 Poster: A snowHead
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Hello all, I'm planning an attempt at the Haute Route next spring, and starting to look into booking things.
My main question at this stage is whether the 1 guide to 6 people ratio is the standard limit and always in place, or whether it's ever possible to increase this to 1:7 - the issue is that there are 7 of us keen to go, but also keen to keep the price down - though not at the expense of safety obviously.
Any insight (esp. from any guides on here) would be most appreciated.
And any recommendations of individual guides or companies to go with would also be very welcome. We will be 6 skiers and 1 split boarder, 3 girls and 4 blokes, age 30-45, all with some touring experience.
Thanks very much.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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6 people to one guide is already a large ratio.
From safety perspective you can only move at slowest group members pace.
Ultimately it would depend on the guide and fitness / experience of the clients if they would be prepared to slip a 7th member in.
Split boards are a real paff for touring - especially at transitions or long traverses.
Unless you are switched on many guides might prefer clients were on ski (even with limited ability)
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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There are some guides who specialise in split board guiding. The one I know though,I don't think he does the Haute Route typically. You could ping him (Lars) at info@mountainpenguins.com.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Thank you both!
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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I was splitboarding last year with UCPA in Argentiere, and the guide also does ski touring guiding and the Haute Route. A few people in our group were asking about the Haute Route said he really wouldn't recommend it on a split board - lots of long traverses.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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It was fifteen years ago that I did the Haute Route. You tend to see the same other groups regularly throughout the tour and there was a bloke in another group using a split board. I saw him a number of times on the snow and he seemed to be coping OK, although I only saw him climbing and not on the traverses.
I have no idea how experienced he was but it clearly is quite doable and I would imagine the technology of split boards might have improved since then.
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Cool, thanks all.
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Have you all ski toured before BlueSky?
Just that, if not, there are much better alternative routes for a first/intro tour. Having done a few tours now, IMO you can't beat the Silvretta area in Austria for user-friendly (but still challenging) terrain for beginner to more advanced tourers, fantastic scenery and great huts (with hot showers).
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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I have done a bit... one hut-to-hut tour and some day touring. But the HR is just one of those things that I've been hearing about for about 20 years, and really want to do. Nothing whatsoever with my 40th coming up of course. I have heard the Silvretta is great... maybe next time!
In case anyone needs to know in the future, most companies/guides prefer to stick to a 1:6 ratio, but that's more to be able to ensure that individual bookers have enough attention in a 'package' tour. For a private group, i.e. where all the people know each other and no randoms are part of the group, as long as the guide is happy with everyone's level and experience, and the group is happy with a bigger ratio, then there are no rules that prevent a 1:7 ratio or even bigger. It's entirely at the individual guide's discretion.
In terms of the split boarding, there are different variations of the route that can help on the traversing front apparently, so as long as the split boarder knows what they're doing, there's no reason not to include them within a private group.
All rather exciting!
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All rather exciting!
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Sure is!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Ahh yes - Great idea the Haute Route 
7 is quite a lot but it also depends on the level experience of the group as a whole. The bigger the group size - the longer it takes to accomplish pretty much anything - from using the loo to putting on skins - it's all going to be longer.
That said if you have some set dates let me know and we can discuss
http://www.nosiesta.com/#!haute-route-chamonix-zermatt-ski-tour/c1vtb[/url]
plenty of info here to get you started
Francis
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Hi Francis, thanks for the link and your thoughts, super-useful info.
We're all booked up now thanks, maybe see you along the route!
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