• Ski to the sea : One of the few places on Earth where you can ski down to the sea. The fjords and the sea offer a unique backdrop, making each descent an unforgettable adventure.
• Unparalleled scenery : Norway’s landscapes are a skier’s dream, offering majestic fjords and ethereal Northern Lights as your skiing backdrop.
• Untouched powder : Norway is a haven for those in search of pristine powder snow, offering a skiing experience that’s as close to nature as it gets.
• Consistent conditions : The country’s climate is a boon for skiers, ensuring consistently skiable conditions that make every run a dream come true for winter sports enthusiasts.
• Diverse terrain : From steep, challenging descents in the Lyngen Alps to gentle slopes in Jotunheimen, Norway caters to every skill level.
• Innovative experiences : Unique ski touring options like sail-to-ski adventures set Norway apart as a destination continually redefining the skiing experience.

EXPERT IFMGA GUIDES

Hassle-free, trusted by many, unbeatable support, things to know.

Yes, we offer both guided and self-guided tours to cater to your preferences. Our guided tours are led by experienced IFMGA-licensed guides who will take you to Norway’s hidden gems, ensuring both safety and an enriching experience. For those who prefer a bit more independence, our self-guided tours come with detailed itineraries, GPS routes, and 24/7 support to help you navigate the trails on your own.

We welcome skiers of all skill levels, from beginners to advanced. Our tours are designed to offer a variety of experiences that can be tailored to match your skill level. Whether you’re looking for challenging backcountry skiing or a more leisurely cross-country experience, we have a tour that’s right for you.

While we provide essential skiing equipment rental, you are welcome to bring your own gear if you prefer. We recommend checking the specific equipment list for your chosen tour, as requirements may vary. If you’re new to ski touring, our team can assist you in selecting the appropriate gear for your adventure.

Safety is our top priority. All our tours are led by experienced IFMGA-licensed guides who are trained to make informed decisions in various conditions. For tours in avalanche-prone areas, we provide essential safety equipment and training. Additionally, we offer 24/7 support to ensure your trip runs smoothly and safely.

Preparation is key for a successful ski touring experience. We recommend that you engage in regular cardiovascular exercise leading up to your trip. Make sure to check the specific equipment list for your chosen tour and pack accordingly. If you have any medical conditions or dietary restrictions, please inform us in advance so we can make the necessary arrangements.

Our tours are generally suitable for adults and teenagers who have a reasonable level of fitness. However, some tours may have specific age or skill requirements. If you’re planning to bring younger family members, please contact us in advance to discuss suitable options.

All our tours are designed to be adaptable to varying weather conditions. In case of bad weather, we almost always have a viable alternative plan to ensure you won’t miss out on a ski day. Our experienced guides will assess the situation and make the necessary adjustments to your itinerary.

Our tours are designed to be as safe as possible. Ski touring activities are only conducted with experienced IFMGA-licensed guides who are trained to assess and manage risks. For those interested in cross-country skiing, our routes are on groomed pistes that don’t require any special knowledge regarding avalanches or other potential hazards.

Certainly! We offer the option to rent any ski equipment you might need for your tour. Just let us know what you require in advance, and we’ll make sure it’s ready for you when you arrive.

No worries at all! Our tours are designed to accommodate all skill levels. If you’re a beginner, we can adjust the tour’s difficulty to match your comfort level. Just make sure to inform us about your experience level in detail so we can plan accordingly.

Our Sail & Ski sailboat tours and cross-country skiing accommodations are popular and can fill up quickly. While some tours, like those in Sunnmøre, can sometimes be booked last minute, we highly recommend booking as early as possible to secure your spot and avoid any issues.

The weather plays a significant role in your experience. The climate can vary depending on the region you’re touring, but generally, you can expect cold, snowy conditions, which are ideal for skiing. In the northern areas, especially above the Arctic Circle, winters are long and dark, offering unique skiing experiences under the Northern Lights. Coastal areas like the Lofoten Islands tend to have milder winters but can be wetter, affecting snow quality.

Temperature inversions are common in the mountains, meaning it can sometimes be warmer at higher altitudes than at the base. This can affect snow conditions and avalanche risk, so it’s something our guides monitor closely. The best months for ski touring in Norway are typically from February to May, when the days are getting longer, and the snowpack is stable.

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Get Away From Everyone – Backcountry Skiing in Southern Idaho

Everywhere you look, the iconic backcountry skiing meccas have become so popular that before you even set off on a ski tour, you probably won’t find parking at a trail head. Let alone untracked snow. For those seeking to make the first timid step outside of their local mountains or yearning for tens of thousands of acres easily accessed with only a handful of others, look no further than the mountains in Southern Idaho.

Here’s Local Freshies advice, guides, and backcountry skiing maps in Southern Idaho.

Mountains Are Dangerous In Winter

Before venturing into the great unknown, be aware that backcountry skiing comes with risks that you must be aware of. When you play in the mountains in winter, avalanches aren’t a probably but a reality. Once you pass the ski resort’s boundary, it’s up to you to be prepared. This means having a first aid kit, taking an avalanche education course, and traveling with avalanche gear.

