France, Europe

Chamonix Day Tours

For the experienced off-piste skier, Chamonix needs little introduction. The area hosts some of the greatest skiing in Europe. The use of touring equipment enables us to go the extra mile from the lift stations to gain the longest routes on the best snow. The main focus of the course is to ski the classic routes however we also offer instruction in the essential techniques of ski-touring coupled with avalanche awareness. 

During this week you will ski some of the most famous tours including the Col du Passon, Col du Tour Noir and Col du Belvedere. The focus is always to get away from the crowds. We will also use the Aiguille du Midi cable car to cross over to Pointe Helbronner in Italy before skiing the Vallee Blanche back down to Chamonix.

Previous touring experience is not necessary but you must be a fit and competent off-piste skier (slopes of 35 degrees) and be willing to undertake ascents of 2-3 hours.

The itinerary is based on our many years of experience of skiing in the Chamonix valley. However, this is just a selection of the many day tours available and your week will likely differ from what is listed below depending on weather and snow conditions and the recommendations of your guide. 

This week will appeal to all intermediate level ski tourers looking for an exciting week in one of the Alps' best-known resorts. 

 

Day Itinerary

  • Arrive in Chamonix and settle into your accommodation. We'll have a welcome meeting and briefing at 7pm to discuss the plans for the week ahead and ensure you have all the kit.

  • Col des Dard – Our first day is a good warm up ski tour, a steady ascent over undulating terrain leads us to the Col des Dards.

    This col is situated between the Aiguille du Belvedere and the Aiguille Crochues at 2780m. With a superb 270 degree panorama across to the Aravis mountains, Mont Blanc and the Dents du Midi in Switzerland. The tour involves a 700m ascent from the top of the Index and Floria ski lifts typically taking 2-3hrs. A picnic lunch can be taken perched on the ridge line enjoying the views.

    The descent route is similar to the ascent and we enjoy the long 1,330m of downhill down over the undulating terrain.

    Depending on the conditions powder is often found on this route as the descent faces north and east. Later in the season you can expect some of the best spring snow available. 

     

  • Col Des Autannes – Our second ski day takes us to the Le Tour ski area at the head of the Chamonix Valley. Using the lift system we have easy access to the start of the route. The tour takes us to the Col des Autannes which is a 560m skin with a short boot pack to reach the summit ridge line. Usually this will take between 2 - 2 1/2 hrs.

    Once on the ridge the views across to Switzerland are spectacular. We have a number of choices for the descent. Straight down from the ridge leads us onto the small Glacier du Bron and our goal of the Trient valley. We can also traverse a short distance further and cross the ridge line to reach the Glacier des Grands and making a long arcing ski descent towards the Trient Valley. Both descents offer fantastic skiing with a 1,400m descent finishing in Trient in Switzerland. From Trient we usually catch the bus or a taxi back to Vallorcine where the lifts will link us back into the Le Tour ski area. 

  • Le Col du Tour Noir – The day is spent ski touring in the spectacular Argentiere Glacier basin. This vast glacier carves its way down between some of the most famous peaks of the region from its head at Mont Dolent on the border with Italy and Switzerland. We begin at the Grand Montets ski area and take the 2 stage cable car to its summit at 3,300m. We ski down onto the Argentiere Glacier where we put on our skins and tour in the direction of the Argentiere Refuge. Passing the refuge we turn left and skin towards the col above the Glacier des Amethystes. The climb is around 760m of vertical and typically takes around 3hrs to complete. At the col you can see far into Switzerland to the east and behind are the famous North Faces of the Les Courtes, Les Droites and the Aiguille Vert.

    The descent route follows a similar line but we can pick our way to the left of the glacier in search of the best snow. We have a long schuss down the main glacier to return to the ski area before skiing the piste to the base of the mountain. 

