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Skiing -
Les Portes du Soleil
Parting with the
piste (a beginners guide to off-piste
skiing / ski touring / backcountry skiing).
Five days in which
to introduce you to the fabulous world of off-piste skiing and ski
touring in Les Portes du Soleil. First we will look at the different
techniques required to cope with skiing on un-pisted and untracked
snow then, with skins attached to the base of our skis, we will
explore some of the quieter corners of this vast area.
I spent 4 years
based here and despite having skied throughout
Europe
still rate it as one of my favourite areas. It has gained a lot of
popularity over the past few years (helped by cheap flights to Geneva)
and so has a great choice of places to stay and things to do for
non-skiing members of a party. However, the off-piste skiing and ski
touring still remains, largely, unknown to the majority of British
skiers.
Who’s it for: For skiers with
a sense of adventure, who are confident on red runs and perhaps the
odd black but who, more importantly, want to take their skiing in a
new direction. A reasonable level of fitness is needed. You may be
going uphill on your skins for perhaps up to 2 hours and of course
learning new skills is always tiring.
A Typical week:-
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Day 1 |
We will have met the night before to sort out kit,
so it’s straight out to explore the vast area of the Portes du
Soleil. Starting on the piste to find your ski legs then the first
turns outside the marked pistes. Avalanche training starts
straight away with how to use transceivers. |
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Day 2 |
we will really get stuck in to the off-piste
skiing today, exploring as much of the area as we can. We will ski
some of the more gentle gullies stopping for lunch at one of the
many fantastic restaurants, then a long remote run down into the
beautiful Vallee de la Manche which leads back to Morzine. |
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Day 3 |
We will get out on the slopes to do some
avalanche training then learn the techniques needed for ski
touring. This will be followed by your first ascent on skis to
the fantastic viewpoint of Point Rati. The descent then leads us
back to the lift system of Mont Cherie with a welcome chair lift
leading us back to the resort of Les Gets. |
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Day 4 |
We put it all together today! This time starting
from the Vallee de la Manche then the classic ski tour up La
Berte dropping down into the Swiss village of Champery to join
the lift system and make our way back for a well deserved drink
in the setting sun. |
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Day 5 |
We keep this last day open to make the most of
the conditions. If the snow pack is stable and the weather good
then we will do another day tour. However if the powder is soft
and deep we will make use of the uplift to get as many turns in
as possible. |
Date:
January 2009
Price :£225
to £250 per day (up
to 6 people)
Contact Us
Whats Included?
Portes du
Soleil ski tours (an introduction to day touring based around the Portes du Soleil.)
Five days in which
to explore the ski touring around this vast area. The lower altitude
of the mountains means that the touring season starts earlier here.
Using Morzine as a base we are able to do 1 day tours without the need
to stay in mountain huts and so enjoy the flexibility this can give
us.
Who’s it for: This is for
skiers who have done some off-piste skiing and some touring already,
who want to explore the potential of the area and get stuck into the
mountains as soon as possible. An ability to deal with soft snow
conditions and a willingness to have a go at more difficult snow
conditions is a prerequisite.
The idea is to
cover lots of ground whilst developing you as a skier. As part of the
day you will receive technical tips to help you deal with different
snow types, learn about avalanche prediction, navigation, route
planning and crampons and ice axe technique.
A typical week:
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Day 1 |
We meet the night before to sort out equipment so
the day can start early.
The emphasis is on finding our ski legs,
reacquainting ourselves with avalanche procedure and touring
equipment. We will combine uplift with a short climb on
skins to access one of the many peaks within the ski area. |
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Day 2 |
Our first tour. La Pointe de Chalune 2116m. A
5 to 6 hour round trip from the nearby ski resort of Praz de Lys. |
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Day 3 |
Pointe de Bossetan 2406m. A six hour trip with
1200m of ascent from a beautiful secluded valley.
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Day 4 |
Pointe de Vorlaz 2346m. After two hard days this
peak, in the heart of the ski resort gives a short approach with
great skiing. We may need to use crampons to climb to the summit
along an exposed snow ridge. |
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Day 5 |
Pointe de Ressachaux 2173m. This peak dominates
the town of Morzine and just begs to be skied. It’s a long haul
to the summit but the ski down will be worth it. Open slopes
give a chance to let rip then a steep forest allows a chance to
show off your combat ski techniques. A final few turns put us at
the road side in Morzine. |
Date:
January 2008.
Price
: £225 to £250 per day (up 6 people)
Contact Us
What is included:
v
A qualified
international mountain guide for the duration of the course.
v
All
group safety equipment .
What is not included:
v
Travel to and from the
course.
v
Accommodation & food.
v
Insurance (personal
injury and rescue is required).
v
Ski and ski boot hire,
skins and ski crampons (couteau).
v
Ski passes and taxis or
railway transfers (a free bus service operates in Chamonix and
Morzine.,or we may use private cars). This will vary depending on the
actual itinerary chosen.
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