Alpine/Freeride Tours:

Gran Paradiso Intro Tour: hut-to-hut ski touring and day tours
     – for first-time tourers.
Chamonix-Zermatt Haute Route: the world class high level route
     – for more ambitious and advanced ski tourers.
Day Tour options: Andermatt, Kühtai, Lenzerheide, Tignes
     – ski touring for those who like less 'up' and more 'down'!

Note: We include Telemark skiers on these tours – we ensure that both Telemark and Alpine skiers receive appropriate and complete attention and time and have found this combination has worked very satisfactorily over the last few seasons. A skier's equipment is less important than a skier’s actual skiing ability!

ITALY – Gran Paradiso Intro Tour

Alpine ski touring - for those new to the game!

LEVELS: 3+ to 5

•	An introductory ski tour visiting the charming valleys and peaks of the Val Grisanche and Val di Rhemes on the fringes of the Gran Paradiso National Park in the Val d'Aosta.
•	The tour uses one hut for three nights and a second for two, to allow light-weight day tours to a range of skiable 3300 – 3400 m peaks. On one day crosses the high pass linking the huts.
•	Generally straightforward terrain and skiing with plenty of options; views are spectacular and the descents pure joy. The huts are very welcoming and the food and wine is legendary!
•	An ideal week for skiers who have done no touring before but are confident and controlled off-piste skiers, used to skiing with a rucksack. Average ascents 800 – 1100 m/day, approx 4–5 hrs, most days with a small rucksack!
•	This ski tour will be led by UIAGM/IFMGA Guide Christian Cesa.

TRAVEL & ACCOMMODATION
Arrange your own flight to Turin and we will sort out the rest!

DATES & COSTS
26/03/10 – 02/04/11 £995
NB Cost includes transfers from/to Turin airport, half board shared accommodation for 2 nights, half board in huts for 5 nights, minibus transfer to/from touring area, services of UIAGM/IFMGA Guide for 6 days.
FULL DETAILS & BOOKING:

Descending the Rif Benevelo

Top: It makes the walk up all worthwhile! Descending to the Rif. Benevelo.
Bottom: Skinning from the Rif. Benevelo to Punta Calabre.
Photos: John Eames

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FRANCE/SWITZERLAND – Chamonix – Zermatt Haute Route

The classic and most well-known ski tour in the Alps - a 'must' for ambitious Alpine skiers.

LEVELS: 4+ to 5

•	A wonderful journey linking high passes and glacier basins, below some of the most impressive peaks in the Alps.
•	We plan to use the standard route to Champex and then the Verbier variation via the Dix and Vignettes huts to Zermatt.
•	Suitable for skiers who are experienced tourers in the Alps and are used to skiing with a rucksack; average climbing 770 m/day, biggest single ascent of 1225 m. To get the best out of the tour some previous mountaineering experience is recommended, as well as a good level of fitness and stamina.
•	Day 1 as a 'shake down' day on the Grand Montets ski area; then 6 days hut-to-hut touring to Zermatt, returning to Argentiere on the 6th day.
•	The tour will be led by UIAGM/IFMGA Guide, Christian Cesa.

PHOTO GALLERY: Haute Route

TWO WEEK COMBINATION:

Come out a week earlier for a preparatory week based at Gressoney, including some off-piste coaching and plenty of free skiing. Refine your skills and improve your acclimatization and fitness, to enhance your enjoyment and satisfaction on the Haute Route.

TRAVEL & ACCOMMODATION
Arrange your own flight to Geneva, arrange a return transfer to Argentiere with ATS for approx. £90 (or train or bus direct from airport) and The Telemark Ski Company will sort out all the rest
FULL DETAILS & BOOKING:

Haute Route ski tour

Simply a wonderful place to be! Views of theDent d'Herens and the Matterhorn on leaving the Vignettes hut.
Photos: Alan Russell, www.zedphoto.com

DATES & COSTS
09/04/11 – 17/04/11 £1115
NB Cost includes half board shared hotel accommodation for 3 nights, half board for 5 nights at alpine huts, services of UIAGM/IFMGA Guide for 7 days.
EXTRAS: ski passes (1st day and access on tour) allow £100; taxi/train links on tour allow £70

TWO WEEK COMBO COST:
02/04/11 – 17/04/11 £1795
Additional costs as described for the Gressoney ‘Off-piste Performance Plus’ week, instruction with 7 nights half-board accommodation. Travel cost by bus from Gressoney to Argentiere is extra.

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SWITZERLAND: Andermatt – Off-Piste Adventure
SWITZERLAND: Lenzerheide – Off-piste Adventure

AUSTRIA: Kühtai – Off-Piste Adventure

FRANCE: Tignes – Off-Piste Adventure

Alpine day touring and freeride options, with off-piste ski coaching – all over the Alps!

LEVELS AND FULL DETAILS: follow venue links below

•	A week with a new concept that has plenty of variety, lots of challenge, big descents, day tours and coaching.
•	Each of these weeks will include off-piste ski coaching as well as following off-piste itineraries and with day or part-day tours; this will vary with snow and weather conditions, ability and aspirations. The balance of coaching, off-piste from uplift and touring will also vary to take advantage of the best terrain and options at each venue.
•	ANDERMATT: An off-piste skiers and freeriders heaven! From the top cable car station unlimited possibilities with easy access back to the village. Weather and conditions permitting, we aim to do several half-day and full-day tours (26/03/11 – 02/04/11).
•	KÜHTAI: At this venue we will be focusing on day or part-day tours everyday; perfect if you are new to ski-touring, ideal if already enjoy touring and with a light rucksack! (12/03/11 – 19/03/11)
•	LENZERHEIDE: Plenty of lift-served off-piste with no queues! Offering easy access to half-day and full-day tours in the surrounding mountains with links to neighbouring resorts; plenty of tree-skiing, open bowls, couloirs and great powder snow possibilities! (22/01/11 – 29/01/11 and 19/03/11 – 26/03/11).
•	TIGNES: The last week of the season ensures a ‘mellow’ atmosphere, great ‘spring’ snow with fresh powder likely and easy access to ‘side-country’, ‘skin and fling’ and mini-tour options. At this high altitude we can guarantee snow even in late April! (16/04/11 – 23/04/11).

Top left: Andermatt: what a way to end a day tour!
Top right: Lenzerheide: on the way to the col … and a 1300 m descent!
Middle: Kuhtai: perfect day tour terrain.
Bottom: Spring touring day near Tignes.

All photos: John Eames except where indicated

Day touring

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