Intro to Ski Touring - 5 day
#Ski Mountaineering
Our 5 day introduction to ski touring course for beginners is the complete experience for those looking to get into ski touring - the finest way to travel on a snow covered mountain! We will compliment your existing ski skills with essential backcountry techniques and equipment.
This is a practical course, ideal for those who are confident skiing red pistes and looking to venture into the mountains away from the resorts.
We will always do as much skiing as possible but the mountain ski conditions in Scotland can be changeable at short notice. Due to this the course content may vary with more emphasis on winter mountain skills and mountain safety.
What's covered
- Personal equipment and explanation of how ski touring equipment works
- Understanding weather and avalanche forecasts
- Skinning uphill, turns & ski crampons.
- Off-piste ski coaching
- Winter navigation on skis and route planning
- Avalanche transceiver training
- Techniques & tactics for mountain journeying
- Winter mountaineering skills (crampons, movement skills, ice axes)
Typical itinerary
Day One
Introduction to equipment (skis, bindings, skins etc.) and weather and avalanche forecasting. Once you're happy with your personal equipment and ski set-up we take a ski tour where we'll coach skinning uphill, kick turns and adapting your downhill ski technique to the backcountry.
Day Two
Consolidation of skills developed on day 1 and refining transitions between ascent and descent. We would aim to tackle steeper terrain and have a longer ski tour whilst increasing our understanding of the winter environment. It's important for participants to be involved in the decision making process of a ski tour.
Day Three
Refining winter skills and practising ice axe arrests, cramponing and avalanche awareness. Participants will learn how these essential skills could fit into the context of a ski tour. We'll also have time to enjoy some quality skiing!
Day Four
Participants plan and execute a ski tour in a new mountain area. Your guide will be alongside to assist, but this a great opportunity to develop the confidence for touring and get a sense of the freedom it can offer.
Day Five
Our final day is an opportunity to put all the skills together and ski a mountain summit in a new area if conditions allow. Each participant will complete the course with a clear pathway to achieving independent, safe and enjoyable ski tours.
The cost does not include ski touring equipment, but equipment is available for hire from Tiso or Ellis Brigham in Aviemore.
We use the Aviemore youth hostel as our base during winter. It's also a great place to stay, but here are some alternative local accommodation options.
If the proposed dates don't suit you, we may be able to offer alternatives, so please get in touch.
Level > Moderate