Not Just Avalanches

Besides avalanches, there are other inherent risks of being in the wilderness you also need to be prepared for. We had a rude awakening on our 1st backcountry tour by having someone break their leg. Did it stop us? No. Instead, we learned from our experience and made sure we were better prepared moving forward.

Where To Get Gear Locally

In addition to all the fun gear such as climbing skins and split boards, from an avalanche safety perspective you should ALWAYS carry a beacon, shovel, and probe. It’s critical that you know how to use them and are well practiced in case a snow safety incident occurs. Locally, you can pick up these crucial items along with other backcountry gear from the Magic Valley Gear Exchange.

Gear Is Important But Education Is Even More

Safety equipment is like an airbag in your car. It’s used only AFTER you get caught in an avalanche. More importantly to make sure you reduce your risk of getting caught in an avalanche in the 1 st place, get an Avalanche Education. And when it comes to backcountry education, the gold standard in the United States is A.I.A.R.E. It stands for American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education. Think of them as the equivalent of the American Medical Association but about avalanche safety. There are many locations that provide certifications from ski resorts to community colleges as well as private outfits. And each one provides something special or unique. In southern Idaho, the closest providers are the Sawtooth Mountain Guides and Selkirk Powder Guides. To find one near you, visit the AIARE public course list.   Get The Forecast . Having the right tools and education lays the foundation, but it’s applying what you learn in real life that’s key. Before you even step outside, be sure to read the avalanche forecast and plan your outing accordingly. Throughout the ski season for the Southern Idaho mountains, the Sawtooth Avalanche Center puts out a daily report around 7 am MST. Specifically for the areas we list below, you should focus on the Soldier & Wood River Valley Mtns region. In it, you’ll find where the latest avalanches occurred and what avalanche problems exist. This will help you in figuring out where to ski, not ski, or on certain days to just stay home. If you’re curious on what the other avalanche centers are across the nation, visit Avalanche.org.

Magic Mountain – Perfect For First Timers

Only an hour away from the rolling plains and the iconic Shoshone Falls in Twin Falls, Idaho, you wouldn’t think there would be snow let alone anything decent to backcountry ski. You’d be wrong. While Magic Mountain ski area isn’t high in altitude, it does get more than 200 inches of snow annually. On top of it, even if it’s warm in town, the snow preservation is incredible. You won’t find puckering steeps or rowdy couloirs. What you will find is tons of quick touring options filled with plenty of hippy pow to slay. All this combines for a perfect place to make an introduction to backcountry skiing.

Appaloosa Alley

Magic Mountain Ski Area like many other ski resorts in Idaho is situated on a ridge-line. The resort frowns upon people heading to the south of the ski area since the ridge-line gets wind loaded with huge cornices. But to the north, you’ll find several 400’ – 700’ vertical shots depending on how much or little skinning you want to do.

Take the double chair to the summit. From there, follow the Spell trail along the ridge-line until it begins to veer to the right. There you’ll see on your left, a small trail sign for the Elk Basin Cross Country trail. Here you’ll want to transition to your skins.   The route gently ascends and in a quarter mile, you’ll reach the old poma lift tower. You can continue further north along the ridge-line if you want longer shots. Or if you wish to descend, you’ll find a few avenues that allow you to ski through aspen groves. At the bottom, you’ll come upon a groomed route that is the 500 road. Once there, you can push your way back all the way to the ski resort for as many laps as your legs can take. Word of caution: If you do descend past the road, you can get in a few more turns but be aware that Rock Creek is at the bottom making it nearly impossible to get to the road.

Pike Mountain

The prominent peak to the east of the ski area is Pike Mountain. From the lift, the treeless west aspects of it are where many locals learn to backcountry ski. For an authentic ski touring experience, the north and east flanks of this mountain are where it’s at. For those who put in the work, you’ll find a smorgasbord of terrain you can yo-yo laps to your hearts content.

Drive a little more than ¾ of a mile north from Magic Ski Area to the Wahlstrom Hollow pull-out located on the east side of the road. Park here and take the Wahlstrom Winter Rec Loop which is a well-marked route with blue arrows. It follows the creek drainage until it begins to zig zag its way up to the bench. From here, you’ll want to follow the northeast flank to the summit of Pike Mountain.

From the summit, you’ll find north and east bowls with low to mid angle terrain. There is quick 600’ vertical shots filled with oodles of powder. And if you’re lucky enough to be there when the wind isn’t blowing, the terrain opens up even more allowing 1,200’ vertical descents.   After you’re finished skiing, you have two options. Skin back up to the saddle where you can follow the route down back to your car. Or if you wish for additional turns, skin back up to the summit and ski the northwest glades off of Pike Mountain back to your car. Be aware that the lower sections of the northwest face can get a little ‘bushwacky’.

Pomerelle Mountain – A Variety Of Terrain

Pomerelle Mountain and the surrounding backcountry is a powder hounds dream with these peaks averaging 500 inches of snow annually. With the ski area as your base, you have an assortment of mellow glades up to some rowdy chutes to pick from. And those who are serious ski touring adventurers, both Cache and Independence Peaks to the south top out at 10,000 feet and are fun to explore if you’re willing to snow camp.

