guided mountain adventure
Sainte Foy is located close to Val d'Isère, nestled in the centre of the Tarentaise mountain range in the French Alps. The lifts open on December 15th, when we'll likely head to Val d’Isère and Tignes, which are both renowned for their early season skiing.
With 4 full days of skiing (and 5 nights wonderful accommodation in the Auberge sur La Montagne chalet), this course is aimed at strong off-piste skiers who want to start the season with a really intensive but fun week. Our team will choose the best objectives for the day depending on the prevailing weather and ground conditions. Each evening you'll enjoy decompression sessions in the outdoor hot tub followed by a delicious gourmet dinner.
The course combines off-piste skills with great skiing and the opportunity to get the skins out for some backcountry adventure. Surely there's no better way to get your winter ski season up and running!!
The principal aims of this early season, pre-Christmas course:
- To provide first class off-piste instruction and guiding from our team of professional, friendly Ski Instructors and Mountain Guides
- To get you fully fired up for the upcoming season!
- To provide the opportunity to ski the best off-piste in the Tarentaise ski region
Click on the tabs to learn more about this trip.
We will be releasing dates for the new season in due course. Subscribe here if you would like to receive a reminder when these dates are published.
The ski station of Sainte Foy is a small but wonderful ski area with extensive untracked off piste. Its fantastic rolling terrain, open slopes and lower tree-lined skiing really does give the aspiring off-piste skier the ideal environment in which it to learn and progress. The renowned resorts of Val d’Isère, Tignes, Les Arcs, La Plagne and La Rosière are all within a 30 minute drive of the chalet giving almost unlimited access to world-class skiing.
Arrival day. Pick up in Auberge mini buses at airports. Transfers to Sainte Foy. Evening briefing meeting in the bar, followed by a superb evening meal.
Four full days of off-piste instruction & guiding. Our team will choose the best objectives for the day depending on the prevailing weather and ground conditions. Each evening you'll enjoy decompression sessions in the outdoor hot tub followed by a delicious gourmet dinner. On one evening the group will dine at a local restaurant.
Departure after breakfast. The course is intended to be fun with lots of thrilling skiing, but always directed with maximum attention to your safety and the safety of others.
4 full days of skiing and 5 nights accommodation.
The price includes: 4 full days of guiding and instruction, 5 nights chalet-board accommodation (4 evening meals) in a fully catered chalet, daily ski transfers in private vehicle, group transfer from Chambery or Geneva airport (minimum 4 people), pick-up/drop-off at Bourg St Maurice (for the ski-train). The price does not include: lift pass, lunches, personal insurance, equipment hire, international travel. Single-room occupancy charge is £125.
We have been running courses in the Auberge sur la Montagne chalet for ten years and we and our Mountain Tracks clients love it. The best endorsement here is the number of repeat clients we have for the Auberge returning each winter. It’s ideally placed – 4 minutes from Sainte Foy; 8 minutes from access into the Tignes/Val d'Isère lift system; 10 minutes from access into the Les Arcs/ La Plagne lift system, and 25 minutes from accessing La Rosière/La Thuile. The Auberge mini buses pick us up at airports on the weekends and take us to and from where ever we choose to ski. At the Auberge there’s a real attention to detail. Everything is on hand and in-house. There’s a ski tech room along with 160 sets of rental equipment – and 15 sets of skis equipped with Diamir Fritschi touring bindings along with skins and ski crampons. During our weeks at the Auberge we’ll have an informal seminar with the Auberge Ski Tech on ski tuning and servicing techniques. There’s a state of the art outdoor hot tub with bar service (with a vast whisky selection!). There’s also a sauna. The Auberge has a TV room, which is used by the guides for video analysis of clients' ski technique. The best feature of the Auberge though is the quality of the food. Rarely in our travels have we come across such a high standard of cuisine. Simply superlative! Check it all out on the Auberge website: http://auberge-montagne.com/auberge.html .
I can ski red and black runs on piste without a problem. I am new to off piste skiing or maybe I have skied a little on the sides of the piste, or even attended a previous off piste specific course. I would like to ski powder snow with confidence and learn to link turns off piste. Learning to vary turn radius and control speed is an important goal. Gaining confidence in a variety of terrain would move my skiing to the next level.
I have at least a couple of weeks off piste skiing experience and/or received some previous instruction on an off piste specific course. I can link at least 8 – 10 turns together in reasonable control, speed and style, following the fall line in most snow conditions. I would like to improve my skiing in deep powder, heavy crusty snow uneven terrain and trees. I am happy to hike or ski tour for short distances to get to the best snow and terrain. I aspire to ski fluidly off piste and to ski steeper slopes. At this level all ski tourers must have some previous experience of using a touring set up, skinning and kick-turns.
