S A F T EY W E E E K E N D
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S A F T EY W E E E K E N D No matter what level of skiing you are, it is always important to be aware of the dangers of the mountain and learn how to easily avoid them. The two day avalanche safety courses which are based in Chamonix, are ideal for off piste skiers who want to get a practical grounding in staying alive when skiing off piste an essential for anyone serious about their off piste skiing skills! Our avalanche awareness courses are geared to be an introduction or refresher of the fundamentals of avalanche safety. We focus on practical knowledge and spend two days skiing off piste whilst learning to recognise hazards and how to avoid them. These courses are led by one of our IFMGA guides and after a theory session, you will have two full days on the mountain skiing off piste and learning about all aspects of avalanche awareness. You can expect to be skiing all day from the first lift.
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This course is for any off piste skier who is keen to learn more about or refresh their avalanche safety knowledge.
Ability Level: Intro - I have skied off piste at least several times and may have had some off piste instruction. I dream of effortlessly cruising fluffy powder away from the crowds but I am not quite there yet, I struggle to link more than a few turns at a time and often have to traverse to avoid losing control or falling. I have limited control over where I turn and I’m afraid of picking up too much speed. I fall or stop frequently. Fitness Level: A - I can ski all day from first lift, only taking short breaks every so often. I can ski about 4000+m per day. I could also hike up to an hour most days.
Dates: Every weekend from January to April. Example Itinerary
Friday: Meet at the chalet at 6pm for an hour or so, discussion and presentation about avalanches and how to avoid them, along with a theory session to prepare us for the next 2 days on the hill. Saturday & Sunday: On the mountain where we will be looking at all aspects of avalanche awareness, this will include; route finding, group control, snow pits, transceiver training, decision making, using weather and avalanche forecasts, choosing where, when and how to ski, hazard recognition and evaluation. Sunday: Departure.
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TRAINING FOR OFF PISTE SKIING Good fitness will make it more fun and you’ll get more out
can develop into a very serious and even fatal (in extreme
of your weekend! Although we will tailor the course to your
cases) problem. In reality on a backcountry skiing week it
ability, we definitely recommend getting as fit as possible
is unlikely you will have any lasting effects from altitude,
before you start. The process of training for your goal will
however it is something to be aware of, and let your guide
help you focus on your goal and having a goal will help
know if you experience any problems.
you focus on your training. The focus should be on training Cardiovascular Endurance as well as strength for long days in the mountains for cardio; cycling, running and rowing machines are much better than weight training, also yoga, swimming, pilates help with core stability and balance. Squats and cycling are a good way to strengthen your legs. Please remember to build up your workouts over time. If you are not used to exercising much, your muscles and joints need time to build up to avoid injury. Choosing an activity that you enjoy and keeping note of what you do and your times, this really helps with keeping the motivation up. If you are not used to training then your local gym will be able to advise you on a plan and schedule to help you achieve your goals.
THE EFFECTS OF ALTITUDE Chamonix is at an altitude of 1100m and it is rare that one would suffer from altitude sickness at such a level. However, the lifts in the Chamonix valley take you up to an altitude of 3842m which can at times have an effect on how you feel, as you climb higher the air gets thinner and so there is less oxygen in each breath we take. This can make exercising much harder work than at sea level, so we have to slow down to help compensate. There is also less oxygen in the air as we get higher, this can lead to ‘altitude sickness’ or Acute Mountain Sickness which may include headache, nausea, weakness, fatigue, dizziness, and
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KIT LIST Unfortunately we can’t recommend a specific brand and model for each item on the kit list, as what is available is constantly changing and, different people are different shapes and sizes with different budgets! However, in general, we use and endorse Black Diamond and Shepra products because in our experience they are excellent. If you go to a good retailers such as Snow & Rock, explain to them you will be backcountry skiing and they will be able to advise you on what is best for you. Lastly, if necessary it is possible to rent most hardware items in Chamonix. You can hire boots too, but this is a last resort (no one likes uncomfortable boots).
it is best not to rent boots. Rather buy some and have them fitted professionally, this will make your week much more comfortable, fun and blister free! ‘Fit’ is more important than whether a boot is ‘stiff enough’ or not. 4. Rucksack - 40-50l. With ski straps. 5. Water bottle. 6. Transceiver, probe, shovel, and harness with 1 screw gate karabiner (can be rented in Chamonix). 7. Sunglasses, goggles, sunhat, sunscreen, lip salve/ block. 8. 3 sets socks and light coloured thermal tops. 9. Lightweight Gore-Tex top/bottoms, warm hat, thick gloves, thin gloves. 10. Insulating layers. I use a thin ‘100’ weight fleece and a synthetic duvet jacket (thin). 11. Personal first aid – Including a blister kit and ibuprofen. 12. Cash for additional hot drinks / snacks on the mountain. Please remember kit should be lightweight but functional - you have to carry it! We can help with equipment rental in Chamonix. INSURANCE We strongly recommend getting specialist travel insurance that covers cancellation, medical and mountain rescue. Make sure that it covers glaciated off-piste skiing. We recommend the Dogtag (http://www.dogtag.co.uk/home.aspx) - they have comprehensive policies and a good reputation.
1. Skis for off piste skiing - We recommend skis that you will enjoy skiing on, but are not too heavy/stiff. They should be ‘fat’ but not too fat. Wider skis make it easier to ski off piste, but too wide can be hard to control and hamper your technique progression. We would recommend an underfoot width of 80-90mm. 2. Poles. 3. Boots - These must fit and be comfortable. We feel
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packed lunch are included leaving the evenings free for you to explore the delights of Chamonix. Rooms are normally on a twin share basis. Have a look here for more details and photos: MORE INFO & BOOKING COURSE RATIO: 1:8 GUIDE: CLIENT.
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COURSE LEVEL: Intro to Advanced FULL COURSE PRICE INCLUDES: Guiding, guides expenses, twin share chalet accommodation in central Chamonix on a B&B and packed lunch basis, in resort transport. FULL COURSE PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE: Insurance, travel to/from Chamonix, equipment rental, drinks/snacks, evening meals in Chamonix, lift pass COURSE PRICE INCLUDES: Guiding, guides expenses only. GETTING TO CHAMONIX Once you have booked with us and bought specialist skiing/climbing travel and cancellation insurance (we recommend the Dog Tag), it is best to book flights and airport transfers well in advance of your departure. Booking a place on a minibus airport transfer service is by far the best way to get from Geneva airport to Chamonix. If you have booked full Course, we can book your airport transfers at a competitive rate, just email us with your flight details. CHALET ACCOMMODATION When staying in Chamonix, we stay in one of our comfortable Adventure Base Chalets (www. adventurebase.com), literally 6 minutes’ walk from the town centre’s restaurants and bars. Breakfast and
OTHER INFORMATION www.chamonix.net is a good source of information about the town, local restaurants and bars. They also have listings of doctors, dentists and other medical practitioners. There are lots of cash points in Chamonix and Maestro/Visa/MasterCard are all accepted. To find out more about our course, availability, or to ask any questions, please get in touch with us through the website: www.dream-guides.com or by phone on +33 (0)845 564 21 19 We look forward to seeing you soon!
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