New video from Faction with Sam Anthamatten leading a couple of Verbier based pros and the Faction Marketing manager on the Haute Route, with some spicy side peaks thrown in.
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?
Excellent video. Given that it connects the two areas I ski in the most I would love to do that. Unfortunately I think it is beyond my ability at present and, given that I am 60, it is likely to remain so. Nevertheless one can dream.
Drone footage has transformed these films in recent years. Fantastic.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
JohnMo wrote:
Excellent video. Given that it connects the two areas I ski in the most I would love to do that. Unfortunately I think it is beyond my ability at present and, given that I am 60, it is likely to remain so. Nevertheless one can dream.
If you have decent stamina, some ski touring experience, and can ski confidently in variable snow (hard and icy in the morning, slushy at end of day) it should be feasible. The up is much more challenging than the down - which is relatively short and usually well tracked in season. It’s approx 1000m of up per day over 4 -5 hours.
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.
@DB, Yes. That's 3kg a foot in boot and bindings before you even consider skis. Punchy.
I cannot comment on the banana peel thing. Guess it's better than the map.
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
gorilla wrote:
Strong choice of Lange Freetours and Cast for running around above 3000m on a multi day tour.
Really nicely shot. Quality of Faction's movies recently has been v. high.
Anna was on shifts with Dalbello Lupos,
Yann was on casts as well with Dalbello Carbons
Elizabeth was on MTN pure bindings and Fischer Ranger boots
So no one was really on a pure touring set-up.
I was actually wondering after watching what is better shifts or casts (I understand the casts are just 100g more now)there seems to be a lot of talk of shifts on snowheads not so much on casts - is it just access and availability to them? The casts have a big roster of pro athletes.
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
Quote:
I was actually wondering after watching what is better shifts or casts (I understand the casts are just 100g more now)there seems to be a lot of talk of shifts on snowheads not so much on casts - is it just access and availability to them? The casts have a big roster of pro athletes.
Hard to get in Europe. I could really see the advantage of shifts as they combined the functionality of a pin binding with the release characteristics of an alpine binding. That made a lot of sense. Cast is heavier and I don't need to be on P15s or P18s as I am just not a good enough skier to justify the additional cost or weight. I ski slowly and don't jump off things. Well, not exactly slowly but a lot slower than anyone sponsored by Faction.
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Yes for mere mortals I can't see the big advantage of CAST bindings over shifts. For those in the know - which way round does the banana skin go anyway?
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
BobinCH wrote:
JohnMo wrote:
Excellent video. Given that it connects the two areas I ski in the most I would love to do that. Unfortunately I think it is beyond my ability at present and, given that I am 60, it is likely to remain so. Nevertheless one can dream.
If you have decent stamina, some ski touring experience, and can ski confidently in variable snow (hard and icy in the morning, slushy at end of day) it should be feasible. The up is much more challenging than the down - which is relatively short and usually well tracked in season. It’s approx 1000m of up per day over 4 -5 hours.
Thanks for the reply. That is encouraging. I am pretty fit (probably very fit for my age). My stamina is also good. I have not done multi day ski tours (but intend to) but I do multi day (usually 4-5 consecutive days) cycle rides in the summer doing up to 100 miles per day and climbing over 5,000 feet per day. I have only been ski touring for 6 years but do several days each year. It definitely is my favourite part of skiing. I can get round all ski terrain I have come across - although I would probably lose points for style in some of the trickier areas.
2021 is not going to be the year I do it but I want to keep Zermatt-Verbier on my target list. Thanks for the encouragement.
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
@JohnMo,
Sounds like you would be fit enough. I looked at doing it this year but COVID killed that. There look to be many variations and the guide advised us to start midweek to be out of sync with the crowds while skiing and at the huts.
It would be great to have a snowheads "Haute Route" bash.
Last edited by Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person on Wed 25-11-20 20:39; edited 1 time in total
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?
extremerob wrote:
Great video - only thing that I didn't like was that it was only 16 minutes long!
Excellent video. Given that it connects the two areas I ski in the most I would love to do that. Unfortunately I think it is beyond my ability at present and, given that I am 60, it is likely to remain so. Nevertheless one can dream.
If you have decent stamina, some ski touring experience, and can ski confidently in variable snow (hard and icy in the morning, slushy at end of day) it should be feasible. The up is much more challenging than the down - which is relatively short and usually well tracked in season. It’s approx 1000m of up per day over 4 -5 hours.