     

  • Brèche de Bérard or 'Keyhole' – is a super day tour, lesser known than the other popular tours starting from the same place. We access the tour from the Flegere lifts and the first of our 2 climbs takes us to the Col de Crochues. a skin and boot pack of about 250m. Once at the col we have a short ski down on the other side and traverse towards the Combe d’Envers de Bérard. From here we ski tour towards the higher part of the ridge separating the combe from the Bérard Valley. A further 400m height gain takes you to the 'Key Hole' or 'Brèche de Bérard', a narrow gap in the ridge which we climb through to access the ski descent on the other side. The ascent usually takes a total of 3hrs.

    Our descent route in the Bérard Valley is a classic ski with 1,500m of descent. We usually find great snow on the way down and the rolling terrain hides some stashes of powder snow. The bottom of the valley is reasonably flat and we have to negotiate the narrower terrain next to the river by skiing and traversing on a path, often involving side-stepping up short hills and tackling some moguls and avoiding the trees. We finish in the hamlet of Le Buet right next to a hotel and bar where we can enjoy some refreshment before taking the train back to Chamonix.

     

  • Punte Croce, Aosta valley. Today we head through the Mont Blanc Tunnel into Italy. The Italian side of the massif is very spectacular with stunning views of the huge Peutery Ridge of Mont Blanc, the longest ridge in the Alps and the huge South face of the Grand Jorasses. Punta Croce is an attractive independent peak, separate from the main ski domains of the upper Aosta valley. This tour takes us into a remote and unspoiled landscape seldom visited by other skiers. Firstly we drive up to valley leading to the ski resort of La Thuile and park in the pretty hamlet of Arpy at 1700m. From Arpya an 800m (2h30) ascent leads up a beautiful valley into a high cirque with a frozen lake at its head. From here the climb continues up the eastern slopes to the summit at 2500m. From the summit fantastic north facing slopes take us back down towards Arpy. This circular tour is an unforgettable voyage through an untouched winter landscape, and is a welcome tonic from busy ski domains.

     

  • Col du Passon – for our last ski day we return to the Grands Montets ski area to access our last tour of the week. Taking the lift to the summit of the Grands Montets again we ski one of the off piste routes to reach the Argentiere Glacier. This time we cross the glacier lower down and head towards its right bank under the slopes of the Aiguille du Chardonnet and the Bec Rouge.

    Here we put on our skins and ascend the 750 metres to the Col du Passon. Parts of the skin will be a little steeper and the last 150m vertical is done on foot carrying our skis on our rucksacks. We scramble up a short climb to the ridgeline usually wearing our crampons and using our hands to pull ourselves up. Once the ridge is gained you can rest and eat your lunch on the wide plateau of the Glacier du Tour. The ascent usually takes between 2.45 – 3hrs. Our descent route is via the vast Glacier du Tour a whopping 2,500m down to finish in the village of Le Tour. We can either ski the left side or the centre of the glacier for the best route. The terrain is smooth and rolling with some short, steeper sections (35 degress). Towards the bottom we approach the trees and bushes behind the village and traverse out crossing the river by bridge before ending our day at the bottom of the Le Tour ski area. We take the bus back to Chamonix.

     

  • Depart after breakfast.

The price includes 6 guided days, 7 nights HB accommodation and daily ski transfers.

The price does not include flights, airport transfers, uplift costs, lunches, drinks, 1 evening meal and equipment hire.

 

 

 

We proudly offer our returning customers and the Ski Club of Great Britain members a discount.

The promotion is valid for qualifying bookings made before the end of October 2024 using the discount codes provided at the checkout.

 

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This is an extensive list of the equipment you will need if you are coming on one of our Day Ski Touring trips

During the trip you will be staying most nights in comfortable chalet or hotel accommodation on a half board or B&B basis. You will just need to carry a day pack with your avalanche safety equipment and a few personal items.

On some of our trips you will stay 1 night out in a mountain hut. Huts in the Alps are comfortable but very basic with limited facilities – running cold water, European-style toilets and dormitory-style accommodation. All the huts provide ‘hut slippers’ – these days they are usually Crocs - and so you will not need to carry additional footwear.   You will need to have a sleeping bag liner for any hut nights; huts provide a duvet or blankets plus a pillow for sleeping so its not necessary to carry a sleeping bag. 

