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Skills required
Suggested itineraries

See also:
Alps ski programs
Alps skiing advice

Frequently we receive requests from a group of individuals who would like to put together their own trip. We have had such good experiences with private trips that in the last couple seasons we have set aside dates specifically for such use. If you would like to put together your own trip, with your own circle of good friends and "funhogs" please read on.

Customized itinerary - You get to create and adjust the itinerary that is right for you. There are many variations and options on this classic tour, some easier, some more difficult, some long and some short. Chose the one that is best suited to you.

Small group size - With a private trip you get just the group size you want.

Just you and your friends - Meeting new folks is all very well, but a small group of like-minded folk often find they work well together, make decisions that please everyone and have a guaranteed great time. Old friends are special, we'll all agree.

Fewer unknowns - With a private group you know who will be on your trip, how well they ski and all their particular quirks and personality idiosyncrasies.

With a private trip you are free to adjust itinerary, route and pace. With a very strong group of expert skiers we can travel faster and farther, taking in steeper and more serious terrain. The converse is also true. With more moderate skiers we can adjust to a slower pace and, to some extent easier terrain.

There are minimum skill levels required for off-piste skiing in the Alps. Basically these fall into two categories, skiing ability and overall fitness. To a limited extent you can adjust your itinerary to meet the skills of your group. These are, however, ski trips, off-piste, in wild and unforgiving snow. On almost every tour we have done we have encountered the full range of snow conditions, from very, very difficult deep and heavy, or terrible breakable crust, to perfect corn, perhaps the easiest snow in the world to ski. The variability of conditions is unavoidable. Team members need to be able to handle whatever Mother Nature throws at us.

Ski skills are far more important the mountaineering experience! A skilled skier can easily pick up basic cramponing and ice axe use, but skiing takes some time to learn.

Two very easy ways to improve skiing ability are;

• Carry as light a pack as is possible. See our equipment lists for more specific equipment advice.
• Use fat skis. Most skis specifically designed for touring are too narrow. Look for something at least 115mm wide at the front and 80mm wide underfoot. These skis help a great deal when the snow gets heavy, the bane of the intermediate skier.

But these adjustments can only go so far. Ski skills need to be learned and practiced.

Nearly all the off piste ski tours in the Alps require Advanced to Expert ski ability. Below we outline sever possible tours and describe required ski ability. Use the table here to help you decide what your best itinerary might be.

Advanced ski skills

• Ability to turn through the fall line in deep or heavy snow.
• Ability to execute parallel or stem-christie turns on 35° firm snow.
• Ability to ski the fall-line with short-radius, rhythmic parallel turns in good conditions.
• Ability to side-slip on firm 35° slopes.
• Ability to skate on level ground.
• Ability to ski the fall line in moderate moguls in good (soft) conditions.
• Ability to easily do kick-turns (facing both in and out) on 30° slopes.

Expert ski skills

• Ability to turn comfortably through the fall line in difficult deep, heavy snow, or bad breakable crust.
• Ability to execute hop parallel turns or pedal-hop turns on 40° firm snow.
• Ability to ski the fall-line with short-radius, rhythmic parallel turns in deep light snow.
• Ability to side-slip, both forward and backward, on firm 40° slopes.
• Ability to skate on level ground.
• Ability to ski the fall line in steep moguls in good conditions.
• Ability to easily do kick-turns (facing both in and out) on 35° slopes.

Suggested Itineraries

All of our ski tours (and many others) can be organized as private trips. See the individual pages for a bit more information about these trips. Queyras Silvretta, Stubai, Ortler, the "Classic" and the "Alpine" Haute Routes, and the Berner Oberland. All of these trips can be lengthened or shortered to suit your group's inclination.

For example, we have listed a few more options for the Chamonix to Zermatt Haute Route below. They have been altered to more effectively match a specific skier profile. As you can see, there are many variations!

This itinerary is suitable for expert skiers in excellent condition. This route avoids the bus or train section necessary in other Haute Route variations. Good weather and snow conditions are required for the crossings of the Col du Chardonnet, the Col de Saleina and the Plateau du Couloir, as well as the final day into Zermatt.

Day 1

Vallée Blanche or other Chamonix area ski descent. Night in Chamonix.

Day 2

From the Grands Montets, over the Col du Chardonnet, Fenêtre de Saleina, to the Trient hut.

Day 6

Ski ascent and descent of Mont Vélan, continue to the Valsorey Hut.

Day 7

Over the Plateau du Couloir, the Col du Sonadon and down to the Chanrion hut.

Day 8

To the Vignettes hut via the traverse of Les Portons.

Day 9

Vignettes hut to Zermatt.

Extra day for weather.

This is one of the easiest Haute Route options.

Day 1

Vallée Blanche ski descent. Night in Chamonix.

Day 2

From the Grands Montets descend to the Argentière Glacier then easily up to the Argentière hut.

Day 6

Prafleuri hut to Dix hut.

Day 7

Dix hut to Vignettes hut, over the Pigne d'Arolla.

Day 8

Vignettes hut to Zermatt.

Day 9

Extra day for weather.

It can be hard to end a great trip.... So why not continue it? Add these option to your Haute Route for even more good skiing.

This is one of the easier options for ski mountaineering in the Berner Oberland. This is a somewhat easier itinerary than our regular Berner Tour trip.

Day 1

Ride the train up to the Jungfraujoch. Ski descent to Konkordia hut. Optional route over Trugberg.

Day 2

Climb over the Grünhornlücke to the Finsteraarhorn hut. Ascent of the Wyssnollen on the way.

Day 6

Optional ascent of the Äbeni Flue then out the Lötschental. Train back to Interlaken.

Kathy Cosley & Mark Houston
UIAGM Internationally Licensed Mountain Guides

AMGA Certified • SNGM members
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