Mastering Ski Mountaineering Skills

Mastering Ski Mountaineering Skills

Ski Mountaineering
Difficulty
5 / 10 Moderate
Duration
Choose your own dates
Availability
Dec 2026 → May 2027
Group
max 2 pax
Ratio
1 : 2
Meeting point
Agreed with the group according to the chosen objectives and current conditions

This trip uses our 1-10 overall difficulty scale (technical + fitness + exposure + environment). How this scale works

HIGHLIGHTS

Highlights

  • Tailor-made coaching based on your experience and goals
  • Progress from ski touring to steeper and more technical alpine terrain
  • Learn crampon, ice axe, ropework and glacier-travel techniques
  • Develop stronger route-finding, terrain assessment and decision-making skills
  • Maximum 2 people for a highly personalised experience

OVERVIEW

About this trip

Ski mountaineering combines ski touring and alpinism. It requires more than efficient uphill skiing: you need to know how to move safely through changing terrain, when to switch from skis to crampons, how to use an ice axe and rope, and how to make decisions that make sense in complex mountain environments.

This flexible coaching programme is designed for competent off-piste skiers with some ski touring experience who want to progress towards ski mountaineering.

There is no fixed itinerary; we can customize the course based on your experience. However, you can find a sample program below.

Depending on your goals, we can work on:

  1. Efficient ski touring and transitions
  2. Steeper terrain and bootpacking
  3. Crampon and ice axe technique
  4. Glacier travel and ropework
  5. Route finding and terrain assessment
  6. Avalanche awareness and decision-making
  7. Steep and exposed ski descents
  8. Preparation for future ski-mountaineering objectives

The emphasis is on learning in mountain terrain, with technical coaching integrated naturally into each day.

ITINERARY

Itinerary

  1. Day 1
    Foundations

    The programme below is an example. The actual objectives are selected according to your experience, goals and conditions.

    We assess your ski touring technique and work on efficient uphill movement, pacing, kick turns and transitions. On the descent, we focus on off-piste skiing, adapting technique and line choice to different snow and terrain. We also introduce or review avalanche awareness, including transceiver use, rescue equipment and terrain-based decision-making.

  2. Day 2
    Steeper terrain

    We move into more complex terrain and introduce bootpacking, crampons and ice axe techniques. We practise efficient transitions between skis and boots, steeper snow movement, carrying skis and managing exposure. The focus is on understanding when and why to change techniques as the terrain changes.

  3. Day 3
    Glacier travel

    On suitable glaciated terrain, we work on roping up, rope management and movement as a team. We look at glacier hazards, crevasse identification, route choice and communication. Where appropriate, we also introduce the fundamentals of crevasse rescue.

  4. Day 4
    Complete ski mountaineering tour

    We put everything together on a real ski-mountaineering objective. The day starts with planning the route, reviewing weather and avalanche conditions, identifying alternatives and defining appropriate margins. During the tour we integrate ski touring, transitions, crampon and ice axe techniques, ropework and glacier travel where required. The aim is to experience the complete process of planning and moving through a ski-mountaineering environment.

  5. Day 5
    Longer programmes?

    Additional days can be added to develop greater independence, work on more technical terrain or prepare for a specific ski-mountaineering objective.

REQUIREMENTS

Requirements

  • Confident skiing
    You should be comfortable skiing on-piste and have experience skiing ungroomed snow.
  • Ski touring experience
    Previous ski touring experience is recommended. You should ideally be familiar with skins, touring bindings and basic transitions.
  • Avalanche equipment
    You must carry an avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe. Rental is available on request.
  • Fitness
    A typical day involves approximately 600–1,000 m of ascent at a relaxed pace.
  • Winter mountain equipment
    You need appropriate winter clothing, a 25–35 L backpack, water and food. The final equipment list depends on the selected objectives.

GEAR CHECKLIST

Gear list

Required Provided Optional Rentable

clothing

6
  • Gloves & hat
    Required
    Light gloves, warm gloves or mittens, wool hat / buff.
  • Insulated jacket
    Required
    Warm insulated jacket (down or synthetic) for stops, summits and emergency situations.
  • Shell jacket & trousers
    Required
    Waterproof / windproof jacket and overtrousers (Gore-Tex or similar).
  • Ski clothing (layers)
    Required
    Breathable base layers, fleece or light insulating jacket, ski touring pants.
  • Ski touring boots
    Required Rentable
    Ski touring boots compatible with bindings and crampons if needed.
  • Ski touring socks
    Required
    Technical ski touring socks suitable for cold conditions. At least one pair required.