Thanks for the reply. That is encouraging. I am pretty fit (probably very fit for my age). My stamina is also good. I have not done multi day ski tours (but intend to) but I do multi day (usually 4-5 consecutive days) cycle rides in the summer doing up to 100 miles per day and climbing over 5,000 feet per day. I have only been ski touring for 6 years but do several days each year. It definitely is my favourite part of skiing. I can get round all ski terrain I have come across - although I would probably lose points for style in some of the trickier areas.
2021 is not going to be the year I do it but I want to keep Zermatt-Verbier on my target list. Thanks for the encouragement.
You easily have the fitness if you can climb 5000ft in a day on a bike. IMO do it in direction Verbier to Zermatt. That way you leave the best day until last.
Good point above about avoiding the classic Cham to Zermatt Sunday so Saturday schedule if you can. When I booked the huts the Vignettes hut was already full for the Friday night on one of the April weeks
We are doing Weds 28th April to Saturday 1st May - 2 groups guided, one self-guided. Let’s hope COVID and the weather play ball!
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
DB wrote:
It would be great to have a snowheads "Haute Route" bash.
I watched this yesterday just after it premiered. Would love to get in to this sort of stuff, just need try touring full stop first! On the bucket list to get to!
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
clarky999 wrote:
DB wrote:
It would be great to have a snowheads "Haute Route" bash.
+1!
Not that hard to organize. Flights to GVA, transfer bus to Argentiere(6 day)/Train to Verbier (4 day). Book guide via SH reco/Cham guides office. Book huts online. Train back from Zermatt. Main challenge is finding a similar standard group but SH probably as good as anywhere for that
After all it is free
After all it is free
Quote:
I do multi day (usually 4-5 consecutive days) cycle rides in the summer doing up to 100 miles per day and climbing over 5,000 feet per day. I have only been ski touring for 6 years but do several days each year. It definitely is my favourite part of skiing. I can get round all ski terrain I have come across - although I would probably lose points for style in some of the trickier areas.
I would say that you would manage it no bother. However, if you have not done a multi-day hut to hut tour, I'd say you couldn't go wrong with four or five days in the Silvretta area of Austria as a starter.
Great touring - but nothing too radical in terms of terrain; fantastic scenery; and lovely, comfortable huts - some with hot showers.
A fair few companies organise the tour too.
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.
@JohnMo, I haven’t done the whole HR but I have done bits of it around Arolla (my first ever hut to hut tour). The organiser of that trip was about 67. The skiing on the vid is not representative of the classic HR. It’s mostly pretty mellow. The huts are however the most crowded I have experienced (admitted I’ve never climbed Mt Blanc at peak season...)
Ski the Net with snowHeads
Ski the Net with snowHeads
mountainaddict wrote:
I would say that you would manage it no bother. However, if you have not done a multi-day hut to hut tour, I'd say you couldn't go wrong with four or five days in the Silvretta area of Austria as a starter.
Great touring - but nothing too radical in terms of terrain; fantastic scenery; and lovely, comfortable huts - some with hot showers.
A fair few companies organise the tour too.
Yes my first hut-to-hut ski tour was in the silvrettas, a great introduction to multi-day ski touring as the terrain and huts are not too high.
COVID allowing I'be be back there again in March 2021.
@JohnMo, I haven’t done the whole HR but I have done bits of it around Arolla (my first ever hut to hut tour). The organiser of that trip was about 67. The skiing on the vid is not representative of the classic HR. It’s mostly pretty mellow. The huts are however the most crowded I have experienced (admitted I’ve never climbed Mt Blanc at peak season...)
Yep the classic route is mainly mellow skiing but looks like from the vid that there are some spicy options to explore (that SE ridge of Mont Blanc de Cheilon looked pretty cool). Huts only operating at half capacity this year so should make for a more chilled experience, but need booking early as suspect it will be a popular touring season.
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.
People, do not forget there are various Haute routes. Silvretta has been mentioned.
West Oberland is lovely as it is very quiet Les diablerets across to Kandersteg.
Haute route Soleil is another gem from Fiesch into Italy and across to Andermatt, the weather can be difficult however!
There are others as well.
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
@BobinCH, it's a very long time ago that I did it but the normal ski route up Mt Blanc de Cheilon is very nice. It's a great peak
You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
There is also the Urner Haute Route - Engelberg to Andrermatt
Piz Buin is great. Also the Weisbadener Hutte is really nice. Suggest hanging out for a couple of nights and doing the Dreilanderspitze as well if you have not already been up.
Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Thought I would throw this in here - Sam Anthamattan talking about his gear set-up
( he does not use a ski finder avalanche rescue - maybe Joe Axelrad should sponsor him )
FAQ
Poster: A snowHead
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