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Ski Mountaineering - Ski Touring

The Pyrenees are an ideal place to get off the beaten tracks and into the real mountains. The wild interior of the mountains can be opened up to skiers who are comfortable on red-runs, can make parallel turns and are confident at controlling their speed with a turn. For Winter 2009 we are offering an introduction to ski touring holiday using qualified local guides with a lifetime of experience skiing and exploring the area. Our guide will meet you on-piste for tuition and practice, before moving off-piste. Tailored trips are also available for experienced ski tourers.

During a week’s guided ski touring you will discover the breathtaking scenery of the Pyrenees National Park and the wild glacial lakes of the Neouvielle Nature Reserve, ski to the summit of a 3000m peak, and watch the sun setting from a remote, high mountain refuge.

Ski touring Pyrenees - ascent of the Bolou valley, near Bareges	Ski touring Pyrenees - lunch looking onto the Pic de Leviste	Ski touring Pyrenees - Telemark turns in powder

What is ski touring?

Ski touring is a technique, which allows experienced skiers to travel across all different types of terrain in the open mountains. It uses a special type of binding, leaving your heel free for uphill skiing. Skins are attached to the bottom of the ski, which grip the snow for easy climbing. During descents, the heel is clipped down and you ski in a normal, Alpine fashion. Our ski touring holidays are also open to "free heel" Telemark skiers.

Ski touring trips are led by experienced, qualified local guides. For avalanche safety, you should carry a transceiver, probe and snow shovel whenever you are skiing off piste. The use of avalanche security equipment is covered in our "introduction to ski touring" course.

Introduction to ski touring suggested itinerary

The first four nights, and last night of accommodation are based in the village of Bareges. Our house is situated just off the main street, close to all the local shops, bakery, bars and restaurants and the thermal baths. We have five en-suite bedrooms, a heated equipment room, sauna, dining room and spacious lounge with a wood-burning stove, bar, library, reading/games corner, music centre and big-screen home cinema.

We use fully qualified local ski instructors and mountain guides for our ski touring, who will tailor their instruction and routes to the particular skills and requirements of your group.

Prices

975 € per person, based on a minimum group size of four people (max 8). This includes all accommodation, breakfast, afternoon tea and evening meals, minibus transport and the use of our qualified instructors. Equipment hire is priced at around 25 € a day for touring skis, skins, crampons and boots. An avalanche transceiver, probe and snow shovel are provided by our guide. You are welcome to bring your own equipment. Lift passes for days in the ski resort are 30 €. You will also need some cash for drinks, lunches and snacks in the ski resort and refuges.

Please contact us to check prices, itinerary and availability.

The best snow conditions for ski touring are in the Spring (March or early April), although our guide is also happy to run trips in February. For independent tourers, we can arrange a mountain guide on an daily basis. Prices are around 270-300 euros per day, for groups of up to eight. We provide accommodation and advice for skiers of every ability. If you have your own guided itinerary to propose (groups of four or more), please feel free to discuss your ideas with us.

Mountain refuges

Each year the Pyrenees are opening up more and more to ski tourers. Many of the major refuges on the Pyrenean Haute route are now open and manned for ski tourers. We are pleased to announce the complete refurbishment of our nearest retreat, the Refuge de la Glere, which re-opened this Summer. The Glere is a wonderful base for exploring the Neouvielle Nature reserve - one of the wildest and most unspoilt parts of the Pyrenees. For the more adventurous tourer, all of the unmanned refuges are open and accessible during the Winter. You will need to carry your own provisions, but these refuges provide a special seclusion which you will find nowhere else. Our two favourites are the Refuge Packe and the Turquerouye - traditional Pyrenean refuges perched in the most unlikely of places and with stunning views.

Ski touring Pyrenees - Refuge Baysellance, below the Vignemale	Ski touring Pyrenees - Refuge Packe		Ski touring Pyrenees - the Breche de Roland

Ski touring Pyrenees - Refuge de la Glere, above Bareges	Ski touring Pyrenees - Refuge Sarradets, below the Breche de Roland	Ski touring Pyrenees - Refuge Turquerouye

Independent Touring (accommodation only)

We offer accommodation for independent ski tourers at our lovely village house in the centre of Bareges village. The house has a 3-star rating, with six well-appointed en-suite bedrooms, sleeping up to 14 people. We are ideally located for the Bareges-La Mongie ski resort (only five minutes ride on the free ski bus) and for the Neouvielle Nature reserve and the Pyrenees National Park.

For independent ski touring, there are excellent day-itineraries, including trekking up to the Refuge de la Glere, and on into the Neouvielle National Park via several beautiful unspoilt routes. You can even connect to the neighbouring ski resort at St Lary Soulan. For a longer itinerary we suggest starting in our sister valley at Cauterets. From here, trek into the lovely Marcadau valley and overnight at the Refuge Wallon, then ski further towards the Spanish frontier, spending another night at the Refuge des Oulettes de Gaube. On your third day, traverse below the glacier of the towering Vignemale, and drop into the breathtaking Cirque de Gavarnie, travelling on the spectacular Pyrenean Haute Route.

	Option	Price	Price (School holidays)
	Half board	490 €	595 €
	Bed & Breakfast (continental breakfasts)	295 €	350 €
Ski touring Pyrenees - Hautacam	Pau airport transfers	40€ per person	40€ per person	Ski touring Pyrenees - Pic de Montaigu

Half-board prices include your accommodation in an en-suite bedroom, generous continental breakfasts, afternoon tea & cakes and delicious three course evening meals with after-dinner coffee.

Fitness and training

To get the most out of your holiday you should be a confident skier, able to make parallel turns on red runs. You will also need to be fit and healthy - able to walk uphill for two and a half to three hours a day (with an average height gain of 800m). Most of our clients like to undertake some form of fitness training prior to their holiday.

RECOMMENDED SKI TOURING KIT LIST

Booking and availability: Please contact us for more details