  • When choosing clothing for ski touring you want to think light, warm and versatile. During the trip weather conditions will change and you’re likely to go from warm afternoons where you’ll be carrying most of your gear in your rucksack, to icy-cold mornings when you’re wearing everything to keep warm! Getting hold of the best and lightest kit available is always worth it and most of the major brands will be able to supply a suitable kit.

    This season, we’ve partnered with Ortovox to provide us with the very best safety kit and clothing. Our guides will all be decked out in the latest Ortovox jackets and trousers and will keep warm, dry and comfortable thanks to their technical wool base- and mid-layers. Our guides couldn’t recommend their kit more highly.

     

    • Roll neck rather than a scarf. We use and recommend the ‘Buff¹ ¬ a light, stretchable tube. Excellent despite the name! They do both a fleece/cotton version for warmth or just a cotton one (to keep the sun off).
    • Headwear to include warm hat and sun-cap or wide-brim hat for extra protection from the sun. Mountain Tracks fully supports the wearing of helmets for skiing, although not mandatory for any of our trips we do recommend them.
    • An outer shell jacket made of waterproof and breathable material like Gore-Tex or similar with a built-in hood. The lighter the better and so a shell is recommended rather than an insulated jacket.
    • 1-2 thin fleeces - rather than a thick layer between your skin and the outer shell - an approach which gives better heat retention and good flexibility. These tops are known as ‘mid layers’. The principle of ‘layering’ e.g. allowing you to easily add/remove layers depending on the temperature and the activity is recommended to ensure comfort on the mountain.
    • Insulation layer like a down or Primaloft jacket is a good item to have ready to wear in the event of cold weather, it can live in your rucksack as a spare layer and can come in very handy for sudden changes in the weather.
    • For the lower half it’s essential that you have a pair of thermal base layer pants (long johns).
    • These can then be combined with either:
    • (a) a good pair of ‘technical shell’ pants in a waterproof and breathable fabric like Gore-Tex (b) a pair of mountain or alpine pants in a softshell material together with a pair of lightweight, breathable over trousers with long side zips.
    • Top and bottom underwear made of a synthetic, wicking material. Very popular at the moment are the wool based layers from companies such as Ortovox. They are comfy, breathable and warm when needed and can be worn for days without your friends catching a whiff!
    • Good quality Gore-Tex gloves or mitts and a thin pair of softshell or fleece gloves for when it is hot and for ski touring in. Silk inner gloves can be useful if the weather is cold and you suffer from cold hands.
    • Technical Socks - Investing in good quality ski socks will improve fit, warmth and feel when skiing for long periods. Bring along a few pairs.
  • For all touring trips it is essential you ski with an all-mountain/freeride type skis, ski touring boots and ski touring bindings. If you have your own skis but they do not have ski touring bindings then you will need to rent skis. The same applies if you have downhill ski boots, you will need to rent ski touring boots.

    Skis

    This winter our lead guides are using Elan skis. Praised by magazine testers and professional skiers alike for its unique blend of lightweight performance, the Ripstick 96 is proven to be the ultimate freeride ski in all snow conditions. The Ripstick 106 is the ultimate freeride ski for any terrain. From boundary line to the base lodge, peak to the parking lot, and trailhead to tailgate this ski excels in all conditions. The new Ripstick Tour 94 is designed on a wider platform, enabling the skier to float better, ski faster, and turn easier in backcountry conditions.

    It is built to blend high performance at a low weight, for the perfect mix of freeride downhill performance and efficient ascending capability. With Ripstick Tour 94, the confidence to conquer long ascents and charge challenging descents is the name of the game.

