 Poster: A snowHead
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Hoping the collective mind can assist
Nz borders are re opening so I’m getting released from the 19th century in mid February, and usual challenges aside, planning to go over to Europe early March to catch up with some mates, who are keen to do a multi day guided (splitboarding) tour.
Bearing in mind I spanked all my cash on helicopter rides this year, any suggestions on reasonably priced guided options? My mates have no touring experience but are all decent snowboarders. Dirt bag accomodation options are fine, as is crap food.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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The Alps and other parts of Europe have many options for Multi day touring,
The hard bit may be coming on your budget (guessing from what you wrote), to give you a rough idea.
a IMFGA Guide is anywhere between 320€ and 360€ a day plus an expenses.
If your group don't have splitboards then they 40€ a day hire more if you need to an avalanche kit on top of that. It may be hard to find a shop that has enough spliboards if its a big group.
a night in a refuge (catered with packed lunch for the next day) is around 60€ per night.
The only real dirt bag options is to go to winter rooms, and carry your own food and cooking stuff, which is a real faff and you may struggle to get a guide for this. another option is to look out side the main alpine countries, so maybe Romania or Georgia?
Or too mix the type of touring such as come to the alps and base your selves in a cheap accommodation (probably out of resort) and do day tours for the start of the week and the a 1 or 2 night trip using refuges.
Make sure you find a guide that is experienced on a splitboard even if they are not on one, as route choice is key for a good time on a split board, the average into to ski touring multi day trip, normally is more about the journey and can have flatter or easier sections which suck on a board.
If you let me know your thoughts on the above, I can maybe recommend a few options, or I am sure other will have some good ideas as well, also there are a few Facebook slpitboarding groups around for EU and UK.
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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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Awesome thanks. I can travel with a couple of spare splitboards and avi gear so will only need to rent one setup at the most.
Day tours and a one or two nighter could definitely work. Not an issue for me to carry food/cooking gear - usually do anyway. And flexible on location as well.
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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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And would it need a guide? Assume it would given lack of local knowledge and inexperience.
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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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@hang11, you did ask for a guided tour ...
Lars at Www.mountainpenguins.com specialises in split board touring ... I'm sure he could magic up some options ...
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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@hang11, you could base yourself in Serre Che in cheapo accommodation, and as long as you have transport there are enough day tour routes to do that you could suss out without the expense of a guide, or just take a guide for a couple of days, and you know what is sub 25 degrees / safe terrain, plus could well be Spring Snow.
In Serre you could also buy a rando pass which gets you to the top then you could go off the back.
Some areas you go up one day, then go back the next as there are so many options.
Just a thought, plus mate has cheapo apartments that time of year where you could all cram into.
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@hang11
And would it need a guide? Assume it would given lack of local knowledge and inexperience.
For local experience you could just use a guidebook. for example you could use Weathercam's friends cheap apartment, I make a free online guide to ski touring around Briancon which covers that area (see the link at the bottom of my post) or you can buy paper guidebooks for most areas.
The issue will be the inexperience, is your team ok with navigation, snow safety and avalanche awareness etc, if not then its worth having a guide. whether you could get away with having a guide for a few days training and then heading out for yourselves for a few trips is kind of design on your starting point.
might be worth dropping Will Banks a message he is based in Serre Che and runs split boarding courses, you could ask him about options for a few days training? https://www.facebook.com/Williambankessnowboardcoach
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Awesome thanks for the help! Gives me plenty to have a look at.
Mix of experience - I do a fair bit of touring here in Nz, the rest of the group not much to no experience. I’m ok with navigation, managing risk etc but not sure I’m keen to take that on with 3 inexperienced people, especially not having any local knowledge, hence the guide request, but saying all that, low angle easy tours would be fine anyway, mixed up with a few days inbounds as well.
Really appreciate the assistance 
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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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Multiday tour when the majority of the group are largely inexperienced in touring and don't own their own split board, isn't that jumping into the pool at the deep end? A couple of day tour then progress to an overnight would be more appropriate.
It sounds like you're the one with the most experience. Your mates may not have any idea what multiday tours are like. Up to you to present them a more realistic plan.
Last edited by You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net. on Sat 27-11-21 23:24; edited 1 time in total
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| hang11 wrote: |
| And would it need a guide? Assume it would given lack of local knowledge and inexperience. |
Most certainly - if you value your lives! 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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An option I don't think anyone has suggested, would be the UCPA (though you can't guarantee grouping, assuming they even have enough touring slots, but may still be useful for cheap accom + lift passes)
If you don't know, basically it is french youth hostel style accomodation + necessary extras as a (Gov backed afaik) charity that supports getting the young (very lose definition, basically not a pensioner (and that has probably changed by now)) into sports.
https://www.action-outdoors.co.uk/booking/activity/47244 for an example.
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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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If you want to do it cheap winter rooms in early March before the huts open is the way to go. There are quite a few on the Haute route between Verbier and Zermatt and other options in the area for an overnight.
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You know it makes sense.
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| Bergmeister wrote: |
| hang11 wrote: |
| And would it need a guide? Assume it would given lack of local knowledge and inexperience. |
Most certainly - if you value your lives! |
I’ve been on the wrong end of an avalanche already this year - not keen on a repeat.
I’ll have a look at some options. Not looking to avoid using a guide but if there’s some safe options around that don’t require it then I’m keen to hear about it - not looking to go too big, just have some safe fun.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Might be worth trying explore-share for inspiration, maybe even a booking. You can get an idea of potential itineraries and sometimes pick up some decent value guides. Alps is always steep though, particularly with Compagnie des Guides monopolising in France and Switzerland being Switzerland. Elsewhere provides better value options
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Poster: A snowHead
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Drop me a line and let me know your dates, numbers, budget, etc. I'll see what I can put together.
I'm pretty busy, but have a free week beginning 19th March where I was looking to put another trip together, maybe Aosta valley or I can always put another trip together around here (Sainte Foy / Tignes / Val d'Isere).
www.whiteroomsnowboarding.com
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