Telemark and Alpine or Freeride ski touring, holidays and coaching

Telemark and Alpine/Freeride Tours:

Gran Paradiso Intro Tour: hut-to-hut and day tours
    – for first-time tourers
Stubai Alps: skiable summits, great descents and excellent huts
     – for more experienced ski tourers
Chamonix-Zermatt Haute Route: the world class high level route
     – for more ambitious and advanced ski tourers.
Haute Route Prep: Get ready for the tour or as a very enjoyable end in itself!
     – for those seeking the best out of their touring
Day Tour options: Andermatt, Parnassos, Krippenstein, La Thuile
     – for those who like less 'up' and more 'down'!

ITALY – Gran Paradiso Intro Tour

Telemark or Alpine ski touring - for those new to the game!

LEVELS: 3 to 5

•	This introductory tour visits the charming valleys and peaks of the Val di Rhemes and Val Grisanche on the fringes of the Gran Paradiso National Park in the Val d'Aosta.
•	We use one hut for three nights and a second for two nights to allow light-weight day tours to a range of skiable 3300 – 3400 m peaks. On one day we cross the high pass linking the huts.
•	The terrain and skiing is generally straightforward with plenty of options; views are spectacular and the descents are pure joy ... The huts are very welcoming and the food and wine is legendary!
•	An ideal week for skiers who have done no touring before but are confident and controlled skiers off-piste and are used to skiing with a rucksack. Average ascents 800 – 1100 m/day, approx 4–5 hrs., most days with a small rucksack!
•	This ski tour will be led by UIAGM/IFMGA Guide Christian Cesa.

TRAVEL & ACCOMMODATION
Arrange your own flight to Turin and we at The Telemark Ski Company will sort out the rest!

DATES & COSTS
21/03/09 – 28/03/09 £895
NB Cost includes transfers from/to Turin airport, half board shared accommodation for 2 nights, half board in huts for 5 nights, minibus transfer to/from touring area, services of UIAGM/IFMGA Guide for 6 days.

Top: It makes the walk up all worthwhile! Descending to the Rif. Benevelo.
Photo: John Eames
Middle: Skinning from the Rif. Benevelo to Punta Calabre.
Photo: John Eames
Left: Day 6 – descending to Bonne in the Val Grisenche.
Skier: Christian Cesa, photo: John Eames

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AUSTRIA – Stubai Alps

Telemark or Alpine ski touring – a classic high-level route with day tours.

LEVELS: 3+ to 5

•	The Stubai Alps have excellent access, first class huts, skiable summits and some ‘cracking’ descents!
•	The nature and scale of the Stubai allows far higher levels of success than on the more well-known High-Level Routes of the western Alps.
•	A hut-to-hut route including three hut-based day tours, some wonderful descents and airy summits, including the Zuckerhutl (3506 m), Windacher Daunkogel (3351 m), and Wildes Hinterbergl (3288 m).
•	We benefit from the uplift of the Stubai Glacier ski area during the first three days. We also cross a couple of high passes involving scrambling to add to the variety and interest.
•	Suitable for skiers who have done some touring before and are used to skiing with a rucksack; ascents 300 – 650 m a day, two days over 1000 m, up to 4–5 hrs. Similar technically to the Oetztal tour (previous years programme), a couple of big days and some easy scrambling.
•	This ski tour will be led by UIAGM/IFMGA Guide Christian Cesa.

TRAVEL & ACCOMMODATION
Arrange your own flight to Munich (or Innsbruck) and we at The Telemark Ski Company will sort out the rest!

DATES & COSTS
28/03/09 – 04/04/09 £995
NB Cost includes transfers from/to Munich airport, half board shared accommodation for 2 nights, half board for 5 nights, minibus transfer to/from touring area, services of UIAGM/IFMGA Guide for 6 days. Reduction of cost for flights to Innsbruck.
Extras: lift pass (parts of 3 days), approx. £58

Top: Descending from the Wildes Hinterbergl in windy weather.
Bottom: In the valley below the Franz Senn Hut.
Inset: Crossing the Wildgratscharta.
Photos: John Eames

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FRANCE/SWITZERLAND – Chamonix – Zermatt Haute Route

The classic and most well-known ski tour in the Alps - a 'must' for Alpine and Telemark skiers.

LEVELS: 4+ to 5

•	A wonderful journey linking high passes and glacier basins, below some of the Alps' most impressive peaks.
•	Day 1 as a 'shake down' day on the Grand Montets ski area; then 6 days hut-to-hut touring to Zermatt, returning to Argentiere on the 6th day.
•	We plan the standard route to Champex and then the Verbier variation via the Dix and Vignettes huts to Zermatt.
•	Suitable for skiers who are experienced tourers in the Alps and are used to skiing with a rucksack; average climbing 770 m/day, biggest single ascent of 1225 m. Some previous mountaineering experience recommended to get the best out of the tour as well as a good level of fitness & stamina.
•	The tour will be led by UIAGM/IFMGA Guide and telemark supremo, Christian Cesa.

