Grand St Bernard Ski Explorer

The area around the Grand St Bernard pass is a perfect one for ski touring, having a wealth of summits suitable for ascents on ski plus excellent ski-touring routes on both the Swiss and Italian sides of the frontier. It is also the home of the fantastic and quiet ski resorts of Vichieres and Bruson. Most of the local Verbier guides tend to ski here with their clients to get away from the crowds in Verbier. Both Bruson and Vichieres give brilliant tree skiing and have some really great 'warm-up' ski tours.

We base ourselves initially at Orsieres, a small town nestled in the Dranse valley. From here we ski the resorts of Bruson and Vichieres to find our ski legs. We then move to the famous Grand St Bernard Hospice, a 10th century monastery founded by St Bernard to give shelter to traders passing over the col. Still run by monks, its hospitality is as warm as it ever and it provides an excellent base from which to ski tour. The Hospice has comfortable rooms (beds with sheets and showers) and is a unique place to stay, having a fascinating museum, chapel and treasury. In winter the hospice can only be approached using skis or snow shoes, giving it a remote ambience.

The course is ideal for people who want to gain more ski touring experience before embarking on more demanding multi-day tours such as the West Oberland Haute Route or the Ski Oberland Traverse. As such it is a perfect follow-up week to our Ski Touring Skills course. Ascents of most summits can be made within 4 hours, giving plenty of time to enjoy the descents and to work on off-piste technique.

Sample Programme:

Day 1. We have an early start from Leysin and enter the Bruson lift system. The first day is a 'warm-up' day where by we shall be skiing on and off the piste. This is a perfect day in which to look at ski technique and give personal feedback and focus points to work on for the rest of the week. Bruson has some excellent ski tours such as the Tete de la Payanne, which has great views of the Mont Blanc massif and gives access to a magnificent powder run. Bruson is famous Verbier Ski resort which provides fantastic tree skiing. Avalanche transceiver practice can be done when the piste are closed. Hotel night in Orsieres.

Day 2. Other great ski areas in this region are Vicheires and La Fouly. From Vichieres we have excellent tree skiing and we will make a ski touring ascent of the striking Tour de Bavon. From this excellent view point we ski into the Combe de La and return to Orsieres for a second hotel night.

Day 3. Ski Super St Bernard, a small ski resort having great off-piste skiing. We start with a warm-up ski to refresh off-piste skills then ski through a tunnel to the far side of the mountain, where a fantastic off-piste descent followed by a half-hour ascent using skins through the 'Combe de Mort' which leads us to the Hospice.

Day 4. An ascent of Mont Fourchon (2902m), the classic ski-touring peak of the area giving breath-taking views of Mont Blanc and the Grand Combin. If time and conditions permit we make an ascent of Mont Mort (2866m) in the afternoon for great powder skiing down its northern flank.

Day 5. The Combe de La, a classic trip over 3 cols culminating in a 12km descent. The route has a wild remote feel and is exceptionally scenic as it traverses a terrace overlooking the east side of the Mont Blanc massif, giving views of the Grand Jorasses, Mont Dolent and Mont Blanc, which are very impressive from this unusual angle. This must rate as one of the best day tours in the Alps. We return to Leysin for the evening and the course ends after breakfast the following morning.

Maps: Martigny 282S 1:50 000 and Arolla 283S 1:50 000

Ski ability required: Effective turns off-piste, good general fitness. Ski touring experience is desirable, but people without touring experience may join the course provided they are strong off-piste skiers. Good general fitness is important and you must be able to comfortably sustain a climb at a rate of 250 to 300 vertical metres an hour. A typical day will involve 3 to 4 hours uphill skinning (up to 1000m height gain).

A day of instruction in ski touring techniques can be arranged on the Sunday the course convenes.

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