Ski Touring
Choosing the right tour
There are 4 categories of Ski Freshtracks ski tour requiring differing levels of experience, fitness and expertise:
The categories differ from each other in that the ascents and the descents will be more demanding – ie longer and steeper. The minimum accepted off-piste skiing standard is silver+ ie a very strong silver skier (see off-piste ski standards).
If you are uncertain whether your experience/expertise for your preferred ski tour matches the requirements, see our guidelines below and also contact our office to discuss. We will help you book the tour that is most suited to your ability and level of fitness.
Beginner level ski tour
Our beginner level ski tours combine hotel/hut based day tours with one or two hut-to-hut tours at the end of the trip. Occasionally the weeks will be hut-based but with some day tours where you return to the same hut at the end of the day. This allows you to sometimes ski with a lighter pack containing safety gear, camera and other personal items. Previous ski touring experience is not required and during the week you will learn the basic technical ski touring skills.
Longest climb: 1-2 hours daily.
Intermediate level ski tour
A mixture of hotel/hut based day tours and hut-to-hut tours. The intermediate level hut-to-hut ski tours are aimed at newcomers to multi-day hut-to-hut ski touring. However participants should have completed some day tours and have basic ski touring experience – eg familiarity with using skins and skinning technique, conversions/kick-turns. If you have no previous experience you can gain the necessary skiils on our Touring Skills Weekends 1/2/3.
Longest climb: 3-4 hours daily.
Advanced intermediate level ski tour
These are challenging multi-day hut-to-hut ski tours. Suitable only for those who have previously completed at least 1 multi-day hut-hut ski tour. Advanced off-piste skiing ability in all conditions is essential.
Longest climb: 4-5 hours daily.
Advanced level ski tour
This is our most challenging category and participants should be advanced (purple) off-piste skiers, very fit and prepared to tackle all types of terrain on both the ascents and the decents and comfortable using ice axes and crampons. Normally at least some of huts will be unguarded so food provisions will also have to be carried with you.
Longest climb: 4-5 hours daily.
For all tours
Compulsory equipment: transceiver, shovel and probe, touring skis, skins and touring boots.
Each ski tour has its own specific itinerary and equipment list. Please ask your Ski Freshtracks expert to send these to you.
If the guides consider a participant is not suitably experienced or fit enough to undertake the booked tour safely, we reserve the right to remove the individual from the ski tour. Any additional costs which may be incurred as a result will be the responsibility of the participant and will not be reimbursed by Ski Freshtracks.
