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Ski touring Calendar

Ski Touring 2021

Richard and client with Refuge de la Glère (Pyrenees – Néouvielle) in the background

Our unbeatable initiation week & initiation weekend runs with only two participants and gives you all the skills you need to join a hut to hut tour in the future.

Access to Luz St Sauveur, our base in the Pyrenees, is fast and easy from Lourdes airport or train station. The direct shuttle, meeting the RyanAir flight from Stansted, takes only 1 hour to Luz. Buses and taxis are available from Lourdes train station.

With only a few exceptions all our trips outside Luz include collection at the nearest convenient airport or railway station, and transfer to the tour departure point (or we organise the rail tickets), so there are no local transport hassles. There are trips for all abilities, and if you are not sure, we are happy to advise on what suits your level. We can tailor make a trip for your group of four or more people – just decide a date and let us know.

Our main guides, Richard and Lionel, have over 20 years experience and a huge amount to offer both experienced and novice ski tourers. The range of trips available is significant, both here in the Pyrenees, and in other European mountain ranges (French Alps, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Bulgaria, Norway, Sweden, Poland). Book your ski touring holiday for this winter now…

News and Information

We provide an update on the program once or twice a season via our Ski Touring Newsletter. Email sian@pyrenees-mountains.com and we’ll add you to the mailing list.

Winter Program 2021

If you are not yet confident skiing off the piste then a week of Off-Piste Improvement is the prefect way to begin your ski touring adventures. Spend each morning with an instructor, then every afternoon practicing what you have learned. Based in Luz St Sauveur we use the three ski areas of the valley (Grand Tourmalet, Luz Ardiden, Gavarnie) to provide you with a varied and interesting week  **Runs from only two participants** 

Our Introduction to Ski Touring / Winter Skills week is aimed at good on-piste skiers (very comfortable on red slopes, can ski black slopes) who have headed off the groomed slopes into the powder from time to time (so you at least have a feel for how it is different). If you’d now love to escape the lifts and see what it’s really all about then this introductory week is for you. Learn about snow and avalanche safety, how to use touring skis, skins, ski crampons and avalanche transceivers.  And the all important kick-turn! A night out in a refuge from February onwards. **Runs from only two participants** 

If you enjoy ski touring and off-piste skiing and would simply like a guide to show you what is on offer in the Central Pyrenees, then we can offer a Private Ski Touring Trip. Based in Luz St Sauveur you head out with a guide each day on an itinerary to suit your level, often using the ski areas of Grand Tourmalet, Luz Ardiden and Gavarnie as the starting point. Option of a night out in a refuge from February onwards. Practice your snow and avalanche safety to keep your skills current. **Runs from only two participants**

Weekend Trips: both introductory and private 3-day weekend trips are possible, and also run with only two participants.  Intro Ski Touring Weekend, Private Ski Tour Weekend. They includes two days with a qualified guide, two days equipment hire, three nights B&B twin share accommodation in Hotel Les Templiers. **Runs from only two participants**

LW/E = Long Weekend !
SW = Short Week

December 2020

Luz St Sauveur Base Camp

Intro Ski Touring / Winter Skills OR Private Ski Tour, 19 – 26 Dec 2020, 26 Dec 2020 – 2 Jan 2021, Price: 1255€/1355€pp, Grade: D1:A1:F1 OR fit to client, Meet: Luz St Sauveur. Email: Sian.

LW/E 19 – 22 Dec, 26 – 29 Dec 2020: Intro Ski Touring Weekend, Private Ski Tour Weekend, Price: 595€ (inc. equip) / 650€pp, Grade: D1:A1:F1, grade to suit, Meet: Luz St Sauveur, Email: Sian.

January 2021

Luz St Sauveur Base Camp

Intro Ski Touring / Winter Skills OR Private Ski Tour, 16 – 23 Jan, 23 – 30 Jan 2021, Price: 1255€, Grade: D1:A1:F1 or fit to client, Meet: Luz St Sauveur. Email: Sian.

LW/E 16 – 19 Jan, 23 – 26 Jan : Intro Ski Touring Weekend, Private Ski Tour Weekend, Price: 595€ (inc. equip), Grade: D1:A1:F1, grade to suit, Meet: Luz St Sauveur, Email: Sian.

February 2021

Luz St Sauveur Base Camp

30 Jan – 6 Feb 2021: Pyrenean Ski Safari (hotel based in Luz), Price: 1315€, Grade: D2:A2:F1, Meet: Luz St Sauveur, Email: Sian.

30 Jan – 6 Feb, 6 – 13 Feb 2020: Intro Ski Touring/Winter Skills, Private Ski Tour Pyrenees, Price: 1225€, Grade: D1:A1:F1 OR fit to client, Meet: Luz St Sauveur, Email: Sian.

LW/E 30 Jan – 2 Feb, 15 – 18 Feb 2021: Intro Ski Touring Weekend, Private Ski Tour Weekend, Price: 595€ (inc. equip), Grade: D1:A1:F1, grade to suit, Meet: Luz St Sauveur, Email: Sian.

Ski Tours Pyrenees

6 – 13 Feb 2021: Pyrenean Day Tours (hotel based in Luz), Price: 1255€, Grade: D2:A2:F2, Meet: Lourdes, Email: Sian.

13 – 20 Feb 2021: Néouvielle Nature Reserve – Lakes and Peaks (Pyrenees), Price: 1295€, Grade: D1:A1:F1, Meet: Luz St Sauveur, Email: Sian.

SW 13 – 18 Feb 2021: Néouvielle Nature Reserve – 5 nights/4 days, Price: 1095€, Grade: D1:A1:F1, Meet: Luz St Sauveur, Email: Sian.

20 – 27 Feb 2021: Encantats Ski Tour, Price: 1395€, Grade: D1:A1:F2, Meet: Monrejeau or Toulouse, Email: Sian.

SW 20 – 25 Feb 2021: Encantats Ski Tour – 5 nights/4 days, Price: 1195€, Grade: D1:A1:F2, Meet: Monrejeau or Toulouse, Email: Sian.

March 2021

Luz St Sauveur Base Camp

27 Feb – 6 Mar 2021: Off-Piste Improvement, Price: 1425€, Grade: D1:A1:F1, Meet: Luz St Sauveur, Email: Sian.

27 Feb – 6 Mar 2021: Pyrenean Ski Safari (hotel based in Luz), Price: 1315€, Grade: D2:A2:F1, Meet: Luz St Sauveur, Email: Sian.

6 – 13 Mar 2021: Off-Piste Improvement, Price: 1425€, Grade: D1:A1:F1, Meet: Lourdes/Luz St Sauveur, Email: Sian.

6 – 13 Mar 2021: Pyrenean Day Tours (hotel based in Luz), Price: 1255€, Grade: D2:A2:F2, Meet: Lourdes, Email: Sian.

13 – 20 Mar, 20 – 27 Mar 2021: Intro Ski Touring/Winter Skills, Private Ski Tour Pyrenees, Price: 1225€, Grade: D1:A1:F1, Meet: Luz St Sauveur, Email: Sian.

LW/E 13 – 16 Mar, 20 – 23 Mar 2021: Intro Ski Touring Weekend, Private Ski Tour Weekend, Price: 595€ (inc. equip), Grade: D1:A1:F1, grade to suit, Meet: Luz St Sauveur, Email: Sian.

Ski Tours Southern Alps – Pyrenees

13 – 20 Mar 2021: Spanish High Route Pyrenees Ski Tour, Price: 1425€, Grade: D2:A3:F2, Meet: Montrejeau or Toulouse, Email: Sian.

13 – 20 Mar 2021: Cerces Southern Alps Ski Tour, Price: 1395€, Grade: D1:A2:F2, Meet: Gap, Email: Sian.

20 – 27 Mar 2021: Larche – Briançon Traverse, Price: 1395€, Grade: D2:A2:F2, Meet: Turin, Email: Sian.

April 2021

Tours Alps

27 Mar – 3 Apr 2021: Gran Paradiso Ski Tour, Price: 1395€, Grade: D2:A2:F2, Meet: Geneva, Email: Sian.

27 Mar – 3 Apr 2021: Lepontines (Tour du Soleil), Price: 1555€, Grade: D2:A2:F2, Meet: Geneva, Email: Sian.

3 – 10 Apr 2021: Vanoise Ski Tour, Price: 1425€, Grade: D2:A2:F2, Meet: Geneva, Email: Sian.

SW 3 – 8 Apr 2021: Vanoise 5 nights/4 days, Price: 1225€, Grade: D2:A2:F2, Meet: Geneva, Email: Sian.

10 – 17 Apr 2021: Haute Maurienne Ski Tour, Price: 1395€, Grade: D2:A3:F2, Meet: Geneva, Email: Sian.

SW 10 – 15 Apr 2021: Haute Maurienne – 5 nights/4 days, Price: 1195€, Grade: D2:A3:F2, Meet: Geneva, Email: Sian.

10 – 17 Apr 2021: Tour of La Meije, Price: 1395€, Grade: D3:A3:F3, Meet: Grenoble, Email: Sian

Grade Coding

D = Descent.

D1 – simple skiing on wide slopes with little danger of exposure due to cliff faces, seracs or glaciers. Expect slopes similar to a red piste in gradient terms.
D2 – expect some slopes with object dangers like cliff faces, narrow passages between crevasses or ice falls and the occasional gully or couloir. Slopes may be slightly steeper than in our D1 grade but generally do not exceed 30 degrees.
D3 – expect steeper slopes, narrower gulleys, and skiing in more confined spaces. You must be able to ski completely in control in all snow conditions on slopes up to 35 degrees.

A = Ascent (vertical climb)

A1 – climbs on these ski tours average between 800 and 1000 metres a day at a moderate pace on gentle terrain. Expect to spend fours hours climbing. A1 tours do not generally require the use of an ice axe but you may need boot crampons on one or two passes.
A2 – longer climbs up to 1200 metres a day but with optional peak ascents requiring some mountaineering skills. You will use crampons and may need an ice axe (see individual tour requirements). Expect to cover the 1200 metres in 3.5 hours – so these tours do move at a faster pace than our A1 groups.
A3 – these tours are tougher and require climbs of 1400 metres and occasional longer days up to 1800 metres a day. You need to be completely competent with uphill kick turns (able to perform them in steep tricky situations) and you need an ice axe and crampons. A3 tours are only suitable for people who have completed at least three ski tours before.

F = Fitness

F1 – these tours require basic hill and ski fitness as they are only at moderate altitude and you are climbing and skiing at a moderate rate. We expect you to be able to climb and ski at a steady pace with two or three breaks during the climb.
F2 – as these groups move at a faster pace, and many of these tours are at a higher altitude, you need to be fitter. You should be a regular hill walker or cycle a fair amount and you should be ski fit too – so ideally you will have been skiing on piste (or on an off -piste week) before joining these groups.
F3 – these groups cover ground at a fast pace without stopping very often. You need to be able to climb with a good rhythm at this pace for up to five hours. These tours are only suitable for people who have many years ski touring experience and are well prepared physically.

Note: please bear in mind that although we have given each tour a D.A.F grade the actual grade of a route may well feel different if the conditions are hard – i.e if there is a lot of breakable crust, or stormy weather for example.

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