    There are many ‘all-mountain/freeride’ skis to choose from and we also recommend skis from Salomon, Dynastar, Movement, Black Crows, Trab Skis, Scott and Volkl.  Look for a ski that is the right size for your height, typically the tip of the ski should be somewhere around your nose height.  As for the width of the ski or “side cut” a mid-fat ski – 90-110mm under the foot is a good place to start; this offers plenty of flotation off-piste while remaining suitable for day tours and they should also handle reasonably well on piste and mixed terrain.

    Elan Skis: www.elanskis.com

    Dynastar Skis:  www.dynastar.com

    Movement Skis: www.movementskis.com                                       

    Black Crows Skis: www.blackcrows-skis.com/

    Trab Skis: www.skitrab.com/en-us/

    Scott Skis: http://www.scott-sports.com

    Volkl Skis: http://www.voelkl.com

     

    There are plenty of other great skis to choose from so if you’re planning on buying skis for ski touring or general skiing and have any questions do not hesitate to call us, or Lockwoods, to discuss the options available.

    If you are planning on buying skis for ski touring and general skiing and have any questions do not hesitate to call us to discuss the options available to you.

    Boots

    It is essential that you have ski touring boots for these trips as walking uphill is much more comfortable in these types of boots with a walk mode and great flex; a dedicated touring boot or a hybrid hike & ride boot is best. 

    Our guides are using ROXA boots. They recommend R3 ski boots, the lightest high-performance alpine ski boot in its class. The 110 TI is geared for big mountain chargers who may use “Tech” and/or Alpine bindings and often hike or skin to find their lines. The RX Tours is targeted toward skiers who prefer to blaze their own trail and leave the lift lines behind.

    Scarpa has led the way in touring boots for many years but they have been joined by other manufacturers like Dynafit, Salomon, Scott, Black Diamond, Dalbello and K2; all producing their own versions of ski touring boot.

    ROXAR3 and RX Tour ski boots provide a range of models suitable for all sorts of terrain and snow conditions. It is a family-owned company located in Italy, focused on advanced materials, and ultralight compounds and one of the first companies to use

    • Scarpa’s Freedom boots are their Hybrid offerings, with great ski performance, a walk mode and Vibram sole. Their Maestrale (men’s) and Gea (women’s) boots are also highly recommended.
    • The Scott Celeste and Cosmo boots have stood the test of time and are good all-around choices.
    • Salomon’s Quest Max series offer boots with a walk mode in various flex’s with good downhill performance.
    • Dynafit offer the Mercury or Vulcan boots plus a range of lightweight options like the TLT6.

    The best of the rest are:
    Fischer - Transalp
    Black Diamond – Quadrant and Factor
    K2 – Pinnacle boot
    Dalbello – Lupo or Sherpa
    Langue – XT series offer a ski boot with a walk mode in various flex options

    Boot Liners
    These days many manufacturers offer ‘thermo-fit¹ liners as standard equipment. You may also want to consider a custom liner as these are heated and molded to your foot and boot for a perfect fit. They can make all the difference especially if you have trouble finding really comfortable ‘off-the-shelf’ boots. Zipfit liners are a great option for anyone seeking total customisation in fit and comfort. They will replace the original liner.

    Custom Footbeds
    Essential kit – to provide additional comfort and ski control. If you want to get footbeds made or a pair of new boots fitted then we suggest you visit somewhere like Profeet for a professional fitting. Don’t forget if you have footbeds in your downhill boots but need to rent touring boots then you can bring the footbeds with you and put them in the hire boots.

    Bindings
    For all ski touring trips ski touring bindings are essential. Fritschi and Marker both make excellent ski-touring bindings and you have a few different options to choose from. Many more people are seeing the advantage of the “pin” binding system now offered by a number of manufacturers as these are light and offer ever-improving security despite their minimalist looks!

    It’s essential you have ski touring bindings on your skis. Although Pin bindings have been around since the Dynafit Low Tech bindings over 30 years ago since their patent expired the technology has advanced substantially. Salomon, with their Shift Binding, are at the forefront; they’re ‘multi norm compatible’ so fit a selection of boots and are lighter than most freeride bindings. Our lead guides are using the Shift binding this winter, so if you’d like to know more about them give Lockwoods a ring.

