Ski Touring Introduction Day

Ski touring around Drumochter Spring 2018

LOCATION: Cairn Gorm, or nearby

The Ski Touring Introduction for Skiers and Snowboarders who have not toured before. We offer a one or two day course. The skills are taught whilst on a ski tour. Normally the day involves around 800 metres of vertical ascent and several descents. Please read the prerequisites below.

The Introduction course is an opportunity to: become more familiar with ski touring equipment including skins, ski crampons and different types of bindings; master skinning technique (including kick turns); learn the theory of terrain choice and avalanche avoidance; introduce avalanche transceiver searches when possible; and to be given some coaching tips to help descend in variable snow.

Ski touring skis are available but you need to provide your own boots. We can provide avalanche safety equipment. Snowbaorders can attend but need to provide their own splitboard. More details here. The full kit list is here.

The 2 day option is two separate days on the hill and does not include accommodation, you need to find accommodation in or around Aviemore. Some suggestions are included in the FAQ.

On occasion we may suggest that you purchase a ski touring uplift pass so as to skip the first climb. Currently these cost £11. We would arrange this and invoice you afterwards.

There is also the option of a combined touring and uplift day which means we use a ski pass to minimise the amount of climbing in the day and gives us the chance to spend some time working on downhill skiing technique as well as ski touring uphill skills. The uplift option will require either a Full Area Ski Pass or a Ski Tourers Pass from Cairngorm Mountain. The pass may need purchased in advaacne. We will advise you by email in advance once we know what lifts are likley to be open. The cost of uplift is not included in the course fee. If uplift is not an option we will run a ski touring skills day with shorter ascents than the normal journey day.

For all courses we meet at 8:30am to arrange equipment and aim to be moving by 9am. We are normally back by around 4pm.

OVERVIEW

• £95 PER PERSON (£20 to hire ski touring skis and skins), £190 for 2 day option
• Maximum 6 in a group
• Avalanche equipment can be provided free of charge

2023 / 2024 Season Dates:

  • Fri 8th Dec

  • Sat 16th Dec ( cancelled)

  • Fri 22nd & Sat 23rd Dec - 2 day ( cancelled)

  • Sat 23rd Dec ( cancelled)

  • Fri 5th Jan

  • Fri 5th & Sat 6th Jan - 2 day

  • Sat 13th Jan

  • Fri 19th Jan

  • *Sat 27th Jan

  • *Fri 2nd Feb

  • Sat 3rd Feb

  • Fri 9th Feb

  • *Sat 10th & Sun 11th Feb - 2 day

  • Fri 23rd February - Uplift assisted ski touring skills day (ski pass will need purchased)

  • *Sat 24th Feb

  • Sat 2nd Mar

  • 16th Mar

  • Sat 23rd Mar

Please click the book now button for updated availability.
* course full - please click here to add yourself to a list to be made aware of changes to availability

PREREQUISITES

You will need to be confident getting down a red run and have a decent level of fitness. These courses normally stay on the front side of the mountain and the climbing is kept to a maximum of 800 vertical metres. If you have had a long break from skiing please make sure you visit your local dry slope or try to get a day of uplift skiing before attending.

The focus of the day is on the skills needed to go on a ski touring journey, rather than a journey itself (please see 'Journey days' if you prefer to learn the skills on the move).

Children aged 15-18 can attend if their parent attends with them.

Ski Touring on the Ben Lawers range.