Connor Ridge Shuttle

On the ridge-line to the northeast of Pomerelle, you’ll find up to 1,600 vertical feet of low angle tree skiing with an easy skin from the resort. While there aren’t big steep avalanche paths, route planning comes into play for this because of how dense the forest is. Picking your avenues of descent is crucial to make it enjoyable.

To ski this route, you can either shuttle or start at Howell Canyon trailhead. Either way, you’ll end up at the Howell Canyon trailhead. First timers, we recommend starting at Howell Canyon so that you can route plan your descent as you’re climbing up.   Shuttle option: From the top of the triple chair, you’ll want to head skier’s right to Barry’s Run. From there, follow the trail and keep veering right as much as possible. As you pass the ski area, continue descending northeast until you reach the creek drainage. Here you’ll want to transition onto your skins and begin the climb. Ascending northeasterly towards the top of Connor Ridge. From there, you’ll want to follow the ridgeline easterly using the trees as a wind break for about a third of a mile. To your north, you’ll come upon an area where tree cutting is in progress. This is where you’ll want to begin your descent.   Howell Canyon option: Approximately 3½ miles down the canyon from Pomerelle Mountain Road you’ll find the Howell Canyon Trailhead, located in the creek drainage right after the house that sits on the switch back. Starting here, you’ll cross the road and ascend southwesterly through the trees until you hit upon a snow-covered dirt road. Follow this for about a third of a mile until you come up to the first large clearing. Ascend southwesterly and follow these clearings while zigzagging your way to the summit.   Descent: As you begin to descend, be acutely aware that you do NOT want to be lured into the gully to your skier’s right . We ended up getting in here and it became VERY bushwacky. Ski the knuckle of the ridge-line which will start out north and become northeastern as you hit the rollover. From here, continue skiing fall-line until you hit a snow-covered road following this out until you reach the road.

Where to Stay to Ski Pomerelle

Fairfield Inn & Suites – Burley

Mt. Harrison

From the parking lot of Pomerelle Mountain, you wouldn’t expect to find big and burly terrain. But just due West is Mt. Harrison. This peak offers an incredible amount of terrain to suit anyone’s tastes. Big open bowls, moderate pitches with perfectly spaced glades, rowdy chutes, incredible snow preservation, and so much more. If this peak was in Lake Tahoe or another popular backcountry region, people would flock to it. For this area, be aware of snowmobilers who don’t ride the terrain quite like skiers do. Stay alert to your surroundings.   Tip: If you do hit up the Mt. Harrison/Lake Cleveland area, check in with ski patrol first. Once you go over the ridge, there is NO cell service, and this is serious big mountain terrain. Have a plan on how to exit if you do run into trouble.

There are two options to access Mt. Harrison. You can park at the snowmobile parking area just up the road from the resort or use the lifts to gain quick elevation and reduce the approach.   Snowmobile Parking Lot: From here the approach to the summit is about 4 miles. The navigation is easy since you’ll essentially follow the groomed snowmobile trail that is known as Howell Canyon Road in the summer. Approximately 2.5 miles up the road you’ll come to a fork. To the right gives you access to Lake Cleveland. This would be your exit after you’re done for the day. For the summit and the rest of the ski opportunities from this intersection, you’ll want to head left.   Pomerelle Ski Resort: From the top of the triple 88, head skier’s left (northwest) following the ski area boundary as much as possible. Keep up your speed and once you’ve come to a halt, you’ll transition to your skins. From here, follow the ridge-line making sure not to descend into the bowl on your left. Using the shoulder of Mt. Harrison, begin your ascent towards the peak.   Lake Cleveland Descents: From the top of Mt. Harrison to Lake Cleveland, there are a variety of lines to choose from. If tree skiing is what you’re after, the north facing terrain to your right is filled with perfectly spaced trees and a moderate pitch that all drop down into the lake. This is a great first descent to get eyes on all the terrain available. One word of caution: There is a HUGE gnarly cliff skier’s left that you will want to avoid. It’s approximately a mile up the road and can easily be avoided by veering right from the top. Once done for the day, follow the road back the same way you came in.   The Playground Descents: The east side of Mt. Harrison is affectionately nicknamed The Playground. As you crest over the ridge-line and see it with your own eyes, you’ll understand why. The terrain is filled with chutes and cliff bands that any serious skier would enjoy. These can be accessed by following the shoulder of Mt. Harrison instead of the road. When these are in play, you can have runs up to 2,500 vertical feet of descent. Be aware the further you go down, the longer the up is to get back to the ski resort and return to your car.

Soldier Mountain

Despite being only an hour away from Sun Valley, the Soldiers are primarily off the radar for most backcountry skiers. If you do make the journey here, you’ll find a cornucopia of options to ski. Instead of slopes of dense forest, the rolling mountains are sparsely covered in vegetation. The only trees you’ll find are in the sinewy valleys and more protected aspects. This in turn gives you the option to ski any aspect and find the perfect snow for that day. Check out Local Freshies personal experience backcountry king at Soldier Mountain: https://localfreshies.com/backcountry-skiing-soldier-mountain/

Above Soldier Mountain

There are numerous larger ski objectives above the ski resort such as Peak 1, 2, 3, and Smoky Dome that top out at a whopping 10,100’. It has several areas steeper than 30 degrees, so avalanches can go BIG in this area. This is also where Soldier Mountain’s cat skiing operation primarily exists. It’s frowned upon to ski the terrain inside their permitted cat ski boundaries. Rather, if you do want to ski above the resort, be sure to reach out to ski patrol so they can give you guidance on what you can or cannot ski.