I am confident skiing challenging terrain and steeper slopes. I can sideslip forward and backwards, side-step up and downhill and traverse steep slopes with no problems. I am happy to ski tour and hike for 1 – 2 hrs to reach the best snow and terrain. I aspire to ski the best snow available, push myself to ski steeper slopes and extend my ski touring experience. At this level all ski tourers must have some previous experience of using a touring set up, skinning and kick-turns.
I can ski fluidly and autonomously on all terrain. I often ski couloirs and gullies and seek out steep slopes to ski. I can jump turn in narrow couloirs and have experience of abseiling and side-slipping on steep terrain. I dream of skiing powder snow, I can ski fast, fluid “freeride” style turns, I can jump off small rocks, ski trees and challenging terrain with no fear or problems. I will often hike and ski tour to reach the best snow and terrain. I am familiar with using ice axe and crampons and some basic rope techniques. My aim is to push my skills and challenge myself further.
On all our off-piste weeks you'll be staying in comfortable catered chalets or hotels. When skiing you need to carry just a small day pack, which contains your safety equipment and any personal items you may need.
Possible characteristics might include bib-style front with braces (to keep the snow out), side-openings (useful for when you get hot), breathable fabric (Gore-Tex or similar), stretch knee pads, integral snow-gaiters. Bib-style trousers can be too warm in spring in which case waist-cut trousers would be better.
Made of breathable material (Gore-Tex or similar) and built-in hood. We advocate the ‘layering principle’ so a shell is recommended rather than a padded jacket.
Comfortable underwear with good wicking properties.
An approach that gives better heat retention and good flexibility. These tops are known as ‘mid layers’.
We use a 'Buff' - a light, stretchable neck tube that is multi-functional. Consider a fleece/microfibre Buff for warmth, or just a microfibre version to keep the sun off.
To include warm hat. Mountain Tracks fully supports the wearing of helmets for skiing.
Must be good quality. Mitts are good if you suffer from cold hands.
Optional
Optional, but useful if you feel the cold.
Your best ski choice is a 'freeride' style of ski which will give good stability and float in powder and varied snow. You want to be looking at a ski with a waist line of between 85 – 100mm underfoot. Anything wider than this starts to become cumbersome on pistes and narrow tracks and gullies and harder to make short turns on when skiing in the trees.
Expert skiers should be able to use fat powder skis in all types of terrain with no problem, less experienced skiers should opt for a 'do it all ski' as described above.
For examples of skis that fit the profile outlined above check out these options:
Ski boot choice – it’s best to have ski touring boots for these trips, although if you only have downhill ski boots then you can use these too. The new generation of 'hybrid' ski touring boots, that offer a wrap around shell (like a downhill boot) and greater stiffness in the shell are almost as good as a downhill boot, with the added bonus of a walk mode and a Vibram sole for easy of walking.
It essential you break-in and wear the boots prior to skiing for the first time, even if this is just walking round the house or office.
When buying new boots its imperative you visit a reputable ski boot fitter to ensure the right boot is purchased for your foot and lower leg shape. Not every boot will fit or suit every person and a good boot fitter will be able to select the right boot to suit your foot shape and type of skiing you do. You should always get a moulded insole or 'footbed' made to go inside your ski boots. These will help stabilise any unwanted movement and can also correct or help with alignment problems, high or low insteps and other foot related issues.
There will be a limited choice of ski touring boots for hire in most resorts - very often just lightweight 3 buckle boots.
For examples of suitable ski touring boots check out these options:
'Thermo-fit' liners are often offered as standard equipment. Heated and moulded to your foot and boot for a perfect fit, they can make all the difference especially if you have trouble finding really comfortable boots. Zipfit liners are a great option for anyone seeking total customisation in fit and comfort. They will replace the original liner.
Essential kit to provide additional comfort and ski control.
Investing in good quality ski socks will improve fit, warmth and feel when skiing for long periods.
For introductory Off-Piste Adventure ski courses standard bindings are acceptable. For Intermediate, advanced and expert Off-Piste Adventure ski courses ski touring bindings are advised. If you don’t have touring bindings and the guide suggests some touring then you will have to rent suitable skis with bindings in resort. Please remember if you bring your own skis with touring bindings you MUST bring your own skins as it's not possible to rent skins on their own.
