Ski touring and free-riding with Mountainfeet
Over the last five years we've run successful ski touring and free-riding courses aimed primarily at newcomers to the discipline. On last seasons very memorable course our twelve ski enthusiasts enjoyed classic weather and snow conditions combined with stunning Alpine scenery.

Check out a few photos by clicking here or on the group picture below...

Leo, Kevin, Adam, Al, Si and Liz after climbing to the Col des Barmes, Tarantaise

Because of increasing demands on Si's time and an extra shop workload caused by the current economic situation, the 2010 touring course was the last we will run for the forseeable future. Si organised the courses out of enthusiasm and took pride in keeping them safe and entertaining. Hopefully, at some time in the future we will look at resurrecting these classic trips...

However, if you or a group of friends wish to organise something along the same lines then by liasing with our friends at The Last Resort near La Clusaz in the French Haute Savoie, you'll be able to arrange top notch accommodation and dates to suit you. Just read on...

So, how do fancy moving your skiing on a notch? Are you getting fed up with crowded pistes and the feeling you're not really seeing the mountains in their true and exquisite form? Are you ready to learn new techniques, develop better fitness and to ski deeper, unpisted snow miles from anywhere?

Of course you are... ...now read on!
Ski touring involves going places on skis you wouldn't normally be able to access on typical ski equipment. It's essentially hiking on skis but with the thrill of downhilling thrown in! You use a ski and hinged binding combination that allows you to 'walk' uphill courtesy of a grippy ski 'skin' that is temporarily attached to the bottom of the ski and prevents the ski from sliding backwards. At the top of the climb, the skins are removed, bindings are locked into 'downhill mode' and you ski the descent in the normal alpine style. Repeating this process can take a knowledgeable skier deep into terrain that seldom sees a ski track and gives an unbelievable sense of freedom. With the right conditions and guidance, a multi-day trip traversing a large mountainous area can be experienced using some of the many high level mountain huts and refuges that exist in the Alps and other ranges. The classic ski touring trip is the Chamonix to Zermatt Haute Route which Si has completed and is happy to chat about.

There is some confusion over the term 'free-riding'. We'd consider it covers off-piste skiing using a combination of mechanical uplift and climbing with or without skins to get to remote downhill skiing most folk wouldn't be able to access. You travel light and return to a valley base in the afternoon instead of travelling from mountain hut to mountain hut as in touring. Mainly though, it's a buzzword of the younger skiers to convey the freedom to roam the mountain armed with the appropriate skills and safety equipment. Either way, it's exciting and needs treating with great respect – you'll never stop learning...

With the growing popularity of ski touring, the equipment available has never been better or more exciting and the trend is now to make skis, boots and bindings that while being light enough for long ascents, have massive performance in all snow conditions for an exciting ski down! Clothing should be no problem as the best thing for ski touring is mountaineering style clothing based on layering for warmth and versatility. So instead of a thick padded ski jacket, bring your lightweight GoreTex shell and some thermal base and mid layers. See Si's article on ski wear and equipment by clicking here.

Now the serious bit; off piste ski touring and free-riding without expert knowledge and specialist equipment can be EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. That said, it shouldn't stop us learning in relative safety should it? Our good friends at The Last Resort in Saint Jean de Sixt near La Clusaz in the French Alps offer 'Introduction to Ski Touring' courses based at their fabulous and comfortable chalet learning the fundamental skills needed for future trips from the excellent Yann Quenet of Aravis Challenge who was the Head Coach of the British Olympic Ski Team at Nagano in 1998. This means clients are in very good hands and Yann's English is brilliant! His team also includes Henri Faup and Jérémy (Jano) Janody, both qualified Mountain Guides and talented extreme skiers.

Course details
A typical course fee would be around £350 (but paid in Euros) and include hire of all equipment including avalanche transceivers, shovels, probes and backpacks. Accomodation runs for one week, meaning you have at least one full free skiing day to get your legs ready for the course (two further half days are often possible depending on flight times to and from the UK).

Accomodation
Six nights accomodation (seven for non course members) in the superbly appointed Last Resort Chalet in St Jean de Sixt would cost roughly £500 (depending on the prevailing exchange rate) per person and include half board with simple but nourishing cuisine and airport transfer. There'll be one night where you'll need to eat out (or in with a pizza!) and one night where you'll probably be high up in a mountain hut gorging on fondue. Our good friends Ali and Allen own the chalet-base and are keen ski tourers and free-ride skiers themselves – Allen made the mistake of accompanying our last hut trip and we loaded him up with food like a pack mule!

