Ski Touring & Ski Mountaineering around Verbier
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From easy, cruisy, ski tours suitable for beginners (with a mountain guide) to complex ski mountaineering requiring experience and skill, the Verbier region has lots of off the beaten track skiing.
Ski Touring is a way to enjoy the mountains away from the crowds. You can go on day tours or multi-day tours staying overnight in one of the mountain huts. Nothing beats getting to the top of a mountain or mountain pass and looking down at a field of virgin powder.
Not just for skiers! Snowboarders can use snowshoes in place of skins. However, snowboarders should be especially cautious crossing glaciated terrain. Even when skiers are not roped up, snowboarders should beware that on foot they have much less surface area.Header...
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Ski Touring around Verbier
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- Ski Touring EquipmentSki Touring RoutesCompetitionsMaps & ToposHeader 5
How do you get your skis to go uphill? Here's the low-down on ski touring equipment:
* Skis with a special ski touring binding which frees your heel for more mobility. These binding usually have adjustable heel rises for added comfort on various steepness gradients. It is also possible to use regular skis and bindings and add equipment (such as Alpine Trekkers) which transforms a normal binding into a ski touring binding
* Skins - these used to be made out of seal skins but are now made from synthetic materials. When you are going uphill, you stick the skins on the bottom of your skis. With the skins on the bottom of your skis you can glide your skis forward (uphill) but there is too much friction to allow the skis to slip back downhill. (You take off the skins to ski down).
* Regular or ski touring boots. Ski touring boots are less stiff, more comfortable for uphill, and usually have vibram soles.
* Regular or telescopic poles. Telescopic poles retract so that they are easier to put away in a backpack.
* Off-piste safety kit: avalanche transceiver, probe, shovel
* Glacier gear (if you are skiing on glaciers)
Don't forget that you will probably be in the back country without access to the comforts of a ski resort - so don't forget to bring lots of water and enough food. Header...
The Verbier Ski Resort
Skiing & Snowboarding in Verbier
Heliskiing
