 Poster: A snowHead
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I am a pretty reasonable intermediate on the piste skier, never done any ski touring. I’ve read about the following in Courchevel:
“You can also enjoy 2 marked, safe ski touring itineraries. In 2012, Courchevel was the first French ski resort to create a groomed and marked out 3.2 kilometre ski mountaineering run with a 500 metre vertical climb and markers every 10 metres to show users how long they had to go until the end. In 2014, the resort continued to develop the discipline by creating the first groomed and safe Vertical Kilometre route (1,000m climb over a distance of 5km).
These 2 routes are open daily in the season when the ski lifts are open. For the safety of ski mountaineers, and to maintain the runs, skiing down or walking on these itineraries is strictly forbidden.”
Anyone done this? It starts at La Praz apparently.
Can I just try this on my own as a beginner? I have ridden up many mountain climbs on a road bike and for some reason am interested in the idea of going uphill on skis... and I presume at the end I just ski down a normal run?
And if it is ok to just try on my own, do I just hire some equipment (skis with the touring binding? Skins? Is that it?) and off I go or what else do I need to know?
Thanks in advance, I know this is a slightly random question.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Yes, to all your questions.
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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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As @davidof says, yes.
Camp de Base on the lower level of the Forum building in 1850 specialise in touring kit (inc rentals).
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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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@Skiskiski1, you'll also need to hire boots that will accept the pin bindings in my experience from a few weekends ago.
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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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Thanks for the replies. I will give it a go!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I love ski touring and did a couple of days of it in Courchevel two weeks ago. You have effectively three options:
1+2: Le Praz to 1850/Loze - start from the Alpinium building and go up the edge of Jockeys til at the first 'bend' you'll
see a track going off into the woods on the left (as going uphill). This then takes you through the woods on the
Plum KV trail and is marked regularly with altitude and distance to go. It joins into the Millet touring piste (which
you could join by going left from the Alpinium then cutting into the trees). This takes you up to near the race stade
when the route splits and you can either head to 1850, or continue further and higher to Col de la Loze (of interest
the ski touring route will take you over the start point for the men's downhill for the 2023 world alpine ski champs).
Col de la Loze is an extra ~400m vertical so if you have time and are enjoying it, go for it. The 1850 route takes you
through or around the stade, if not racing and finishes near the old Le Praz bubble top station.
If you're really keen every Weds there is a race from Le Praz to 1850. Cheap to enter, but beware most people take it
very seriously.
3: From Moriond (1650) up to Signal - new for this season. Haven't actually done it.
As it goes, I also toured from 1850 to Saulire. I started at 0825 (had hoped to be earlier) and I was lucky as some
fresh snow meant they delayed the opening of the cable car. However, as long as you keep to the edge of the piste
and are sensible with positioning, no one will stop you. This was an epic way to start the day!
Strava info here:
https://www.strava.com/activities/3044083369
https://www.strava.com/activities/3042432699
Touring runs are marked on the piste map. Get touring skis and boots from pretty much any hire shop these days.
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@iainm, thank you very much for all the helpful detail!
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| iainm wrote: |
As it goes, I also toured from 1850 to Saulire. I started at 0825 (had hoped to be earlier) and I was lucky as some
fresh snow meant they delayed the opening of the cable car. However, as long as you keep to the edge of the piste
and are sensible with positioning, no one will stop you. This was an epic way to start the day!
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Worth bearing in mind that there is an 'arrêté municipal' which strictly forbids this if there is a PIDA in place (avalanche control work).
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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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Thanks for all the tips. I went up from La Praz to Col de la Loze. Loved going up under my own steam. Nice track away from the piste mainly. Hope to find similar in other resorts. Now just need to improve my skiing so I don’t always need to go down the piste!
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