3 questions to start ski touring
Are you getting bored of skiing in resorts every year? Are you looking for a new adventure this winter? Do you enjoy spending time in the mountains and being on your own? Do you like the freedom of skiing untouched slopes?
Then ski touring could be for you!
" But what is ski touring? Is it complicated? What level do I need to be?
Don't panic! We'll answer all your questions in this article 👇
What's the difference between ski touring and resort skiing?
The main difference between ski touring and resort skiing is that when you ski tour, you don't just ski down the slopes. No more endless queues and feet that freeze when the chairlift gets long! With ski touring, we go up and down the slopes with our skis on.
What do you mean, skis on?
Thanks to a special binding on the skis, the heel of the foot rises with each step. This allows you to move forward easily without going backwards, thanks to the sealskins*.
The ascent on ski touring then represents 2/3 or Âľ of the time of your outing. However, you are free to choose your route and your ascent. There are shorter and longer routes.
What level do I need to be to start ski touring?
To begin ski touring, we recommend that you take an introductory course supervised by a mountain guide. That way, you'll learn the right techniques right from the start. This will enable you to master the technical side of ski touring quickly. The sooner you learn, the faster you progress!
However, you don't need to be an expert skier to practice ski touring on marked trails, as the ascent resembles a mountain hike and the descent, on a marked trail, resembles a descent on a ski slope. On marked trails, you simply need to know how to ski blue/red runs and enjoy hiking in the mountains to have the required level.
However, on unmarked trails , the level required is higher. You need to be comfortable skiing off-piste and, above all, have a good level of powder skiing. In fact, ski touring becomes more technical.
What are the advantages of ski touring?
Ski touring is all the rage, and understandably so, because there are so many advantages!
Ski touring allows you to spend whole days in the mountains, hurtling down the slopes without even having to take a ski lift. This sport allows you to ski in complete freedom, away from the crowds on the groomed pistes in the resorts. You'll experience a real sense of disconnection and total immersion in nature.
For nature and mountain lovers, ski touring allows you to take time to contemplate the beauty of the mountains on both the way up and the way down.
Finally, for the more sporty types, ski touring is an activity that can require a lot of endurance, depending on the route taken. So for some, it becomes a real sporting challenge.
Looking for an introduction to ski touring?
If you're looking for an introduction to ski touring, DiscoveRent offers you a week of initiation and glacier crossing on ski touring. The week is supervised by a mountain guide and includes accommodation and meals: more information on this expedition here.