emergency

1
  • Emergency bivy
    Provided
    Lightweight emergency bivy or thermal blanket for unexpected stops or emergencies. , Guide carries an emergency bivy/thermal blanket.

hut

1
  • Overnight kit
    Optional
    Overnight kit for hut or bivouac nights: sleeping-bag liner (huts) or lightweight sleeping bag (unmanned bivouacs), spare socks, small toiletry kit; see the trip note. , Only required if a hut overnight stay is included in the final program.

personal

6
  • Backpack
    Required Rentable
    Backpack with a gear-carry option; recommended size varies by trip, see the note.
  • Mobile phone
    Required
    Fully charged mobile phone for communication and emergency use.
  • Personal kit & snacks
    Required
    1L thermos or bottle, small personal first aid, snacks for the day.
  • Sun protection
    Required
    High SPF sunscreen and lip balm for protection against sun and wind at altitude.
  • Sunglasses & goggles
    Required
    Category 3–4 sunglasses and ski goggles for bad weather.
  • Power bank & cable
    Optional
    Power bank and charging cable to keep devices operational in cold conditions. , Recommended to keep devices operational in cold conditions.

safety

6
  • Avalanche transceiver / beacon (ARTVA)
    Required Rentable
    Modern 3-antenna transceiver/beacon with fresh batteries.
  • Light Harness
    Required Rentable
    Light harness for glacier travel or short roped sections.
  • Probe
    Required Rentable
    Avalanche probe (240–300 cm).
  • Shovel
    Required Rentable
    Metal avalanche shovel (no plastic models).
  • Skimo Helmet
    Required
    Ski Mountaineering helmet. , Personal helmet required (ski or ski mountaineering).
  • Whistle
    Optional
    Emergency whistle, often integrated into backpacks or chest straps. , Recommended (often integrated into backpacks).

technical

11
  • Climbing skins
    Required Rentable
    Skins cut to size and in good condition, with reliable glue.
  • Poles
    Required Rentable
    Adjustable ski poles for touring.
  • Ski crampons
    Required Rentable
    Ski crampons compatible with your bindings, for hard or icy snow.
  • Ski touring skis
    Required Rentable
    Touring skis suitable for ski mountaineering, with touring bindings.
  • 120 cm sling or daisy chain
    Provided
    120 cm dyneema sling or daisy chain for glacier travel and rescue.
  • Ice screws
    Provided
    Ice screws for anchors and short roping on technical sections. Provided by the guide when required.
  • Navigation tools
    Provided
    Map, GPS device or smartphone app with offline maps and route information. , Guide carries primary navigation tools (map/GPS/offline maps).
  • Screwgate carabiners (x2)
    Provided
    Two locking carabiners for glacier travel and safety systems.
  • Ski repair kit
    Provided
    Basic ski touring repair kit (duct tape, cable ties, multitool). Usually carried by the guide. , Basic repair kit carried by the guide (duct tape, cable ties, multitool).
  • Boot crampons
    Optional Rentable
    Crampons compatible with your boots (if conditions require).
  • Ice axe
    Optional Rentable
    Lightweight ice axe for ski mountaineering (if conditions require).

PRICES

Prices

  • 1 pax
    €450 Per person / day
  • 2 pax
    €280 Per person / day

INCLUDED

Included

Included

  • UIAGM/IFMGA mountain guide for the full day.
  • Personalised coaching adapted to your experience, goals and progression.
  • Trip planning and daily route selection, based on weather, snowpack, avalanche conditions and group level.
  • Technical and safety equipment provided by the guide when required, including rope, glacier-travel equipment and technical protection.
  • On-mountain coaching in ski touring, ski mountaineering, terrain assessment and decision-making.
  • Daily equipment checks and mountain briefings before and during the tour.
  • Flexible choice of objectives across the Dolomites, Brenta and Adamello, according to conditions.

Not included

  • Personal ski touring equipment: skis, boots, bindings, skins and poles.
  • Personal clothing and winter mountain equipment.
  • Avalanche safety equipment, transceiver, shovel and probe and rental unless specifically arranged.
  • Personal technical equipment such as crampons or ice axe, when required, unless specifically arranged.
  • Lift tickets and cable cars used during the programme.
  • Accommodation and meals for clients and guide, including hotels, B&Bs, mountain huts and meals.
  • Transport to and from the meeting point and any local transfers not specifically included.
  • Personal travel, health and mountain-rescue insurance.
  • Drinks, snacks and other personal expenses.
  • Anything not explicitly listed under Included.