As with the boots, the new touring bindings are every bit as safe for downhill as ordinary bindings, yet you have the additional advantage of being able to walk uphill with them to access the real off-piste. Expect to pay a little more but the advantages are huge! The most frequently used ski touring bindings are the Diamir Fritschi Freeride. These are great bindings and very easy to switch between walk and ski mode and they have 3 different riser levels for walking uphill.
Marker make 2 bindings: the Duke and the Baron, both of which are good choices for day ski tours (though rather heavy for any more than a few hours uphill).
A combination of one of these bindings and a ski as outlined above gives you the opportunity to ski the whole mountain on and off piste with a downhill and ski touring boot, so you have total flexibility. Please be aware that renting fat freeride skis with touring bindings and skins is almost impossible in most resorts.
If you have a set of skis with downhill bindings and you are only likely to be skinning for short periods only then you can use an Alpine Trekker binding adaptor. This is an adaptor that clicks into your binding which you then attach your boot to and it allows you to walk up hill with a free heel. They are only suitable for short tours and not a long term solution but they are worth considering for our off-piste adventure courses.
Most touring bindings have ski crampons specifically designed for the binding. We always carry these just in case they are needed. They are an integral part of the Fritschi ski binding.
You must have skins that fit your skis, it is not possible to rent just skins in resort. They cost around £100 - 150 to buy and the shop can cut and fit them to your skis exactly.
Useful to have 2 pairs on powder days in case of head plants!
Good quality sunglasses - UV factor category 4 recommended
1-1.5 Litre water bottle/Nalgene bottle - water drinking system like Camelbak frequently freeze in cold weather)
The guide will carry comprehensive set for emergencies
carry spare batteries as well
The 'Safety Trilogy'
Remember it is not enough just to carry this equipment; make sure you know how to use it. If you have never used this sort of equipment before consider joining one of our Winter Mountain Skills courses.
Most resorts have ski shops that hire ski equipment.
Prices do change by resort/country, but here’s an approximate guide to hire costs:
Our guides also generally have additional sets of safety equipment (transceiver/shovel/probe) which they hire out to clients for €60 for 6 days hire. This must be booked in advance.
'Sainte Foy-Tarentaise' (to give it its full name) is a small village just off the main road up to Val d’Isère. The ski area and small resort is another 5 kms away and boasts some of the best off-piste ski terrain in the Alps.
For years it has remained relatively unknown - particularly when compared to its more renowned neighbours of Tignes. Val d'Isère, Les Arcs & La Plagne. Its reputation as an off piste ski area has grown and grown... what was just a Mountain Tracks secret for a while has started to leak out! That said, it remains unspoiled and still offers amazing skiing!
The resort is at 1,550m and the lifts take you to 2,650m. The summit of the Fogliettaz is just below 3,000 metres.
For après-ski we concentrate ourselves on the Auberge sur la Montagne where there is a hot tub, sauna, atmospheric bar and facilities for video analysis and presentations. Usually our course members are the only guests. Our courses also usually take in some après ski wherever they've been skiing for the day.
Situated just below the famous Espace Killy (Tignes & Val d'Isère) in the heart of the Savoie region and fast building itself as a haven for off-piste skiers, Sainte Foy boasts superb snow quality, unparalleled tree skiing and is never crowded. Groups will roam the terrain around Sainte Foy itself, Tignes, Val d'Isère, La Rosière and the twin resorts of Les Arcs & La Plagne - all of which provide extensive off-piste descents.
The Auberge sur la Montagne maintains a good stock of rental skis and boots suitable for off-piste skiing. They also have sets of ski touring gear. Please book your equipment in advance.
Sainte Foy is accessible by road, rail and air.
The nearest airport is Chambery with a 90 minute transfer time. Geneva and Lyon are both about 2½ hours away.
The chalet hosts provide group transfers to/from Geneva airport and Chambery airport, which is included in the cost of the holiday (minimum 4 people per transfer).
It is also possible to travel by train to Bourg Saint Maurice (with a Eurostar direct day service from London St. Pancras to Bourg Saint Maurice on Saturdays throughout the ski season. Timetables and bookings are available at Eurostar. Bourg St Maurice is only 10km from the chalet and the train offers a viable alternative to a flight and transfer. The chalet hosts provide a twice-daily pick-up and drop-off service at the station.
Check with our office for detailed travel arrangements.
250 York Road, London
SW11 3SJ, United Kingdom
info@mountaintracks.co.uk
Tel: +44 (0)20 8123 2978
Fax: +44 (0)20 7905 0921
