Ski touring-mountaineering course (Mont-Blanc massif)

Description

During this 4-day ski touring course in the Mont-Blanc massif we will treat the progression on glacier where the ski techniques are supplemented by those in mountaineering. So in these days we will treat and apply mountaineering to skiing.

The objective is to acquire and know all the techniques of mountaineering necessary for a correct practice of ski touring. Thus, from the roped-up progression on glacier to the techniques of progressions on the mixed and to the self rescue in crevasses will be all the subjects addressed in this course.

The planned outings are all applications of the first day of the course and in each of them there are parts of mountaineering essential to the realization of the outing.

Pedagogical content of the course:

• Glacier ski touring progression.
• Progression in mixed mountaineering with ski touring boots.
• Crevasse self rescue.
• Skiing down couloir using the rope.
• Risk management in high winter mountains.

To increase in your autonomy, I advise you to follow the AINEVA training course "Making ski touring track" in the Aosta valley.

You can also follow me for another nice ski touring trip around the Benevolo refuge.

Program

D1: Safety on glacier in the Mont-Blanc massif.
Meet at 8am at the schedulded place.
Day of acquisition of safety techniques for ski touring progression on glacier. We will deal with roping up on glaciers, methods for descending with the rope on steep slopes and couloirs with and without skis, and crevasse self rescue techniques.
Debriefing at 4pm  and programming of the following day.

D2: Skyway cable car in Entrèves (Courmayeur) and climb to the Aiguille d'Entrèves (3600m).
Meet at 8am.
Ski touring tour in which to apply all the safety techniques on glaciers acquired the day before, to which is added the progression in mixed mountaineering. Then you will descend the Vallée Blanche to Chamonix.
Debriefing of the day and programming for the next day.
Total duration: 4.5 to 5 hours, positive altitude difference: 400 meters, negative altitude difference: 2765 meters.

D3: Ski touring from Argentière to Le Tour via Col du Passon (3028m).
Meet at 8 am.
Tour in one of the most beautiful places of the Mont-Blanc massif to practice ski touring: Argentière valley. Today, the technical part of skiing becomes fundamental both on the ascent and the descent. We add another couloir to climb up with crampons and you can say that you have had a real day of ski mountaineering.
Debriefing of the day and programming for the next day.
Total duration: 4.5 to 5 hours, D+: 750m, D-: 2475m.

D4: Ski touring crossing from the Aiguille du Midi (3842m) to the Pointe Helbronner (3462m).
Meeting at 8am.
Day dedicated to glacier skiing, We have not intentionally defined a specific route because we will decide together and on the basis of risk management which route to follow in order to analyze all the characteristics that are revealed in the high mountains. Back to the cars and conclusion of the day and of the course.

The price includes

• Supervision by the mountain guide.
• Rescue insurance.

The price does not include

• Transport to and from Courmayeur, about 30 minutes drive from Chamonix or Aosta.
• Ski pass.
• Accomodation.
• Transfers by vehicle.
• Catering.
• Drinks.
• Anything not mentioned in "The price includes".

Accommodation

• At the convenience of the participants.

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