Before the lifts had opened | Le Tour, CHAMONIX
It’s a great feeling being able to get up the mountain without using a ski lift. After the first fall of snow or a fresh dump of powder you’ll find ski areas dotted with people who have toured up.
Ski touring is travelling uphill on skis to access backcountry areas which you can’t get to on a lift. A ski tour can be a few hours, a day or longer by staying the nights in mountain huts.
Skinning or snowshoeing up the home-run of a ski area is a great way to start. The same considerations, precautions and kit are recommended when going backcountry skiing (i.e. check conditions and weather, let someone know where you’re going, take avalanche transceiver, shovel, probes, mobile phone, rucksack etc.).
If you’re a skier you need touring bindings and touring skins. The skins stick to the underside of your skis and allow the ski to glide forward and not slip back; you release the bindings so your heel lifts up to allow a walking movement and off you go. Snowboarders use snowshoes; your snowboard straps to your rucksack and by using telescopic poles you walk on up. We’ll talk more about kit in a future post.
When you first start it is difficult to know what speed to go at. Try and keep the pace steady and constant if possible. Be prepared to get very warm. Having layers with you is essential, as when you stop, you can get cold quickly. Remember to take some food and water with you too so that you remain fuelled up and hydrated.
Ski touring can be hard work, but the rewards are amazing. Fresh tracks away from busy pistes in stunning mountain scenery are definitely worth the effort! It is a fantastic experience.
We’ll be posting regularly on different aspects of ski touring from buying kit to advice on longer tours…if you have any questions or tips it would be great to hear from you.
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