Bridge Creek

Bridge Creek is a massive zone that runs parallel to the rest of the ski area and is accessed from the top of Bird’s Eye lift. An extension that’s wild and home to funky topography that’s playful and yet not extreme. Its surfy slopes feature 600 vertical foot shots that you can yo-yo to your hearts content. It’s a perfect introduction to backcountry skiing. The trails in this backcountry zone have been named after classic 80’s films.

To enter, ski patrol asks for all visitors to check-in first at the hut at the top of Bird’s Eye Lift. From there, you’ll exit the resort and ski due south. You’ll pass a handful of snow fences and come to a drainage. From here, you’ll put on your skins and begin the climb continuing south. Keeping the ridge-line to your right, focusing on not losing elevation as you zig-zag your way up to the knuckle that’s due south. Curving around the knuckle, you’ll come upon a southern open bowl which is known as Die-Hard. If you continue skinning up to the highest point another hundred vertical feet, you’ll get another three turns hence this section of the bowl is called Tri-Hard. If you do ski Tri-Hard, be aware that to skier’s right there is a little roll-over where youcould trigger an avalanche. Ski until it flattens out.   From the bottom of Die-Hard, you’ll want to transition and begin your climb up the drainage to the right of the way you came down. You can ski another lap on the same face or curve northeasterly to the ridge on your right. This slope is called Nakatomi Plaza which will finish in the same bowl. You can continue yo-yoing this same drainage as far as you want.   Exit: Depending on how you want to exit, you have a few options. The first and most challenging is to skin back up from whence you came and to the top lift. The second is to hit one of the many north facing shots. The last and most creative is to make it a full ski tour – Goonie’s Ridge. Following the ridgeline, you slowly meander and follow the ridge that makes the backbone of the Bridge Creek area. Then to exit from Goonie’s Ridge, you’ll look for the 2nd tree opening which has been affectionately called Monkey Crack. From there, you’ll follow the creek until it spits you out right into the parking lot.

Island Of Misfit Toys

Another option that is easily accessible from the resort is to head to the area north of Soldier. Nicknamed the Island of Misfit Toys, the ridgeline has a variety of 1,000’ vertical shots with plenty of open with moderately pitched bowls and things to jump off. The views of Soldier Mountain Ski Area and the surrounding peaks are worth the effort. This area does have a variety of pitches that are steeper than 30 degrees (i.e., avalanche terrain) and can go VERY big. Careful route planning is a good idea on days when there is a persistent slab.

Starting at the north end of the parking lot, you’ll follow the groomed snowmobile trail. About ¾ of a mile look for the blank brown sign which is used for summer camping info. Follow the ridgeline northwesterly. As you quickly gain elevation, you’ll be provided with views of Soldier Mountain Ski Resort and the cat skiing operation in the distance. Be aware that both snowmobilers and backcountry skiers share the same ascent but enjoy different terrain for their descent. On top of this ridgeline, pick from a variety of slopes to descend east. To exit, follow the creek back the way you came keeping it on your left side.

Check out all of Local Freshies amazing adventures on their website: https://localfreshies.com

Where to Stay?

Soldier Mountain Chalet

Coffee Shop in Fairfield

Musher’s Mug

Fly to the Magic Valley

Fly to Twin Falls for an easy and convenient trip. The flight takes less time than it takes to bake a potato from Salt Lake City! Plus, it shaves off a long 3 hour drive that usually has bad road conditions through winter. Flying into the Magic Valley Regional Airport makes life easy because it is small. Once you exit your flight, baggage claim takes minutes, then you can walk out the front doors. No long terminal walks, no dodging loads of people, just a quiet airport taking you straight to your destination. Get your flights here: https://iflytwinfalls.com

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The 11 best ski resorts in the u.s. for 2023-2024.

Take your winter adventures to the next level with a visit to one of the country's top ski resorts.

The Best Ski Resorts in the U.S.

Courtesy of Taos Ski Valley

Head to one of America's top ski resorts this winter for well-maintained trails, fresh powder, scenic views and plenty of additional outdoor activities.

Many Americans would agree that putting on a pair of skis and hitting the slopes is one of the best ways to enjoy winter. From massive vertical drops in Colorado to family-friendly getaways in New England , there are ski resorts tailored to every type of traveler – but you'll find the biggest, most stunning resorts more concentrated in the West, particularly around Colorado. Whether you seek ski runs for beginners, challenging black diamond terrain or family-friendly amenities, this list of the top U.S. ski resorts will help you plan the perfect ski vacation.

