Ski Guiding
Feeling limited by piste-skiing? Want to escape the crowds? Looking for more of a challenge? Join me in France for some really adventurous skiing - come and make your own tracks off-piste, or take a journey through the high mountains staying in catered mountain huts. For winter 2012 I will be based the beautiful Dauphiné Alps in the Ecrins National Park, near La Grave - one of the premier off-piste skiing areas in Europe. Check out the area at www.lagrave-lameije.com By booking your own Guide for yourself or your small group, you have lots of input into the content of your days out and the routes undertaken. If you have a particular ambition but don’t have the experience or expertise to tackle it yourself, guiding is the answer. You make a booking for the dates you want, and I design your itinerary to suit the available time and your sense of adventure!
Dates
Off-piste skiing :
20th - 24th February 2012
5th - 9th March 2012
27th March - 13th April 2012
Ski-touring:
27th March - 13th April 2012
Guiding fees
The fees for 2012 are per Guide per day as follows:
1:1 - £260
1:2 - £280
1:3 - £300
1:4 - £320
1:5 - £340
1:6 - £360
In addition, the Guide’s out-of-valley expenses (hut fees and telepheriques) must be met by you in the local currency (usually in the region of 180-200 euros in total for a five day period, depending on the programme and exchange rates). You must also pay your own hut fees and telepheriques, and your accommodation and food when in the valleys. The Reciprocal Rights Card gives reduced rates in some mountain huts, and is available to BMC members. You have to pay for the card, but it will pay for itself in just a few hut nights. Contact British Mountaineering Council at http://www.thebmc.co.uk or on 0161 445 6111.
Accommodation
Check out the Accommodation in Europe page for ideas. We will send travel directions when we receive your booking.
Preparation
The fitter you are, the more you will get out of your time with us, as all skiing requires considerable physical effort. Swimming, cycling, hill-walking and piste skiing are all good preparation. To get the most out of off-piste skiing and ski-mountaineering, you must be a strong piste skier, able to ski black runs in control and able to make a steady descent on off-piste terrain.
The Haute Route
The Haute Route is a popular ski journey through breathtaking scenery starting in Chamonix, the centre of French Alpinism, and finishing by descending under the North Face of the Matterhorn into Zermatt. There are several variations, each with its own advantage. The route we've outlined has become known as the Classic Haute Route, but other variations are available on request. I often guide the Verbier Haute Route, which can be done in seven days. The maximum ratio is 1:7.
- Day 1: Ski off-piste at Les Grands Montets or Vallee Blanche, with training in skinning, avalanche awareness and use of transceivers.
- Day 2: Intro day tour, eg Cols des Aiguilles Crochues.
- Day 3: Argentiere to the Trient Hut via the Col du Chardonnet and Fenetre du Saleina.
- Day 4: Trient Hut to Champex. Bus or taxi to Bourg St Pierre, stay in valley accommodation.
- Day 5: Bourg St Pierre to Valsorey Hut
- Day 6: Valsorey Hut to Chanrion Hut, via Plateau du Couloir & Col du Sonadon
- Day 7: Chanrion Hut to Vignettes Hut, either with an ascent of the Pigne d'Arolla or direct. An extra day can be added in here by going to the Dix Hut and traversing the Pigne d'Arolla.
- Day 8: Vignettes Hut to Zermatt, via Col de L'Eveque and Col de Valpelline. Stay overnight in Zermatt. This is a long day, and it can be split into two by staying at the Schonbiel Hut for one night.
- Day 9: Day tour from Zermatt, eg the Breithorn (400m peak), or downhill skiing, or day in hand for bad weather. Possibly travelling back to Chamonix.
- Day 10: Possibly travelling back to Chamonix.
Fees and costs for the Haute Route are as follows:
- Guiding Fees: see above for fees for different ratios. In addition the Guide's out-of-valley expenses must be paid by the clients at the time.
- Hut Fees: Approx £30 per person per night, this includes dinner and breakfast. (We take lunch snacks with us, and stock up when we descend to the valley).
- Valley Acommodation: Approx £15 per person per night plus food.
- Cable Cars: Approx £65 per person
- Transport: Transfer from Geneva airport to Chamonix and return: 42 euros per person each way. Champex to Bourg St Pierre approx £30 per person (based on 6 sharing taxi). Zermatt back to Chamonix approx £40 per person (based on 6 sharing taxi).
- Equipment hire: Approx £30 per person per day (boots, skis, skins, avalanche transceivers)
- Insurance: See below. Normal ski insurance does not usually cover off-piste skiing of any kind.
- Please note that, apart from the guiding fees, these costs are an indication only - they will vary with exchange rates.
Equipment
Check out the Equipment for Ski Guiding page for a full list of all the kit you will need.
Insurance
Insurance is absolutely essential when climbing abroad. You must ensure you are covered for rescue from the mountain environment, medical treatment, and cancellation, as well as all the normal things such as personal belongings. Standard holiday insurance does not cover for adventurous activities. Try the British Mountaineering Council, tel 0161 445 6111.
Booking Conditions
Please send a non-refundable deposit of £500 with your booking form. The balance of the fee will be due 14 days before the start of the course. If the booking is made within 14 days of the guiding start date, please send the full fee with the booking form. If you cancel for any reason and we cannot fill your date, we will expect you to pay the full fee as arranged and claim from the insurance company as appropriate. If we fill your date, we will refund your fee less the deposit. If we cancel, we will refund any money paid in full.