    Ski Poles
    We recommend telescopic poles. They must have wide powder baskets (4-5 inches/100-120mm diameter) otherwise you’ll be up to your armpits on the ascents. Go for an alloy rather than carbon poles which are lighter but have a nasty habit of snapping near the basket due to ski edge nicks.

    Rucksack
    For most ski tours especially multi-day hut-to-hut tours you will need a 35 - 40 litre rucksack. You might get away with a big 30 liter pack if you are an experienced ski tourer and know what to pack. Most people will find a 35-40 liter pack is a good size for touring.

    Key features of a good ski touring pack:

    • a method of attaching your skis in either an A-frame (one either side) or both together on a diagonal ski carriage
    • easy access into the main compartment without having to empty the sack to get something at the bottom
    • separate pocket for avalanche shovel, handle and probe
    • small top pocket for items like wallet, sunglassed/goggles etc; an ice axe loop
    • built-in rain cover and a secure method of attaching/stowing a ski helmet 
    • good hip/waist belt and adjustable shoulder straps

    Ortovox Haute Route 40 rucksack will be a good choice for ski touring trips. 

    Avalanche airbag rucksacks can be used for touring but they are heavy, adding somewhere between 5-8kg just for an empty pack plus canister. So unless you are sure you can carry it and fit all you need in, we do not recommend you use one. 

    Over a long multiday tour, every gram of weight is important as you have to carry and move it yourself. Carrying a heavy pack will hinder and tire all but the most experienced and fit ski tourer.

     

    • Ski Skins – these are skins which, now made of artificial fabric, stick to the bottom of your skis and allow you to walk up hill. They must be cut to fit your skis exactly, so if you are bringing your own skis you must provide your own skins.
    • Ski Crampons (aka couteaux) - most ski touring bindings have ski crampons specifically designed for the binding. We always carry these just in case. Again if you are bringing your skis and touring bindings you must provide your own ski crampons. 
    • Ice Axe - general lightweight mountaineering / alpine pick. Ideally this needs to be short enough to fit in your pack.
    • Boot Crampons - ideally lightweight aluminum ones although steel crampons are required for more demanding tours
    • Climbing Harness - a simple lightweight harness. The key feature is that it should have fully adjustable leg loops for putting on over ski boots, crampons, etc.
    • Helmet - Some people choose to ski tour with a helmet, this is up to you. If you bring a Normal ski helmet they are heavy to carry. Many manufacturers now have lightweight ski touring helmets that work well.

    On some tours in non-glaciated terrain, an ice-axe, boot crampons and climbing harness may not always be required. However, as conditions and itineraries can change, we generally recommend bringing these items with you. If you do not own these items they can be rented to you by our guides or via one of the local sports shops.
  • The “Safety Trilogy” - required on all our ski tours and off-piste courses.

    • Avalanche Transceiver/Beacon
    • Snow shovel
    • Avalanche probe

    We recommend Simple and intuitive ORTOVOX AVALANCHE RESCUE KIT 3+ 

     

    Remember it is not enough just to carry this equipment; you have to know how to use it. 

    How about joining one of our specialist avalanche courses – check out www.mountaintracks.co.uk/activity/avalanche-training

  • Most resorts have ski shops that hire ski equipment and we try to provide relevant contact details for all our courses and tours.

    Prices do change by resort/country, but here’s an approximate guide to hire costs for 6-days hire:

    Touring Skis plus skins and ski crampons €150-180
    Touring boots €80-90 
    Boot Crampons €45-50
    Ice Axe €30-40
    Harness €20-30
    Helmet €20-30
    Transceiver/shovel/probe €75-80

