Val de Bagnes Weekend Safari

If you own your own ski touring equipment, then please bring this with you on your trip. If you do not own your own kit, then this can be rented in Orsieres from Cristal Sports, however, please be aware of the cost of hiring this equipment in resort.

Hannah Burrows-Smith

Ski Equipment

• Touring Skis and skins – make sure the glue works prior to departure
• Touring boots and bindings
• Ski Poles
• Transceiver – this should be a modern digital 3 antenna unit.
• Shovel – metal blade only
• Avalanche probe minimum length 240cm. If it folds down and fits in the
  shovel handle it is too weak to probe the debris
• Ski rucksack 35l
• Ski Crampons that fit your touring bindings
• NB: Transceiver, shovel & probe can be provided by the guide if needed. Please advise the Ski Club prior to departure.

Clothing

• A layering system is best
• Wicking base layer top and bottoms (Bottoms temperature dependent).
• Soft Shell trousers and jacket
• Insulating layer – synthetic down is best
• Light Gore-Tex jacket and trousers
• Extra layer
• Thin & thick gloves
• Warm hat
• Sun hat
• Ski goggles
• Sun glasses
• Lightweight wash kit (the hospice does have showers!)
• Head torch optional

Additional

• Water bottle
• Cash – bring some cash for kitty for taxis approx. 100chf. You can
  purchase daily lift passes on card
• Sun cream & Lip protectionPersonal medical supplies inc anti-blister
  plasters!
• Passport; Tickets; Insurance; Phone; Chargers for all electronics; Evening
  and Travel Clothes
• Touring skis, boots, crampon and poles can be hired from the shop in
  Orsieres.

General Advice

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 equipment over heavier
items. A clothing system based on layers is best – you can control your temperature much more easily than wearing one thick jacket. Avoid one piece
ski suits, they are not suitable for ski mountaineering. Average sea level temperature in May are Min -10C Max 5C.

The Touring

You can expect to spend around 2 hours touring each day while in the resort area, and 3–4 hours a day when staying at the Grand St Bernard Hospice. The typical rate of ascent is approximately 200–300 metres per hour. 

Pre Trip

The best training is long weekend mountain walks. If that’s not possible, regular running or jogging works well. In the gym, focus on breathing and endurance – not strength

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, 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.