Your ski trip

You will discover the Beaufortin Massif by ski touring. For comfort we will stay in a guest house and we will start with two easy days to get the machine going. Your mountain guide will choose the itinerary in the area depending on the snow and weather conditions to manage safety and choose the best routes of the moment. Above the small village of Granier, the summits of Combe Bénite, Cret du Rey, Mont Coin, or the Dôme de Vaugelaz could be part of the programme, before discovering the Pierra Menta at the Col de Charbonière which will surely be the most beautiful day!

The Program

Programme of the ski touring camp :

DAY 1 - MONDAY
The Dôme de Vaugelaz

Vertical drop: + 800 m and - 800 meters
Ski touring length: about 5 to 6 hours

Meeting with the Mountain Guide at 8:00 in the morning in the village of Aime La Plagne for a coffe and a equipment check-up. After everybody has arrived, you will be following the Mountain Guide with your own cars to the departure point of today.

We start from a small car park near a cross-country ski hostel. The climb starts in the forest, but soon we leave the woods and climb into snow fields. The slopes are evenly oriented to the southwest, so you don't get hot on the way up in the morning and enjoy the sun on the way down. We pass many alpine chalets. Towards the summit we will have a superb view of the whole of the border chain between France and Italy and also of Mont Blanc. Depending on the weather, your guide will show you how to use the safety equipment, which includes the avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe, and will do a search exercise with you, as well as a small mapping exercise to learn how to orientate yourself in the mountains and to learn how to call for help. The descent is easy, which will allow everyone to get back on their feet. Your mountain guide will assess your level of fitness and choose the next days outings.

You will be back at your car in the early afternoon. The guide will show you the way to the charming village of Granier and your guesthaus. You can enjoy a superb view of the Tarentaise valley!

Night at the guest house, the Gite Pollen.

Day 2 - TUESDAY
COMBE BENITE

Vertical drop: 1200 meters positive and negative
Ski touring length: about 6 to 7 hours

We leave just above the village of Granier, or from our Gite if there is enough snow, to climb the Combe Bénite. Your guide will choose according to your wishes and the weather conditions of the moment. This second day of ski touring will take us to a more technical summit and a more difficult descent, we increase the difficulty little by little. You will do some conversions to climb the steeper slopes, your guide will give you some tips to improve your technique. The descent can be done on slopes of around 35 degrees. Your guide will give you tips on how to improve your climbing and descending.

Night at the guest house.

DAY 3 - WEDNESDAY
COL DE LA CHARBONIERE

Vertical drop: + and - 1100 m  
Ski touring length: about 6 to 7 hours

We start in the forest, the climb is regular under the spruces. There are many alpine chalets and the calm is very pleasant. On the other side of the valley, we can see the ski resorts of Haute Tarentaise such as La Plagne and Les Arcs in the distance, which is quite a contrast. A valley with two faces: the sunny side with the Beaufortain Massif which has remained wild and the shade side where the resorts have developed at the gates of the Vanoise National Park.
The climb continues to the mountain pastures where the cows graze in the summer to make Beaufort cheese, which will probably be in our snack or which we will find in a dish in the evening at the gite.
The ascent can pass several valleys and valleys that your Mountain Guide will choose to shorten or lengthen the path to reach the Col de Charbonière at the foot of the Pierra Menta.
The descent will probably be on the north side to make a loop and enjoy the powder snow which is usually there. We pass at the foot of the Roignais, the highest summit of the Beaufortain with its 2999 meters of altitude. The Presset and Balme refuges may be on our trail. A beautiful descent will lead us back to the cars.

Fondue and raclette are probably already waiting for us, for the last evening above the valley.

Night at the guest house.

DAY 4 - THURSDAY
RET DU REY or POINTE DU DZONFIE

Vertical drop: 1400 m or 1200 m positive and negative depending on the chosen summit
Ski touring length: about 7 hours

We start above Granier on a forest path to reach the superb alpine pasture of La Pesée, then we climb in huge combes. You will have to choose between the fairly easy summit of Dzonfie or the more difficult summit of Cret du Rey. You will choose with your guide if the conditions allow you to do both. For Cret du Rey we will have to put the skis on the bag and walk up. For Dzonfie the climb is quicker and easier with a less technical descent.

A great day in the mountains before heading back down to the cars and saying goodbye.

See you soon for another powder trip!

Equipment

Equipment for your ski touring trip

The guide will provide you with safety equipment:

• avalanche transceiver;
• shovel and probe.

If you do not have your own ski touring equipment, we can arrange for you to hire it, please ask when booking.

Personal ski equipment :

• touring skis, touring boots and skins (if you do not have your own touring skis, we can arrange for the necessary equipment to be hired, please specify when booking);
• Lightweight and durable ski poles, telescopic or classic, with washers for off-piste skiing;
• a good backpack of between 25 and 30 litres.

What to wear for ski touring

Suitable ski touring clothing:

• a waterproof and breathable jacket and trousers, preferably in Goretex (or alternative fabric);
• a thin down jacket;
• Base layers (tights and breathable technical T-shirts);
• a breathable fleece;
• gloves, socks, neck warmer, hat etc.

Do not forget :

• sunglasses and sun cream;
• a thermos flask and a water bottle.

Difficulty

Ski level required :

For good skiers: you enjoy skiing on black slopes and off-piste skiing, 35 degree slopes do not scare you, especially as they will arrive progressively during the stay.

Useful Infos

Useful information to organise your ski trip

How to reach Bourg Saint Maurice, 73700

• By train, access by TGV to Bourg Saint Maurice train station;
• By car from Albertville, access by expressway to Moutiers - Bourg Saint Maurice is 2.5 hours from Lyon.

Meeting on DAY 1

Meeting with the Mountain Guide in the village of Aime, before reching Bourg Saint Maurice. The exact point will be given to you when booking.
After a coffee and a quick check of the equipment and the backpack, you will leave together to reach the starting point of the race of the day.

Accommodation throughout the stay

You will be staying at the Auberge du Val Joli.

You will be accommodated in double / triple / quadruple rooms or in a group suite, with the members of your group.

Insurance

Cancellation and repatriation insurance is recommended, as well as insurance to cover search and rescue in the mountains.