Many thanks for your booking on this brilliant Val Feret & Rifugio Bonatti Ski Touring programme and we look forward to skiing with you this coming winter season. Please find more details regarding this course, equipment list and Chamonix logistics listed here.
The wonderfully scenic ascent to Rifugio Bonatti in the Val Feret with Monte Bianco beyond.
Intro Ski Touring
Ski touring provides a fantastic way of exploring the magical winter mountains whilst enjoying adventurous ski journeys away from the lifts and pistes. We are passionate about introducing skiers to this wonderful & addictive activity on our intro weeks and weekends. We also offer further inspiring journeys, hut to hut tours and high altitude ski summits as a great progression from the intro courses.
Please note that these days are run by Mountain Guides, not ski instructors. This means there are no limits as to where you can ski if conditions and ability allow but also that you will not receive personal off piste skills coaching as this is best done with a qualified ski instructor. You will receive training however in many very relevant skills regarding ski touring, travelling in the backcountry environment, and hopefully enjoy some great skiing and fresh tracks in the process!
Val Feret & Rifugio Bonatti
On the Southside of Mont Blanc lies the beautiful Italian Val Feret, close to the ski resort of Courmayeur. Closed off to traffic, other than the local bus service, in the winter this valley has the mighty peaks of the Grands Jorasses, Dent du Geant, Aiguille de Triolet and Mont Dolent overlooking it. On the valley’s north-facing slopes sits the beautiful Rifugio Walter Bonatti, the slopes around it offer ideal ski touring terrain with larch forested slopes and open meadows above. It’s the perfect weekend destination and one of our favourites.
Full details on the draft course programme can be found on the dedicated page here:
Course Ski Equipment List
Please check you have all the equipment requirements on the list below and let us know if you will need to hire the following items:
- Transceiver, Shovel & Probe
Please also pay particular attention to the cold weather items like face mask, goggles, warm gloves, warm jacket etc.
If you need to rent equipment then we recommend you hire from Sanglard Sports in Chamonix use this link to make a booking https://uk.rentski.com/rental/
It is advisable to book in advance to guarantee you can get the equipment you want.
You will automatically get a 15% discount on their touring kit rental if you book in advance online; alternatively, if you go directly to the shop in either Chamonix or Argentiere you will get 15% off rental prices in-store.
Chamonix Venue Information
Please check the link below for information on Chamonix accommodation, Travel & transfers from Geneva airport, logistics etc. You can base yourself in the town of Chamonix, or if you have your own transport, any other of the nearby resorts like Combloux, St. Gervais, Megeve etc.
Geneva Airport – Chamonix Transfer Discount with ‘Mountain Drop-offs‘
Promo code (case sensitive): HMGCHX
The code gives prices of 30€50 super saver, 35€ flexi and 190€ private vs 33€50, 38€ and 199€. The discounts are available in high season mid-December to mid-April then mid-June to mid-September. There is a supplement for very early and late travel.
Your Guide
We will be in touch with details of your Guide close to the date of your course. Please do revert back to us should you have any questions in the meantime.
Much time is spent by the Guides gathering information and deciding on the best venue to ski next day according to the current snow, weather and aims of the ski team. We aim to share this information as part of understanding prevailing conditions and carefully selecting a good ski tour accordingly.
Meeting Time & Place
We will also confirm the exact time and place for starting the course and meeting the guide and other guests on the first day of the course. This is often at around 0815 in Chamonix and this will be confirmed according to prevailing weather & conditions nearer the time.
In general our ski touring days run from around 0800-0830 to 1600-1630 but this can change according to weather, conditions, length of the tour and length of the journey to get there and even things like queues in the Mont Blanc tunnel if returning from Italy etc.
Lift Pass & Other Expenses
A Mont Blanc Unlimited pass costs around €65 and this will cover all lifts in the Chamonix Valley and over in neighbouring Courmayeur and Skyway Monte Bianco. However, this full pass is often not necessary so we recommend waiting until the plan for the day is confirmed before buying your pass so you can then buy the cheapest option on the day. Usually it is not necessary to buy a lift pass for this weekend course.
Please make sure you have arranged your own ski hire and note that any other expenses like insurance / lunch / drinks along the way are not included in the guiding fee.
Chamonix Ski Touring Conditions
We keep a regularly updated blog on Chamonix ski touring, mountaineering and off-piste conditions which you can check on our mountain news page via the link above.
Ski touring approach up the beautiful Val Feret
Nights In Mountain Huts
If your course involves a night in a mountain hut, please check our FAQ on staying in a mountain hut.
Please read our FAQs about staying in mountain huts here
Ski Insurance
You need rescue and medical insurance covering you for off-piste skiing and ski touring. Also for trip cancellation. For UK residents we would recommend using the British Mountaineering Council (BMC) policies. For other nationalities and residents, please refer to our Insurance FAQs below. Insurance is a personal issue and we can’t advise on an individual’s policy details.
Please read our FAQs about arranging your mountain insurance here
Ski Fit – BeFit Apps
We highly recommend you undertake a pre-ski season / trip preparation programme, ideally starting early in the autumn season to give plenty of time to build strength in your core, glutes and various other important ski related muscles! Our friends at BeFitt Apps have produced a really excellent pre season preparation which you can follow online, on your phone etc for a very cheap subscription.
Pre ski season training. Performance enhancing and helping with injury avoidance – highly recommended.
Further Details
We will send you more specific details closer to the time in our Joining Information about 1-2 weeks before you travel. This will including the meeting time and place for starting the course as well as the name and contact details of your guide, an update on conditions, and any other relevant information. The first day normally starts at around 0800 – 0830 hrs where the guide will meet you at your accommodation for you an intro chat, equipment check and then transfer to the climbing venue for the day or first hut trip.
Please Let Us Know
- Your accommodation details in Chamonix so we know where you are staying.
- What equipment you are short of from the equipment list above.
- If you have questions regarding any aspect of the course during this preparation phase.
Emergency Procedure
We are not planning on having any accidents or incidents in the mountains…people never are! But in the event of an incident taking place, and your guide not being available to respond on behalf of the team, please note the following rescue numbers and procedures.
ADD THESE NUMBERS TO YOUR PHONE NOW!
Chamonix Mountain Rescue PGHM) – +33(0)4 50 53 16 89
France Emergency Number – 112
Courmayeur Emergency Number – 118
Swiss Valais Helicopter Rescue (REGA) – 1414
Swiss Valais Emergency Number – 144
During an emergency call, calmly & clearly give the following information:
- Who? Your name & phone number you are calling from
- What? Type of accident, number of victims, seriousness & type of injuries
- Where? Your location, including the route you are on & elevation in metres
- When? Time of accident
- Weather? Include wind speed (Km/hr), wind direction & visibility
Thanks for your booking for guiding and we look forward to meeting & climbing with you soon.
In the meantime, best wishes & good training,
Rob
Robin Jarvis IFMGA MIC Mountain Guide
Chamonix Weather Forecasts
Chamonix Ski Touring & Off Piste Warm-Up & Course Preparation
We have a great article available for you to read on Off Piste and Ski Touring warm-up options in the Chamonix Valley if you plan to arrive a couple of days early for some additional skiing before your course / guided days begin.
Ski Touring & Ski Mountaineering Progression
For more details on our other Chamonix ski touring days, weekends and weeks, as well as our spring ski mountaineering programmes, please check our dedicated pages below:
