Private ski touring lessons in Chamonix
Ski touring takes you away from the lifts: you climb on skins, then ski down slopes few people reach. I teach private ski touring days in Chamonix, from your first climb to longer, more demanding routes, for you alone or your own group. I provide the safety kit.
I usually reply within 24 hours.
Is it for you?
If you're at ease on red pistes and have a reasonable level of fitness, you can try a first touring day. No touring experience is needed: on a first day, I teach you how to climb efficiently, use your skins and make your turns on the way up, then we ski down together. If you already tour, we choose longer or steeper routes and work on what you want to improve.
Never skied off-piste? A day off-piste first is a good way in.
Learning, not just following
As an instructor, my job is to teach. On a touring day, I explain each technique as we go: climbing efficiently, kick turns, adjusting your skins, skiing variable snow on the way down, and why I choose one route rather than another. The aim is that you understand what you're doing, instead of simply following.
A high mountain guide's job is different: leading you safely through high mountain terrain, including the glacier routes I'm not allowed to take you on.
How a touring day works
Ski touring is full days only, never half days. We agree the length of the day together, depending on your fitness and the route. I choose the route from the snow, the avalanche risk and your experience. The request form asks a few questions about your touring experience for that reason.
If touring isn't possible that day, we move the day to another date or, if no other date suits you, we work on your technique on the pistes.
Equipment
I provide an avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe for each person, and I show you how to use them. Touring skis, skins, ski crampons and boots are not included: you can hire them in Chamonix. I don't teach splitboarding.
What I can and can't do
As a French state-qualified ski instructor, I’m allowed to teach on and off-piste, with one legal limit: no unmarked glacier terrain and no route that requires mountaineering techniques such as ropes and harnesses. That rules out the Vallée Blanche. For that kind of terrain, the right professional is a high mountain guide.
Prices
A ski touring day costs €510 for 1 to 3 people, the same as a full day on piste. From the 4th person, add €15 per person, up to 8.
Several days, and when to come
Over several days, we can build from a first climb to a longer route, choosing each day according to the snow. Each day is charged at the normal price.
March and April are usually the best months for touring: the snow has built up all winter, and April is also a quiet month in Chamonix. In early December, most routes aren't accessible yet.
→ Multi-day programmes
Plan your touring days
Tell me your dates, level, fitness and touring experience, and I'll reply, usually within 24 hours.