Accomodation costs are based on a twin room share but if you need your own space then single room supplements would apply.

Transport to Geneva isn't included but is easily arranged via the many cut price alrlines flying there from major UK cities.

During the week there will be various incidental expenses and you could need to arrange transport within the group to get around and about.

Course requirements
For an introductory course you need to be reasonably fit and be able to cope with modest off piste slopes. A lot of ski tourers are not particularly expert alpine skiers so great style isn't paramount, it's more important to be steady and to act on the guides instructions without hesitation. For those wishing to book on a slightly higher level trip then you should have a decent level of off piste experience, a level head and above average fitness. Speak to Si at the shop if you have any doubts as he is an experienced freerider and ski tourer.

Just as an example, a typical days climb on skins might be between 600 and 900 metres and take around 2 to 3 hours. The pace will obviously be adjusted for the slowest member of a group but in stable, low risk conditions, skiers will be able to stretch their legs at their own pace. Ski descents will again be dependant on conditions and stability of the snow pack. If there is lots of fresh snow then a course may take on less of a ski touring aspect and more of a freeride/off piste flavour.

All hardware necessary for touring is provided by Aravis Challenge, including the all important but hopefully never to be used avalanche transceivers. If you have particularly difficult feet to fit then please let them know well in advance – they may ask you to use your own downhill boots for the course. As stated earlier, lightweight, breathable mountaineering style clothing should be worn with options to take off or put on layers as needed.

Give it a go...!!!
An introductory course with Aravis Challenge and The Last Resort is a great way to start ski touring and comprises 3 half days and 2 full days touring, together with an overnight stay in a mountain refuge. And if you want to give ski touring a try but your accompanying friends or family just want to ski, that's no problem as you will still have plenty of time for downhill skiing with them and every evening in Ali and Allen's fantastic catered chalet except the refuge night.*

*Refuge night dependant on weather and conditions! As an example, previous courses have used the Requin Hut above Chamonix and the Refuge de la Femma in the Tarantaise. Previous years courses have also used huts local to La Clusaz.

The Aravis range of mountains is one of the best ski touring regions in France with routes for all levels from beginner to expert and is a great venue after the course for pursuing more randonee or piste adventures on skis.

If you have friends you'd like to holiday with who don't fancy ski touring then bring them too! The skiing in La Clusaz and Grand Bornand is very varied and all levels of skier will find plenty to keep them happy.

There'll still be plenty of time to free ski with non touring friends if you've still got the energy and there are loads of other activities to enjoy with them off the slopes and in the evening.

To learn more or make a booking , ring Al and Ali direct on FREEPHONE 0800 652 3977. Alternatively, go to the Last Resort website.

Gearing up...
If you're wanting to buy any kit before you go then here at Mountainfeet we stock various Alpine Touring hardware and software and are able to source more if required for our customers. This is a market that although small, is growing as more and more ski enthusiasts look for challenges away from the crowded resorts and pistes. We can offer specialist service and advice to those getting into the sport and spend the time needed to acquire the best gear. We also stock a range of shop tested clothing and equipment and are happy to discuss our experiences with each product.

We want to encourage and support those who wish to embrace ski touring and mountaineering whilst pointing out the risks and danger that are present and require high levels of experience to deal with. We will be providing the some of the resources necessary to progress in the sport through articles, courses and experienced specialist service in the shop. This is a new venture for us and we will be thankful for your support while we build up our stock levels and expertise. Si now only uses skis that have Fritschi Diamir Freeride bindings which, although expensive, provide the best of both worlds for downhill skiing and ascending away from the lifts. A great day is to be had using a combination of resort uplift and some walking or skinning to get to untracked snow requiring effort that many can't be bothered put in. Just check conditions carefully and when applicable, use a qualified guide...

Branded kit we're selling includes the following:

• Rossignol Bandit series skis - the most versatile skis we know of!
• Movement freeride and touring skis
• Black Diamond touring equipment
• Fritschi ski bindings
• Scarpa ski tour boots
• Garmont ski tour boots
• Leki poles
• Back Country Access safety and tour gear
• Ortovox avalanche transceivers, probes and shovels
• Colltex skins
• Odlo base layer clothing
• Grivel ice axes and crampons
• Osprey ski touring and freeride back packs
• Lowe Alpine ski mountaineering packs
• Sidas Conformable custom footbeds
• Superfeet trim to fit footbeds
  

And remember we offer a full workshop service including ski repairs, waxing and edging, binding mounting, boot customising and trimming skins to fit.