En-suite bedrooms from £60pn. Book your course and then call us to book your accommodation
Find Out MoreSki Mountaineering (2 Day)
Learn LEVEL | 2 day(s) | Ratio 1:4
Overview
Ski mountaineering builds on your ski touring experience to venture further into the mountains on ski. Imagine kick turning your way up a long mountain slope before putting your skis on your back and using an ice axe and crampons for the final push to the summit. Take in the mountain vista before stamping into your bindings, jump turning the steeper upper slopes then opening up the turns to smoothly reach the Corie floor.
Over the two days not only will you learn the technical skills essential for adventures like this, but you will enjoy some fantastic skiing along the way! This course will give you a solid foundation so that you are well on your way to venturing into this terrain in the Scottish mountains or to join us for a guided ski tour in the Alps or closer to home.
DETAILED INFO
AIMS
If you are already a ski tourer and you’re wanting to venture into the wilder side of the mountains this is the place to start that adventure! This course is about arming you with the skills and techniques to take your ski touring to a new level.
PRE-REQUISITES
Fit 3: Sustained skiing all day with only short breaks with enough energy and stamina to maintain performance. Hiking, skinning and touring for up to 8 hours per day with a potential height gain of 1200m+ at a steady pace of 400m/hour. carrying a heavy rucksack of 8-10 kgs is not an inconvenience and does not hamper your ski technique.
Mtn 2: Experience of using touring bindings and skins is necessary and some experience of ice axe and crampons is necessary. For skiers, coping techniques such as side slipping and stem turns are essential and should be well practiced and reliable. Uphill and downhill kick turns may be familiar but require further practice.
Ski 3: You are a confident skier on red runs and enjoy playing with the terrain, skiing narrow corridors at the side and using the bumps to help start a new turn. When the slope gets steeper (up to but not exceeding 30 degrees/steep black runs) you are capable of looking ahead and identifying the line you intend to ski. You are also capable of adjusting your skiing so you can follow your intended route. In fresh snow off-psite, or when the bumps get larger you can still manage to make controlled progress using skids and side slips to cope.
IS IT FOR ME?
If you are looking to develop an in-depth practical knowledge of all the skills required to tackle the wilder side of ski touring, then this is the course for you.
Looking at venturing from ski touring into the realms of ski mountaineering?
You are already a ski tourer and you’re looking to venture onto the steeper slopes both in ascent and descent.
You have the fitness and stamina for a long day’s ski touring with significant height gain whilst still having the legs to link controlled, smooth turns and enjoy the descents.
CONTENT
This course has a maximum of four students per ski instructor. This lower ratio allows us to access and teach in steeper terrain. During the 2-day course we will, the main topics covered are:
• Introduction to ski techniques and skills for the steeper slopes
• Steep ground changeovers: skis to boots and boots to skis
• Ascending techniques; Kick turns, cutting track, boot packing using axe & crampons
• Navigation on ski, route choice and terrain management
• Risk assessment and decision-making tools to use when operating in steeper terrain, including Avalanche awareness, mountain weather & snowpack
• ‘Companion rescue’ and the use of avalanche transceivers.
The programme can be flexible due to individual needs, aims, weather and ski conditions.
Step 1
Book your course place online
Step 2
Call to book accommodation. Prices from £60pn
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USEFUL INFORMATION
WHAT'S INCLUDED?
Instruction
In course transportation
Packed lunches
Afternoon tea and cake
Uplifts costs are not included in the course price. Students are required to purchase their own tickets. The ski area will be used and therefore you will need to buy a ticket if you do not already have a pass. Please do not buy your ticket until the start of the course as we may travel to other ski venues in search of better snow or different terrain.
WHAT'S INCLUDED IF YOU CHOOSE THE RESIDENTIAL OPTION - AS ABOVE PLUS
Accommodation in an en-suite bedroom. If booking as an individual, you will not be asked to share with a stranger.
Breakfast on each course day (except one day and back-to-back courses).
Dinner on each course day (except the final day, and on one day or back-to-back courses).
Use of the facilities at Glenmore Lodge.
Linen is provided along with a towel, you may wish to bring an extra towel if you would like to use the facilities.
NEED TO KNOW
WHAT WILL I NEED
The key to happiness and enjoyment in ski touring is having the right equipment so you can cope with whatever the environment throws at you. At Glenmore Lodge we are extremely fortunate to be partnered with Atomic skis and Scarpa ski boots. These partnerships allow us to maintain a modern range of ski touring boots and skis in our purpose-built ski store.
* Starred Items are available to borrow from GL Stores
PERSONAL EQUIPMENT
• *Skis with touring bindings, skins and ski crampons
• *Ski Poles – ideally fixed length
• *Ski Mountaineering Boots – for example Scarpa Maestrale 2 or Maestrale RS2
• *Helmet
• *Avalanche Transceiver – for example Pieps DSP Sport or Pro
• *3m Probe and Shovel
PERSONAL CLOTHING
• Waterproof Jacket – breathable, Goretex Proshell is ideal.
• Waterproof Ski Trousers
• Thermal Bottoms, thermal Tops – long sleeves
• Mid Layers – Fleece or synthetic
• Soft Shell or fleece Jacket
• *Lightweight Belay Jacket
• Sun hut and Warm Hat
• Sunglasses
• Ski Goggles
• Warm Gloves: Thick and Thin
• Ski Socks
• *Compass and whistle – your Guide will have all the necessary maps and guidebooks
• Headtorch
• *Rucksack – 35 – 45 litres.
• Waterbottle or Flask.
• Suncream and Lip Salve – SPF 30 minimum
• Personal first aid – some tape, Compeed, plaster for blisters and your own pain relief (ibuprofen, paracetamol)
• Camera
