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#1
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Ski safari ideas
I'm pondering the idea of a ski safari type adventure this coming
winter. I'll probably go with Freshtracks (the SCGB's travel company), as they seem to have a few interesting itineraries on offer. However, I just thought I'd post this to see if anyone has any interesting ideas for DIY safaris. For what it's worth my definition of a ski safari is a ski trip spanning several resorts with most or all of the travel by ski, but with the minimum of uphill skinning / boot packing - lets say roughly no more than 1 hour's uphill on any given day - the aim is to use lifts and roads to gain height (I guess that's the main difference between a safari and "proper" ski touring). Accomodation could be either hotels, B&Bs etc in the valley and/or mountain huts. By definition they involve a lot of off-piste skiing:-) Looking at the map and based on my fairly limited knowledge of the area it looks like there might be an intersting possibility of linking the Monterosa area / Macugnaga / Sass-Fee / Zermatt & Cervinia and then back to Monterosa. Is this do-able? I know with a heli-drop you can ski down to Zermatt and then back to Champoluc in a day but I'm thinking of a more wandering itinerary over a few days. Any suggestions....? Cheers, Steve |
#2
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Ski safari ideas
In article .com,
SteveH wrote: I'm pondering the idea of a ski safari type adventure this coming winter. I just did this. I just thought I'd post this to see if anyone has any interesting ideas for DIY safaris. Oh, some of this is covered in the book Ski Europe (in double digit editions). Cross border and cross resort trips. There are other books. For what it's worth my definition of a ski safari is a ski trip spanning several resorts with most or all of the travel by ski, but with the minimum of uphill skinning / boot packing - lets say roughly no more than 1 hour's uphill on any given day - the aim is to use lifts and roads to gain height (I guess that's the main difference between a safari and "proper" ski touring). Accomodation could be either hotels, B&Bs etc in the valley and/or mountain huts. By definition they involve a lot of off-piste skiing:-) Looking at the map and based on my fairly limited knowledge of the area it looks like there might be an intersting possibility of linking the Monterosa area / Macugnaga / Sass-Fee / Zermatt & Cervinia and then back to Monterosa. Is this do-able? I know with a heli-drop you can ski Tail end of some Haute Route trips. down to Zermatt and then back to Champoluc in a day but I'm thinking of a more wandering itinerary over a few days. -- |
#3
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Ski safari ideas
Hi SteveH
I'm pondering the idea of a ski safari type adventure this coming winter. I can imagine, that the dolomites should be a perfect region for what you are planning. I did a mixed tour (backcountry and liftserved) this march. You may find pictures, map and description in German on my website. map: http://fa.utfs.org/mountains/2006/03...te_etappen.jpg short description of the single stages: http://fa.utfs.org/mountains/2006/03...n/etappen.html and billions of pictures at: http://fa.utfs.org/mountains/2006/0312_dolomiten especially: http://fa.utfs.org/mountains/2006/03...red/index.html This tour was more skinning up than you defined in your mail, but I am quite sure, that you can spend a great week also with only one our of skinning up a day. Btw: the huts where perfect. Great food. 40 Euros for a night inclusive three or four stage menue and nice breakfast buffet. Florian |
#4
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Ski safari ideas
Florian Anwander wrote: I can imagine, that the dolomites should be a perfect region for what you are planning. I did a mixed tour (backcountry and liftserved) this march. You may find pictures, map and description in German on my website. snip Excellent site, thanks for the info, it looks like it was a really good trip. I've never skied in the Dolomites before but I have to admit this looks like a tempting idea. Cheers, Steve |
#5
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Ski safari ideas
On 18 Aug 2006 09:44:13 -0700, "SteveH"
wrote: Looking at the map and based on my fairly limited knowledge of the area it looks like there might be an intersting possibility of linking the Monterosa area / Macugnaga / Sass-Fee / Zermatt & Cervinia and then back to Monterosa. Is this do-able? There's certainly potential for ski safaris linking up Alagna, Gressoney, Champoluc et al, with some superb skiing en-route. Whether you can actually hike over to the Zermatt side without spending a lot more time that you want skinning & climbing I'm not so sure. I know with a heli-drop you can ski down to Zermatt and then back to Champoluc in a day Indeed, and a very worthwhile day it can be too. but I'm thinking of a more wandering itinerary over a few days. Just checking in the book (Polvere Rosa) of routes in the MonteRosa area, I'm fairly sure that the only way you could get over would be the Col de Lyss (Letch) at 4250m, climbing up from the Puanta Indren at about 3500m. The book reckons this is about a 3 hour climb, but is serious mountaineering and needs crampons, ropes and, I imagine from what you've said, a qualified guide. So just bite the bullet and get a heli-drop onto the top instead - there are several routes down to Zermatt, but you'll need a guide anyway, as it's glacier for much of the way down, and there _are_ crevasses. -- Ace (brucedotrogers a.t rochedotcom) Ski Club of Great Britain - http://www.skiclub.co.uk All opinions expressed are personal and in no way represent those of the Ski Club. |
#6
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Ski safari ideas
Ace wrote:
Just checking in the book (Polvere Rosa) of routes in the MonteRosa area, I'm fairly sure that the only way you could get over would be the Col de Lyss (Letch) at 4250m, climbing up from the Puanta Indren at about 3500m. The book reckons this is about a 3 hour climb, but is serious mountaineering and needs crampons, ropes and, I imagine from what you've said, a qualified guide. Cheers Ace, great minds and all that... I forgot about this little book - I came across it last night and read up on exactly this route. I think you're right, it's a proper mountaineering trip up via the Gniffeti(sp?) refuge. I'd actually be happy doing this as I've done plenty of alpine climbing, but this kind of stuff might put some of my ski partners off:-) So just bite the bullet and get a heli-drop onto the top instead - there are several routes down to Zermatt, but you'll need a guide anyway, as it's glacier for much of the way down, and there _are_ crevasses. If I was heading to Zermatt directly then I'd do this. I think we've discussed it before on this group and you pursauded me me to give it a go a couple of years back, sadly the weather didn't cooperate at the time:-( I've tried to do it twice now and It's still on my to-do list ! However, my (tentative) plan in this case was to ski from Alagna to Macugnaga and then over to Saas-Fe (with a night in Macugnaga). After a bit of surfing I've found out that it's possible to get a lift up from Macugnaga and ski down the Swiss side without any hiking or skinning. However, the only way to get to Macugnaga from Alagna seems to involve a pretty long skin from. There are possible routes starting from Punta Indren, but these require a lot of climbing as you mentioned and the decents on the Macugnaga side are very serious. They are listed in Pulva Rosa in the back of the book... the section on extreme skiing:-o Marinelli couloir anyone? Steve |
#7
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Ski safari ideas
How about trying Olympic mountains in Bosnia?
Cheers, Ira -------------------------------------------------------------- Random Link: http://www.skidubai.org/skiing.html -------------------------------------------------------------- |
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