Beginners Backcountry & Touring Skills

General Advice:

When ski-touring it is as important not to overheat and to avoid sunburn as it is to keep warm. Therefore, try to choose light-weight, good quality clothing over heavier/thicker items. A clothing system based on layers is best – you can control your temperature much more easily than wearing one thick ski jacket.

The mountain hut will have a dormitory style accommodation that we will all be sharing either in bunk beds or on a sleeping platform. A duvet and pillow is provided, however a sheet sleeping liner is required for hygiene. Silk is warmer and lighter, but more expensive than cotton. Hut shoes are provided at the hut to wear inside. The arrangement is on a half board basis, evening meal consists of soup, main course (meat, vegetables, carbohydrates) and dessert. Most dietary requirements can be catered for but your choice may be restricted. Drinks (water, soft drinks, beer, wine and spirits) are available separate to the half board, so bring some cash or card to cover your sundry expenses.

You need to be physically fit to enjoy this programme as there will be an element of aerobic activity when traveling on skis or on foot. The best form of training in the UK is hillwalking, however, regular running, jogging, or cycling will be beneficial. If you are intending to train in a gym, focus on endurance exercise.

Equipment

• Ski mountaineering boots – it is recommended to seek advice to select a model that suits your foot type and that are designed for the type of skiing you want to do
• Skis – a freeride ski with about 95-105mm underfoot with touring bindings
• Skins – cut to fit the skis and well glued, preferably tail-fix type.
• Ski crampons aka ‘harscheisen’ or ‘couteaux’ in French.
• Ski Poles – non telescopic with powder baskets and extended grip e.g. Black Crows Oxus
• Backpack – 35/40L will provide enough capacity for day touring and the hut overnight. A ski specific backpack is highly recommended as this is designed for the activity. If not using a ski specific backpack then make sure that there are straps to carry your skis and ice axe. e.g. Mammut Nirvana 35, BCA Stash Pro 32
• Long ski strap – for holding skis together or making an ‘A’ frame to carry skis on backpackg. Black Diamond ski strap 25inch
• Avalanche transceiver – bring your own if you have one, otherwise the ski club will provide. e.g. Mammut Barryvox or BCA Tracker
• Shovel – metal only, plastic shovels break in real avalanche debris. g. Mammut Alugator, BCA Dozer
• Avalanche probeg. Mammut Probe 280 speedlock, BCA Stealth 270
• Helmet – lightweight ski or touring specific models are available e.g. Salomon Mtn Lab
• Harness with 120cm sling and screwgate carabiner, e.g. Petzl Tour
• Crampons – lightweight alloy crampons are suitable on most skitours, e.g. Blue Ice Harfang
• Ice axe – lightweight model but with a steel head, e.g. Petzl Ride
• Ski goggles – choose lens colour for low contrast use
• Sun glasses – category 3 or 4, with side protection
• Water bottle – 1 litre, wide necked ‘Nalgene’ type is easier to fill in huts. Hydration systems should be avoided as they often freeze and leak. A small thermos can be useful for a hot drink

Clothing

• Base layer – merino or synthetic e.g. Patagonia Capilene 1 or Merino 1
• Layer – long-sleeved zip neck e.g. Patagonia Capilene 2 or Merino 2 lightweight zip-neck
• Insulation Layer – fleece e.g. Patagonia R1
• Duvet jacket – down or synthetic e.g. Patagonia Micro Puff jacket
• Shell Jacket – Gore-tex e.g. Patagonia Powder Bowl Jacket
• Thermal Legwear – merino or synthetic e.g. Patagonia Capilene 1 or Merino 1
• Trousers/Overtrousersg. Patagonia Guide Pants & Triolet Goretex Pants.
  • or Ski Pants Gore-tex e.g. Patagonia Powder Bowl Pants
• Socks – calf length ski specific wool mix e.g. Falke
• Ski gloves thin pair e.g. Black Diamond Kingpin
• Ski gloves thick pair e.g. Black Diamond Patrol

Other Items

• Personal medications/blister kit – any regular medications, ‘Tensaplast’ or zinc oxide tape, compeed, painkillers etc.
• Suncream/lip salve – SPF 30+
• Wallet, passport and EHIC/insurance docs
• Chemical hand warmers – useful to keep hands warm on colder days

Hut Overnight Items

• Small wash kit – toothbrush, toothpaste etc.
• Spare clothing for hut – lightweight t-shirt/socks/pants
• Sheet sleeping liner – silk is lighter than cotton
• Ear plugs or headphones
• Phone charger with EU/Swiss plug

If you require ski hire, we recommend the Concept Pro Shop Chamonix. This is located behind the Aiguille du Midi cable car, a 15-20 minute walk, or short bus ride away from the chalet.