Top U.S. Ski Resorts

• Whiteface Mountain Ski Resort
• Breckenridge Ski Resort
• Jackson Hole Mountain Resort
• Aspen Snowmass
• Park City Mountain Resort
• Big Sky Resort
• Sun Valley Resort
• Vail Ski Resort
• Taos Ski Valley
• Stowe Mountain Resort
• Heavenly Ski Resort

Whiteface Mountain Ski Resort: Wilmington, New York

Getty Images

At Whiteface Mountain Ski Resort in the Adirondacks , you'll find not only a ski mountain committed to sustainable policies – such as generating its own solar power and protecting native wildlife – but also the tallest vertical drop in the eastern U.S. Other unique features at this mountain resort include one of the longest intermediate runs in the Northeast, plus The Slides: steep, chute-like drops classed as double black diamond difficulty. For an adrenaline rush that may be a bit less intimidating, skiers can also head over to the terrain parks.

The secret weapon here is the fact that nearby Lake Placid has hosted the winter Olympics twice, with plenty of events on Whiteface Mountain . Some of those facilities are still active, meaning off-mountain activities like Olympic-grade bobsledding are an option. After you're done shredding, you can check out other Olympic sites in the area – such as the ski jumps, where lucky visitors may even get to see professional athletes training.

Where to stay: Turn in at the Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort for a family-friendly atmosphere and amenities including an indoor pool and a seasonal ice rink on Mirror Lake. Guests say the views of the lake are a highlight of staying here.

Address: 5021 New York state Route 86, Wilmington, NY 12997

Read: The Top Ski Resorts in New York

Breckenridge Ski Resort: Breckenridge, Colorado

If you've made it to Breckenridge, you're already in one of the country's best skiing destinations , and the amenities at Breckenridge Ski Resort will help you make the most of this wintertime paradise. This mammoth mountain resort (about 80 miles southwest of Denver ) is a maze just waiting to be explored: Its summit towers at just about 13,000 feet, and the mountain offers more than 185 trails serviced by a few dozen ski lifts. You can practice your tricks at one of the resort's terrain parks or attempt the high alpine terrain trails unique to this region.

After you work up an appetite on the slopes, it's time to hit the town. The historic downtown area of Breckenridge is home to boutiques, cafes, galleries and breweries galore, turning your ski trip into a full cultural experience. Consider coming in late January, when you can check out the International Snow Sculpture Championships, where artists carve 25-ton hunks of snow into wildly elaborate creatures.

Where to stay: Exhausted skiers can hit the hay at one of the resort's signature lodging properties, which include One Ski Hill Place , among others. It offers ski-in, ski-out access and is packed with everything from hot tubs to a bowling alley. Past visitors praise the amenities, saying that the indoor pool is a great place to chill out.

Address: 1599 Ski Hill Road, Breckenridge, CO 80424

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort: Teton Village, Wyoming

While Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is worth a visit any time of year, the property's ski season is superb. Lift tickets can be purchased ahead of time, and there are winter sports galore on offer in addition to skiing. Head to Jackson Hole to go snowmobiling, ice skating, snowshoeing and even heli-skiing. Travelers can even book a winter sleigh ride or go dog-sledding.

As for the skiing, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is a great spot for adventurers. Half of its 130-plus trails are for experts, and it's known as a hotspot for backcountry skiers. Beginners may want to beware, as only 10% of trails cater to them – but on the upside, there's ski instruction readily available for all ages and abilities. Visitors will find a variety of dining options throughout Jackson Hole, which makes this destination a good choice for foodies.

Where to stay: With hotel-style accommodations as well as condos and mountain villas, this ski resort is perfect for a romantic getaway or a vacation with the entire family in tow. The Four Seasons Resort and Residences Jackson Hole is a popular lodging option. With its woodsy-yet-elegant vibe – complete with fireplaces in the rooms – guests say this hotel the epitome of classic ski resort luxury.

Address: 3395 Cody Lane, Teton Village, WY 83025

Aspen Snowmass: Aspen and Snowmass Village, Colorado

Craig Turpin | Courtesy of Aspen Snowmass

This notoriously upscale Colorado ski resort famous for its award-winning slopes and glamorous patrons is not to be missed. Aspen Snowmass, located about 200 miles southwest of Denver, is a must-visit for any skiers looking for killer runs and a vibrant après-ski scene. The resort boasts more than 5,500 acres of terrain across four different mountains. You'll find a variety of beginner-friendly trails at Buttermilk , but the other three mountains consist primarily of intermediate and expert terrain. At Aspen Mountain and Snowmass , about a third of the runs are double black diamonds, while Aspen Highlands provides the ultimate test for the most daring skiers with 65% expert terrain.

No matter which mountain you work up an appetite on, you can stop mid-run to enjoy hearty food alongside mountain views at slopeside restaurants. Find more dining and activity options at the mountain bases: Snowmass Village offers ice skating and indoor rock climbing, while the mountain town of Aspen boasts shopping, museums and entertainment options from ballet to cinema.

Where to stay: When it's time to unwind, rest your sore muscles in the chic accommodations at The Little Nell . It's both luxurious and highly convenient, with past guests raving about the beautiful, spacious rooms and services like the ski concierges. Bonus: The Little Nell is ski-in, ski-out.