    Our guides also generally have additional sets of safety equipment (transceiver/shovel/probe) which they hire out to clients for €65 for 6 days hire. Must be booked in advance.
    • Good pair of ski goggles with a lens for low light is essential in the event of snow and poor visibility
    • Good quality sunglasses with 100% UV protection
    • 35 – 40 liter rucksack
    • 1 – 1.5 Liter water bottle – we don’t recommend hydration systems (e.g. camelbak) in winter as they can freeze.
    • Food – bring some of your favorite hill nibbles (chocolate, energy bars)*
    • Suncream and lip salve
    • Camera with a large capacity memory card!
    • Money – most hotels, shops and restaurants accept credit cards, but not all the alpine huts do. You should allow about 30-40 Swiss Francs or 20-30 Euros per day for lunch and drinks (amount approximate and depends on consumption)
    Please note that your guide will have a few “spares” and other safety items that he or she will ask the group to carry between them; so leave a small space in your sack for an item e.g. spare skin, spare ski pole, emergency shelter.

    For a hut night:
    • Lightweight sleeping bag liner – now compulsory in most huts.
    • Wash kit with small personal first aid items – should include:
    • Toothbrush and paste - a mini one is ideal
    • Soap
    • Anti-bacterial hand cleaner
    • Wet wipes – essential to try to maintain hygiene
    • Tissues and toilet roll
    • Plasters – of various sizes and possibly some adhesive wound dressings.
    • Pain Killers – aspirin or Paracetamol/Nurofen
    • Antiseptic cream or wipes
    • Blister kit – compeed and elastic tape to hold it in place (essential)!
    • (Note: Guides will have comprehensive first aid kits and are qualified in mountain first aid)
    • Small light quick dry towel e.g. a Lifeventure Soft fiber towel
    • Most huts have limited washing facilities
    • Earplugs – it can get quite noisy!
    • Headtorch - lightweight and carry spare batteries.
    • Book, pack of cards and or Ipod/MP3 player – It’s nice to have something to read or listen to when you are in the huts or to challenge your fellow travelers to a game of card. These items are not essential but if you have space you might appreciate them.
    What to wear in the hut
    We are often asked by people what they should wear in the hut. It's a good question as you don't want to carry many or any extra clothes with you if they are not required. In the winter you will probably end up wearing your base layer thermals (top & bottom) or you can carry a lightweight pair of loose trousers to wear around the hut in the afternoons/evenings. Your base layer top is what you will probably wear on your top half or you can carry a t-shirt to wear in the hut that can double to sleep in. 

    Food and Water
    We suggest you bring with you or buy in resort snack food that you can take out on the hill with you each day. Things like cereal bars, dried fruit and nuts, chocolate, sugary sweets or your favorite hill snacks. When you’re staying overnight in huts its best to take supplies for the days you are away. Huts do sell food but it’s expensive and sometimes stocks run low.
    If you have any food allergies or dietary requirements especially if you are a Coeliac (Gluten free) or have a dairy allergy we strongly recommend you bring some food with you that you can supplement your dinners with. The huts are fairly good at providing for vegetarians but less so for other dietary needs.
    You have to buy bottled water in the huts as usually any running water is non-potable. Bottled water is expensive in French and Swiss huts; you can be paying upto 12-16CHF per 1.5L bottle of water. So please ensure you budget for this cost.

  • It is a condition of booking that you are insured for your chosen activity and the cover must include medical expenses, personal accident, personal liability, third party risks and rescue (including helicopter rescue). You are strongly advised also to take out cover against cancellation and curtailment.

    For UK residents Ski Club Travel Insurance may be a suitable option.

    For more details and to purchase a policy online visit http://www.skiclubinsurance.co.uk/
    If you need assistance arranging your personal insurance please let us know.
     

  • The most convenient airport is Geneva which is served by many UK and International airports.

    The transfer time from the airport is about 75 minutes to Chamonix and to get to the resort we recommend that you book a seat with one of the many transfer companies who offer shared minibus transfers to and from the airport. Mountain Tracks recommends Mountain Dropoffs or Cham Van who both offer comparatively priced transfers and run a regular and efficient service.

  • All our ski tours are led by our team of IFMGA Mountain Guides. The team is led by Olly Allen, Matt Dickinson and Nick Parks. 

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