Touring equipment for Mountain Safety course in Courchevel

A snowHead

I'm booked on the BASI L3 Mountain Safety course in Courchevel this January, but wondering where I'm going to get the plethora of equipment needed and could do with some advice from those who have done it before.

I have no touring experience or equipment, so pretty much starting from scratch.

Stuff like the transceiver, probe, shovel I'm happy to just buy.

I'll also need skis with touring bindings, skins, possibly boots unless I can use my normal alpine boots, crampons (‘Harscheissen’). Ideally I'd like to hire these in resort to save carrying them there and back. Any recommendations for shops that are well set up for hiring touring gear so I can get the whole set together and not have to worry about bits being compatible. The BASI page suggests Le Camp de Base. I'm also unsure about whether I'll need special boots to go with the bindings or if can just use my own - is there anything I should be asking for/looking out for when hiring?

Other bits:
- a rucksack with straps to aid carrying of skis. I have a normal rucksack, do I really need to buy another one?
- an altimeter. How important is this? Can you hire/borrow them easily?
- a map. Anyone got a used one they'd like to sell?

Finally, I get the impression that BASI courses in Courchevel are based out of 1650/Moriond. Is that the case? If so, I'll look there for accommodation rather than my usual places in La Tania. My Level 2 in Courchevel ran out of Le Praz, but that was organised by New Generation, so might have been different for that reason.

A snowHead

You can borrow my Suunto altimeter watch and navigation compass, and I'll see if I can find the map I used when I did the L3 MS in Courchevel. Altimeter was a useful double-check, but not essential. I used my alpine boots with a pair of Marker Duke bindings, but a lighter weight option would have been good on a couple of days when we skinned for a couple of hours at a time. Definitely you'll need a pack with straps (A frame carry is best) as we had two very steep boot packs. Last thing you want to do is get tired on the uphill bit by not having the correct gear, as the course is mentally quite demanding.

Evening lectures were held in 1650. I stayed in a chalet in Le Praz, and drove up each day. Worth checking this with the office, but I'd be surprised if they change the arrangements for the lecture room.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

@kieranm, I noticed ski touring equipment for hire in one of the shops while staying in 1650 a couple of years ago, think it was this one: http://www.francis-blanc-courchevel.fr/en/

You need to Login to know who's really who.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

oh and don't get the waterproof maps basi recommend they are crap as they don't stay folded. better to get a normal map and decent waterproof pouch. I have lots of this rubbish you can borrow.

You'll need to Register first of course.

I cannot stress highly enough to get out on the touring gear prior to the course.

If you just rock up you could well have a miserable time and be a liability to the group.

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

@Mike Pow, agreed, even if just learning how to do kick turns and putting skins on and off

After all it is free

@Mike Pow, interesting point. I was originally concerned about my lack of experience but others I've spoken to have said that I'd be fine showing up with no touring history and the techniques needed would be taught on the course. Given that I don't have any of the equipment, I'm not sure how I would be able to try it out beforehand.

You should be able to pick up uphill technic during the course - my first ever experience touring was during the 3-day avalanche course and lack of previous skinning experience wasn't a big issue. But what will be very useful is to learn your equipment before the course. How your bindings system works, how the clipping system on your skins work, set the clip on skins so that when time comes to remove them you won't spend 30 minutes fiddling with the clip - if you make it too tight it might be not so easy to unclip with cold fingers. If you make it to loose your skins might come off. Which ever skis you will be using, it's better if they are not recently waxed - skins won't stick as well. There will be a few people doing the course and it's very likely that all of them will have different systems, despite general similarities the won't be the same, so if no-one knows how his particular system works lot of time might be wasted as it won't be possible to show it to just one person with the rest following instructions. Even your instructor probably doesn't have to be familiar with all bindings that are out there at the moment, so it's important to take time and learn them. If you are getting ski crampons the same applies - learn how fit them to your bindings before the course, and how to remove them as well. Though I guess in January it's unlikely they will be needed. If you end up getting technical setup like Dynafit it might be beneficial to ski on it (without skinning) a few times whether on the piste or indoors, while uphill is generally not particularly complicated, downhill sensation will be different, so get used to it to avoid surprises. You are probably a better skier than I anyway, but even very good skiers admit that it takes some getting used to. Also very important even if you get touring boots that are properly fitted to apply something for blisters, like compeed, on your ankle bones. Getting blisters can make you a real liability and skiing won't be much fun.
And yes, a back pack should be adapted for ski touring - back panel access is very helpful, ski carry straps are essential.

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

@never summer, that would all apply if I owned the equipment, but I'll be renting it in resort so no chance to get familiar with it before the course. I get the impression, as you say, that there are lots of different binding systems. Part of my question is whether I should be looking to hire a particular type, perhaps because it is more common or easier to use?

On balance it sounds like I'm better off trying to get a setup that I can use with my existing downhill boots to avoid problems with fit. I generally have pretty robust and easy feet, and not bothered by blisters, but I'll go prepared just in case.

I'll keep a look out for a second hand rucksack suitable for touring.

snowHeads are a friendly bunch.

@kieranm, I have a sack you could borrow for the week along with other stuff you may need. Defo stick with your alpine boots and hire dukes or equivalent. I don't want to overcook the preparation as most people will be never evers and new to touring you are fit and should be fine. I did no prep and in hindsite wish I had done a touch as it would have made the week more enjoyable. (snapping a basket off on the first run and having to skin up and pole out though 3' fresh was tiring) having a mare putting on crampons in deep snow wasn't fun either and having skins come loose was annoying etc.... nothing a little of practice wouldn't sort.

Let me have a think about a session but doubt enough interest to do a clinic but a private would be possible. I would defer to our coach Lisa who has completed the L4 EMS as well as MS and is much better and more knowledgeable on touring than I. ....

snow reports

Thanks @skimottaret, that all sounds great. Let me know what you think would be best re session at Hemel.

@kieranm, AbD did his last year and I don't think he had done much/any touring beforehand. Have you considered adding something like Dukes to an existing pair of skis you already own?? I have Dukes on my off piste skis, I've only used them twice for touring but it has got me into stuff that wouldn't have been possible without skins and touring bindings

You know it makes sense.

@kieranm, @skimottaret, I bought a tonne of touring gear that I haven't tried out at all yet. I'm a way off doing MS but if you were to spend some time in Hemel just playing with the gear I'd like to join you.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

Dukes/Barons are common but might be heavy, Fritschi's and Marker Tours are lighter, they are also common and also allow you to use your normal boots and in this case there won't be any difference on the downhill compared to normal skiing, just take care not to get blisters on the up. None of the systems is easier/harder to use than another, they are all similar, just not exactly identical. All you need to know is how to switch modes from climb to ski and from ski to climb, how to adjust the height of the heel piece on a climb. Even if you rent it on a day of your course you can familiarise yourself with equipment in the shop - they normally show how bindings work when you rent the skis. Just unroll the skins when they hand them to you to see if the clip has to be adjusted - it's something better to do in a warm shop than outside on a mountain, particularly in January.

A snowHead

@Maireadoconnor, you'd be very welcome to join! I'll keep you in the loop with any arrangements.

@never summer, thanks again - knowing what to ask is half the battle, so this is all very helpful.

@kitenski, nice idea, but I only have one pair of skis (plus an old pair I use for teaching on the training slope) so don't really have anything suitable.

Help!!

Touring equipment for Mountain Safety course in Courchevel

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