This adventure is for people who have never tried ski touring but would like a week of professional instruction to gain and master the basics. To join this trip, you must be able to ski red runs well and confidently, have skied black runs, and have experience with off-piste/side-country skiing. You are not expected to have ski-toured before; you are not expected to have perfect technique or be able to ski steep couloirs. Professional guides and ski instructors will progress you through the basic uphill and downhill skills. They will also cover the fundamentals of avalanche safety and response. The trip culminates with a 2-day ski tour to the Grand Saint Bernard Hospice. A cultural experience in itself.

By the end of this course, you will have the essential skills and confidence to start ski touring and ski mountaineering safely and independently. You will learn how to use and handle ski touring equipment, including skins and ski crampons, as well as efficient uphill techniques and kick-turns for steeper terrain. You will also develop essential avalanche safety and rescue skills, including how to use a transceiver, shovel, and probe and how to respond to realistic rescue scenarios. Finally, you will learn how to plan a ski tour using maps, weather forecasts, and avalanche bulletins, develop basic alpine navigation skills, and prepare and pack the appropriate equipment for both day tours and overnight trips.