TWO WEEK COMBO: Come out a week earlier for a ‘Prep’ based at La Thuile, including some off-piste coaching and day tours. More great off-piste skiing and enhance your enjoyment and satisfaction on the Haute Route.

Simply a wonderful place to be! Views of theDent d'Herens and the Matterhorn on leaving the Vignettes hut.
Photos: Alan Russell, www.zedphoto.com

DATES & COSTS
25/04/09 – 04/05/09 £995
NB Cost includes half board shared hotel accommodation for 3 nights, half board for 5 nights at alpine huts, services of UIAGM/IFMGA Guide for 7 days.
Extras: Grand Montets ski pass c. £50.

TWO WEEK COMBO COST:
19/04/09 – 04/05/09 £1445
Additional costs as described for the Haute Route Prep week with 7 nights B&B accommodation. Travel cost from La Thuile to Argentiere is extra.

TRAVEL & ACCOMMODATION
Arrange your own flight to Geneva, arrange a transfer to Argentiere with ATS for £64 (or train or bus direct from airport) and The Telemark Ski Company will sort out

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ITALY – La Thuile: Haute Route Prep (HRW)

An excellent Telemark or Alpine coaching and touring combination week.

LEVELS: 4+ to 5

•	A week full of variety and interest combining some great skiing with quality off-piste coaching and day touring amongst the peaks and valleys of the La Thuile-La Rosiere ski area.
•	The last week of the season at La Thuile is a distinctly ‘mellow’ time, but the snow is always deep, typically ‘spring snow’ in quality and fresh powder is not unusual.
•	Five days of ski coaching and day or part-day tours or ski area off-piste runs, depending on conditions, skier aspirations and ability.
•	One day ‘free’ skiing – or resting!
•	Suitable for skiers who have previous ski touring experience in the Alps, are wishing to enhance their off-piste and touring skills, confidence and fitness and are used to skiing with a rucksack; daily climbs potentially of 500 – 600 m.

TWO WEEK COMBO: Use this week 'as it says on the can' and go on to ski the Haute Route with improved confidence and greater fitness.

TRAVEL & ACCOMMODATION
Arrange your own flight to Turin or Geneva, arrange a transfer to La Thuile with ATS from £122 and TeleSkiCo can arrange 7 nights B&B (£225).

DATES & COSTS
19/04/09 – 26/04/09 £375
Cost includes all coaching/leadership costs only.
Extras: 6 day ski pass approx. £137 approx

TWO WEEK COMBO COST: 19/04/09 – 04/05/09 £1445
Additional costs as described for the Haute Route. Travel cost from La Thuile to Argentiere is extra.

Top: High above the Petit St. Bernard pass, descending from a mini-day tour – enjoying the excellent snow cover of the 3rd week of April!
Bottom: It’s all worth it! A great descent with Mt Blanc as a backdrop.
Photos: John Eames

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SWITZERLAND: Andermatt – Off-Piste Adventure
AUSTRIA: Krippenstein – Off-Piste Adventure
GREECE: Parnassos – Off-Piste Adventure
ITALY: La Thuile Off-Piste Adventure

Telemark and Alpine day touring and freeride options, with off-piste coaching – all over the world!

LEVELS AND FULL DETAILS: see links below

•	A week with anew concept that has plenty of variety, lots of challenge, big descents, day tours and coaching.
•	Each week will have three days of off-piste coaching and following off-piste itineraries and two days of day or part-day tours; this will vary with snow and weather conditions, ability and aspirations. One day free.
•	ANDERMATT: An off-piste skiers’ and freeriders’ heaven! From the top cable car station unlimited possibilities with easy access back to the village. (24/01/09 – 31/01/09)
•	PARNASSOS: Quiet and relaxed but with plenty of ‘adrenaline terrain’ and touring options with awesome snow and a spectacular backdrop – all with a distinctive Greek flavour. (08/02/09 – 15/03/09)
•	KRIPPENSTEIN: Plenty of lift-served off-piste and easy access to day tours in the neighbouring Dachstein mountains; plenty of tree-skiing, couloirs, open bowls and great powder possibilities! (14/03/09 – 21/03/09)
•	LA THUILE: The last week of the season guarantees a ‘mellow’ atmosphere, superb hospitality, great ‘spring’ snow with fresh powder likely and no queues or crowds. Easy access to ‘side-country’ and ‘skin and fling’ options.(19/04/09 – 26/04/09)

Top left: Skinning to a perfect powder field, Andermatt backcountry.
Top right: Parnassos tree-skiing – honest, it is not the Rockies!
Bottom left: Krippenstein freeride (photo: en.Krippenstein.at)
Bottom right: steep spring snow slopes in the woods at La Thuile.
All photos: John Eames except where indicated