Ski touring at Mont Rose, Aosta Valley

The trip

Star ski touring course from Champoluc, facing Mont Rose

The Val d'Ayas is a long valley running north-south and ending in the foothills of Monte Rosa. Located around a hundred kilometres from Turin and around sixty from Aosta, Champoluc is one of the towns in the valley. It is also one of the resorts in a ski area straddling the Aosta Valley (Gressoney-Champoluc) and Piedmont (Alagna). The landscape is divided between glacial peaks, wooded slopes and open spaces where you can hike and enjoy uninterrupted views.

To reach your refuge, take the first ski lift up to the hamlet of Crest. This is where you'll set up your base camp for the 3 days of ski touring, during which it will be possible to use the ski lifts to reach more remote itineraries.

The Programme

Le programme indiqué ci-dessous permet de donner une idée des courses qui pourront être faites à partir de Champoluc. Il ne s'agit pas en revanche d'un descriptif ferme : le guide adaptera le programme au jour le jour en fonction des conditions nivométéo et du niveau des participants. Cette vallée propose des terrains assez variés, avec notamment la possibilité d'aller sur glacier.

JOUR 1
RENCONTRE AVEC LE GUIDE ET EVALUATION DU GROUPE

Rendez-vous à 13h avec le guide à Champoluc.

Vérification du matériel, contrôle des DVA, évaluation du niveau de ski des participants.

En fin d'après-midi, le groupe rejoint le hameau de Crest en empruntant une remontée mécanique et s'installe au refuge.

Préparation de la course du lendemain avec le guide : lecture des cartes, étude du bulletin nivométéo.

Nuit en refuge.

La journée se terminera autour d'un pôt avec le guide pour clôturer ce stage.

Pour ceux qui le souhaitent, Esprit Montagne peut réserver une nuit supplémentaire au refuge : vous pourrez ainsi réalisi une journée supplémentaire de ski libre sur le domaine de Monterosa Ski.

Il est également possible de demander au guide de vous encadrer pour une journée supplémentaire en ski de randonnée.

Tout au long de votre séjour, le guide choisira les itinéraires la veille pour le lendemain, en fonction des conditions météo, de la nivologie, du niveau du groupe. La présence du guide avec vous au refuge permettra d'échanger avec lui sur le choix des courses et les critères qu'il a retenus pour vous amener sur tel ou tel itinéraire. Il aura bien sûr à coeur de prendre en considération votre niveau technique et physique et d'assurer au mieux votre sécurité. 

Materiel

Equipment for your ski touring holiday

The guide will provide you with the following safety equipment:

• avalanche transceiver ;
• shovel and probe.

Your own technical ski equipment :

• touring skis, touring boots and sealskins;
• knives, crampons, ice axe, harness, helmet;
• ski poles, telescopic or classic, light and strong, with washers for off-piste skiing;
• a good rucksack, between 25 and 30 litres.

What should I wear for ski touring?

Click here for detailed information on ski touring equipment.

Suitable ski touring clothing :

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

Don't forget :

• sunglasses and sun cream ;
• Thermos flask and water bottle
• A headlamp;
• Meat bag for nights in refuge;
• a survival blanket.

Level

Ski level :

Ski touring experience required.

For good skiers: you enjoy skiing on black runs and off-piste skiing. 35-degree slopes don't scare you, especially as they will arrive gradually during your stay.

Technical level: 3.5 / 5

FAIRLY DIFFICULT OFF-PISTE SKIING

If you've already done some off-piste skiing or ski touring and have a very good level of skiing, a steep section (around 35-40 degrees) won't scare you.) You can ski in all types of snow off-piste and ski quickly on black runs.

Physical level: 4 / 5

TRAINED ATHLETE

Effort corresponding to approximately 1200 - 1700m of ascent per day.

You enjoy and practise endurance sports at a good level.

Useful infos

Useful information for organising your ski trip

Insurance

Travel insurance including cancellation, repatriation and mountain search and rescue is compulsory.

In the event of cancellation of your trip or in the event of an accident, you are responsible for the costs.

For more information: see our General Terms and Conditions of Sale.

How to get to Champoluc (Valle d'Aosta, Italy)

• By plane via Turin or Milan - you will then need to hire a car;
• By train, you can reach Champoluc by TGV from Martigny station - you will then need to hire a car;
• By car via the Grand Saint Bernard Tunnel or the Mont Blanc Tunnel; then down the Aosta Valley to Val d'Ayas.
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Meeting point on the first day :

Champoluc at 13:00.

Departure - dispersal of the group :

D4 between 14:00 and 16:00.

Accommodation :

In a refuge, in a dormitory with shared bathroom.

Meals during the ski touring course

Dinners in the refuge in the evening, where you can sample local specialities.

Picnics and lunches are not included, to allow everyone to eat as they wish (you can ask for a picnic at the refuge).

Don't forget to bring some food to eat before you leave (cereal bars, dried fruit, chocolate, etc.).

Travel during the ski touring course

Depending on the routes chosen by the guide, you may need to use ski lifts (lift passes not included in the price).

Parking

You can park in Champoluc. The guide will tell you where.

Luggage

The refuge is accessible by cable car. This means you can take your luggage up easily on the first day.

Car pooling

When you register online, you can choose whether or not you wish to carpool to the starting point of your course. Once you have made your reservation, you can log back into your Esprit Montagne account to access a section dedicated to carpooling. Here you will find the contacts of participants on your course who are interested in carpooling, enabling you to contact them directly.