Address:   601 E. Dean St., Aspen, CO 81611 (Aspen Mountain);   120 Lower Carriage Way, Snowmass Village, CO 81615 (Snowmass)

Park City Mountain Resort: Park City, Utah

Courtesy of Park City - Vail Resorts

As the largest ski resort in the U.S. at 7,300-plus skiable acres, this Utah complex offers a summit elevation of about 10,000 feet, more than 40 lifts and plenty of amenities. With more than 330 trails at Park City Mountain Resort , you're sure to find terrain suitable for your skiing or snowboarding style. If you're a first-time skier or just want a quick refresher before embarking on your downhill excursion, there are private and group lessons available for children, teens and adults. The mountain's many terrain parks – which welcome skiers and boarders of all levels to try out the jumps, half-pipes and more – are also a major draw for visitors. If you're not in the mood to hit the slopes, the Flying Eagle Zipline and the Alpine Coaster will give you an exciting adrenaline rush.

Since the resort is located in Park City , which is relatively large for a ski town, there are numerous bars, breweries and restaurants within reach. Park City Mountain Resort is situated about 35 miles east of Salt Lake City International Airport, making it an easier commute from airport to mountain compared to other popular resorts out west.

Where to stay: An array of ski-in, ski-out accommodation options also make this mountain resort one of the country's best. One traveler favorite is the Grand Summit Hotel , a relatively no-fuss option with rooms, suites and apartments of up to three rooms. Past guests say it has an amazing ski-in, ski-out location and incredibly helpful staff. There are also many stellar rental properties in the area. Take note: As the Sundance Film Festival typically takes place in Park City in January, the town will be packed with visitors, so accommodations may be harder to find.

Address: 1345 Lowell Ave., Park City, UT 84060

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Big Sky Resort: Big Sky, Montana

Jeff Engerbretson | Courtesy of Big Sky Resort Montana

A massive mountain complex featuring 5,850 skiable acres, diverse trails and many different lodging options, Big Sky Resort in southern Montana promises a memorable trip for every type of traveler. You'll have easy access to 320 named runs, nearly 40 lifts and five terrain parks at this Montana ski resort .

With runs that will test your limits at Big Sky Resort, you can take your time traversing the face of this mountain. Advanced, expert and extreme trails make up 50 percent of the mountain's offerings, leaving the other half of trails for beginner and intermediate skiers and snowboarders. Zip lining adventures, dog-sledding excursions, sleigh rides, snowmobile tours and other activities mean a visit to Big Sky Resort is about much more than just skiing. To get to Big Sky, the nearest airport is in Bozeman, about 50 miles away.

Where to stay: If you want all the perks of a slopeside hotel, book a room at the Huntley Lodge, where you'll enjoy direct access to the Explorer lift and a ski valet as well as an outdoor pool, hot tubs and on-site dining. Past visitors say not to skip the epic breakfast buffet, which is included with some bookings. Attached to the Huntley Lodge (and granting access to the same amenities) is the Shoshone Condominium Hotel, which is ideal for midsized groups seeking the conveniences of home, such as full kitchens and separate bedrooms.

Address: 50 Big Sky Resort Road, Big Sky, MT 59716

Sun Valley Resort: Sun Valley, Idaho

Courtesy of Sun Valley Resort

With this area in central Idaho known as the site of the world's first chairlift, Sun Valley Resort strives to provide top-notch skiing conditions for all. Two mountains, Bald and Dollar, give this resort ample ground and diverse terrain. Bald Mountain draws intermediate and advanced skiers to venture along the 65 runs serviced by 13 lifts, including some beginner trails. Dollar Mountain, however, with four lifts and two people movers, is the ideal place for novices and students, given its treeless trails and terrain park.

The resort's lodges make it convenient to stop for a midday bite to eat or a moment to rest in a cozy atmosphere, with hearty food from burgers to tacos on offer. You'll have access to all the exciting activities in Sun Valley , including sleigh rides, ice skating and ice shows.

Where to stay: Sun Valley village and the adjacent town of Ketchum at the base of the mountains have ample accommodation options whether you're looking for a classic hotel or a rental home. Stay at Sun Valley Lodge for a spa and a glass-enclosed pool. Previous guests describe the lodge as both luxurious and full of old-world charm, with spacious rooms to boot.

Address: 1 Sun Valley Road, Sun Valley, ID 83353

Vail Ski Resort: Vail, Colorado

Jeff Andrew | Courtesy of Vail Resorts

Colorado's Vail Ski Resort should also make it on your list of ski resorts to visit during winter, especially if you're an experienced skier. There are 5,300-plus acres of skiable terrain in total here, more than half of which is considered advanced or expert level. The nearly 200 trails to choose from at Vail Ski Resort are serviced by more than 30 ski lifts to get you to your starting point. Riva Ridge, the resort's longest run, even lasts for 4 winding and exciting miles.

If you're a foodie, consider booking a trip to Vail to coincide with the Taste of Vail food festival (usually in early April, late in the ski season), when a host of chefs and wineries put on special dinners, tastings and more around the village.

Where to stay: The city of Vail is also known for its many luxury lodging options. The Hythe Vail is a good choice for those seeking elegant hotel-style accommodations, with a chateau-like building offering fire pits or fireplaces in many rooms, as well as rustic-chic chalet-style suites and residences. Previous guests praise the beautiful rooms, as well as the helpful ski valet service on offer.

Address:   241 E. Meadow Drive, Vail, CO 81657 (Vail Village parking)

Taos Ski Valley: Taos, New Mexico

While many would associate New Mexico with deserts rather than snowcapped peaks, some of the country's best skiing can be found at this resort near the Colorado border. The 110 trails are split about evenly between options for experts and those for beginners or intermediate skiers and snowboarders. Great skiing weather is frequent with 300-plus sunny days per year here. Lessons of all kinds are available, for everyone from beginners up to seasoned skiers looking to start racing.

Off the slopes, the Taos area is a cultural hot spot with plenty of unique activities, including galleries and museums in the main town, the UNESCO-listed Taos Pueblo site, and the Ojo Caliente hot springs a little to the south. Getting to Taos depends on where you're based: There are limited flights to Taos Regional Airport from Texas and California, but otherwise the airport in Santa Fe , about 100 miles away, has more options.

Where to stay: Consider staying at The Blake for direct access to the slopes at Taos. It offers eclectic rooms with decor that draws on local Indigenous design, with accommodations ranging from cozy king bed rooms up to multilevel penthouses for larger groups. Guests rave about the amenities here, like the heated outdoor pool and hot tubs as well as northern Italian food at the in-house restaurant.

Address: 116 Sutton Place, Taos, NM 87525

Stowe Mountain Resort: Stowe, Vermont

Courtesy of Stowe Mountain Resort

Consisting of two mountains (Mount Mansfield and Spruce Peak) connected by a gondola, Stowe Mountain Resort offers nearly 120 trails and a dozen lifts. It's great for mid-tier skiers and boarders, with 55% of its trails marked as intermediate. Located around 40 miles east of Burlington, Stowe is also a renowned spot for cross-country skiing , with hundreds of miles of trails – some groomed, some backcountry.

Plenty of other wintery activities are available too, from snowmobiling and fat biking to ice climbing, ice fishing and dog-sledding. Warm up in the Spruce Peak village, situated at the base of the resort: It has breweries and restaurants specializing in local produce, as well as spas, a performing arts center and an indoor rock climbing center.

Where to stay: Choose from an array of cabins, inns and lodges in the area. If you want to be close to the slopes, The Lodge at Spruce Peak is the only ski-in, ski-out accommodation at the resort. The rooms have a chalet vibe and showcase Vermont-designed furniture and fabrics. Guests say the views and the heated pool here are among the many highlights.

Address: 5781 Mountain Road, Stowe, VT 05662

Heavenly Ski Resort: Lake Tahoe, California

Courtesy of Heavenly Ski Resort

Unlike many ski destinations, Lake Tahoe has more than just one resort to choose from: In fact, there's more than a dozen scattered around this gigantic alpine lake. Heavenly Ski Resort boasts the highest mountain in Lake Tahoe at 10,000-plus feet as well as 4,800 acres of skiable terrain. It has a little something for all abilities – and a reputation for particularly gorgeous views. Its nearly 100 trails are served by 28 chairlifts, nine of which are high-speed. The runs are largely geared toward intermediate skiers and snowboarders, but you'll still find options for beginners and pros, as well as a terrain park that includes a beginner section.

Alternatively, activities like snowshoeing, snow tubing and skating are available for those not looking to brave the slopes. The town of South Lake Tahoe has ample amenities and restaurants serving everything from pub grub to Thai food. To fly in to Lake Tahoe , the Nevada city of Reno has the closest major airport, and there are shuttles available to traverse the 55 miles to South Lake Tahoe.

Where to stay: Immerse yourself in the winter vibes at the Fireside Lodge, a few miles west of Heavenly. With log cabin-style rooms that strike a balance of kitschy and cozy thanks to their gas fireplaces, this bed-and-breakfast is the epitome of alpine accommodation. You'll even be treated to complimentary breakfast and a daily wine-and-cheese happy hour. Past visitors have loved the rustic decor and friendly hosts, saying it's a convivial place where you'll likely chat with other guests.

Address: 3860 Saddle Road, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150

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Tim Forster is a U.S. News & World Report contributor. As a Canadian travel writer, Forster is well-versed in all sorts of winter activities – including skiing – in countries like Canada and the U.S.

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Know Before You Go: Backcountry Skiing in Idaho

Local freshies worked in partnership with visit idaho to create this travel tip..

The thirst for fresh snow is like the modern equivalent of a gold rush. People are flocking into the backcountry at the fastest pace in history. It’s exciting to see all the new enthusiasts wanting to try the sport, but there are a few things you need to be aware of before stepping past the ski resort boundaries to try backcountry skiing.

There is Always Risk Involved

Before we jump into the first timer’s basics for backcountry skiing, here’s a bit of information about ourselves. We’ve been adventuring into the backcountry for over five seasons and don’t consider ourselves experts. Rather we’re lifelong students continuing to learn. We’ve earned our AIARE 1, Avalanche Rescue, and AIARE 2 course certifications and spend about a quarter of our days backcountry skiing or splitboarding. Avalanches are an obvious concern, but there are other inherent risks when in the wilderness you need to be prepared for. We had a rude wake-up call on our 1 st backcountry tour when someone broke their leg . We learned from that experience and made sure we were better prepared moving forward.