They offer a 20% discount to ski club members and have a great array of equipment which can be booked in advance. A link will be emailed to you with your itinerary. Your rep will help you with collection of your kit upon arrival in resort.

There are some other shops close to the chalet which could off more convenience. Touring kit can normally be easily rented in resort – particularly at our recommended outlets. Skins will normally be included as part of the touring ski package. Call the Freshtracks team on 020 8410 2022 for a more detailed kit list.

Please see the prices for the 25/26 season below:

14th – 19th December: Adult £240, Senior £199

Earlybird for weeks between 10th Jan – 8th Feb & 14th March – 28th March MUST BE ORDERED BEFORE 28TH NOVEMBER: Adult £305, Senior £265

Normal price: £399 Adult and £330 65+

Carte Neige £19 for 6 days

Backcountry weeks don’t require you to buy passes in advance, as your guide will advise day by day what to get.

Prices For 26/27 winter will be updated soon. Keep an eye out here for the updates.

6 – 13 Feb 2027 : TBC

3 – 10 Apr 2027 : TBC

6 – 13 Feb 2027 : TBC

3 – 10 Apr 2027 : TBC Simon / Alexander Bayerl

As part of your holiday, daily transport is provided in the Ski Club of Great Britain minibus to the area recommended by the guides within the Mont Blanc region. The distance to the lifts will vary depending on the ski area selected each day.

The chalet is conveniently located just a 3–5 minute walk from the centre of Chamonix, offering easy access to the town’s shops, cafés and facilities.

It is a condition of booking that you have valid and adequate snowsports insurance. It is your responsibility to ensure your policy provides cover for all the activities that you participate in during your holiday. We offer a Ski Club Insurance policy which provides the cover we require for all bookings. This policy can be found here: Ski Club Travel Insurance – Ski Club Of Great Britain.

If you decide to purchase insurance elsewhere, it is your responsibility to ensure that your policy provides cover as that of the Ski Club Insurance policy. The policy of insurance should provide cover for personal injury, death, medical and repatriation costs in the countries which you intend to visit, together with cover for loss of baggage and valuables, personal liability, delay, cancellation, curtailment, missed departure and legal expenses. The policy should also include cover against losses caused by the effects or consequences of Covid-19.

Due to the type of holidays that you will be booking with us, we also advise that your policy should include skiing off-piste without a guide. Please note, insurance premiums must be paid at the same time as booking in order for the package holiday or single service cancellation cover to be effective. It is also advised to keep your insurance details with you while you are on your holiday. If you choose to travel without adequate insurance cover, we will not be liable for any losses howsoever arising, in respect of which insurance cover would otherwise have been available.

Passport – Check your passport is in date and valid for travel by checking the entry requirements for your destination country – you can see these here: Foreign travel advice – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

For most European destinations your passport should:

• have a ‘date of issue’ less than 10 years before the date you arrive – if you renewed your passport before 1 October 2018, it may have a date of issue that is more than 10 years ago
• have an ‘expiry date’ at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave the Schengen area

Check your passport meets these requirements before you travel.

NB: Beginning in October 2025, how you pass through EU border controls will change. Find out more information about EES and ETIAS here.

When venturing off piste, it is compulsory to wear an avalanche transceiver. These can be provided by the Ski Club and should be worn by every person on every all mountain, off piste and touring holiday. Anyone joining these holidays will also be required to bring their own backpack, metal shovel and probe.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Any Member wishing to ski/snowboard with a Ski Club Group, in any of the resorts where the Ski Club is represented, agrees to do so under the following conditions:

1. You appreciate that the Ski Club Rep is a volunteer with no formal qualifications as an instructor or mountain guide.
2. You also appreciate that no other member of the group undertakes any obligations to you concerning your safety for which you remain solely responsible.
3. You must ensure that your equipment is in good working order before setting off for the day and that you are suitably clothed for the proposed itinerary and all possible weather conditions.
4. You must decide whether or not a particular run or route is within your competence.
5. You must ensure that you are properly equipped for that day. If you are skiing off piste you must have a shovel, probe and transceiver, and know how to use them. If you are using a Ski Club transceiver, it is your sole responsibility to know how to use it.
6. It is your sole responsibility to ensure that you are suitably insured for the activities intended to be undertaken.