Have The Gear

Once you understand that you and only you are responsible for your safety, the next big step is getting the required gear. To do it the right way, be prepared for some substantial costs.

The basics include:

Avalanche Beacon / Transceiver

This is what sends out a signal that can be received by other transceivers if you got caught in an avalanche. There are A LOT of transceivers on the market, some with bells and whistles such as finding multiple burials and tagging them. We personally use a BCA Tracker 2 since our friends and backcountry mentors use these as well. If a device is too complex to work effectively during times of crisis, it isn’t the right choice. Choose wisely.

DO NOT GO WITH PLASTIC. Make sure you have a real backcountry shovel. In the average avalanche burial, you’ll have to move over a ton of snow, and it’s as hard as concrete.

A probe is a collapsible pole you push down through the snow to pinpoint the location of the buried party. This is another piece of equipment that should be metal, durable, and long enough for the Idaho snowpack.

After the beacon, shovel, and probe, the avalanche backpack is considered by many the next piece of equipment backcountry travelers should have. Along with the normal storage space, it may also contain a balloon (or airbag) that inflates at the pull of a cord. Even if you don’t get an avalanche airbag backpack, get a backcountry specific pack that has special compartments designed to hold your shovel, probe, and keep all your other gear organized.

Once you do get the gear, your first crisis should NOT be when you learn how to use your tools: transceiver, probe, and shovel. Practice is important. In addition to these specific items, all backcountry enthusiasts from snowshoers to snowmobilers and everyone in between should also carry a First Aid Kit and tools to fix any gear malfunctions.

Skiers / Snowboarders

Climbing skins.

If you’re going human powered to climb mountains, climbing skins are the way to go. They attach to the bottom of a splitboard or skis so you can climb up slopes as steep as thirty degrees or more and not slide down.

Splitboarders and downhill skiers need a specific pair of bindings that switch between climb mode and ski mode. For skiers, the heel will detach so you can shuffle your way up the mountain. For Splitboarders, the snowboard converts into skis and the bindings reattach like they would for a skier.

Splitboarders specifically will need a pair of collapsible poles that can be used for the climb and then put in (or on) your backpack when snowboarding down.

Avalanche Education Is Key

While you should know how to use these tools, it’s even more important to make sure you know where it is safe to venture and that the snow you plan to ride is safe. Avalanche Education is key in learning to read the mountain and the snowpack.

AIARE Is The Gold Standard

When it comes to backcountry education, the gold standard in the United States is A.I.A.R.E. Short and sweet, it stands for  American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education . Think of them as the equivalent of the American Medical Association but focused on avalanche safety. There are many locations that provide certifications, from ski resorts to community colleges to private outfits, and each and every one of them provides something special or unique. To find one close to you, visit the AIARE public course list .

Get The Forecast

Now that you’re focused on backcountry education and have the gear, the next most important task is to read and understand the avalanche forecast before stepping outside. Throughout the ski season, once the first snow falls, most local avalanche centers put out a daily report on the risk and what avalanche problems you’ll find. This will help you determine a location to ski or wisely call it a day and wait for conditions to improve. In Idaho, there are three major avalanche centers: Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center , Payette Avalanche Center , and Sawtooth Avalanche Center .

For a full view of all the avalanche centers across the nation, visit Avalanche.org .

Where To Go For Your First Backcountry Tour

Benjamin Franklin once said, “It is easier to prevent bad habits than to break them,” and this is VERY true with backcountry skiing. A good idea for your first adventure is to go on a backcountry tour with professional guides such as Sawtooth Mountain Guides in central Idaho or Selkirk Powder in northern Idaho. A guided trip will give you an opportunity to get a taste of what backcountry skiing is like, ask questions, learn from experts, and create good habits for future adventures.

A Gentle Introduction

When you’re ready to begin exploring the backcountry on your own we’ve found the slopes across the road from Lookout Pass Ski and Recreation Area are a wonderful starting point. Instead of attempting to engineer a zigzag skin track up the mountain, you can use the defunct rail grade to slowly ascend to the summit. Is it steep ‘n deep? No, but that’s not the point. It’s about getting yourself acquainted with the sport and terrain, and lowering the risk.

Note: This area is also accessible by snowmobilers. Be sure to stay on the side of the trail if you’re there on a busy day.

Directions: From Wallace, take I-90 east to Exit 0 Lookout Pass. Instead of turning right to the ski resort, make a left and cross the expressway. You’ll find plowed parking on the other side where you’ll start skinning.

Making the decision to try backcountry skiing for the first time shouldn’t be taken lightly. If you truly want to try it, be sure you do it properly. This article NOT a replacement for an avalanche course, but a first timer’s guide on making sure you understand what’s involved and what steps to take BEFORE you head into the backcountry.

Feature image credited to Local Freshies. ​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Local Freshies® is a mountain-based crew that loves snow, the outdoors, and the funky local communities that thrive around every ski area. We focus on local eats, drinks, and activities to help give you a taste of what each of these mountain town gems has to offer. Our mission is for everyone who visits the mountains and their communities to experience the true local vibe that makes each one so unique.​​​​​​​

Published on January 14, 2021

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10 Idaho Ski Runs You Have to Hit in 2018

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