Italy Backcountry Skiing Week
Explore the Italian Alps or Dolomites with our IFMGA Mountain Guides. Italy should be on every backcountry skier's tick list due to its incredible access to world class terrain, amazing history and delicious food. The Alps will change your perspective of what it means to be a ski mountaineer.
Price: $3,350 / person. See Inclusions Tab for Details.
All deposits are nonrefundable. Payment in full of the remaining balance is due 180 days before your trip starts.
Our week long backcountry focused ski trips in the Alps and Dolomites use lifts, trains and other infrastructure to maximize our skiing in Italy's incredible ski terrain. Each day we will focus on finding the best snow quality and terrain use for the group, ending the day with incredible meals in town or at rifugios in the mountains.
- Ski the best zone in the area that day, based on weather and snow conditions
- Refresh gear and technique skills
- Avalanche safety skills review throughout the day
- Enjoy delicious meals and apres in town between touring days
This trip requires a minimum of 3 people.
Here's the schedule for your trip:
- Day 1 - Arrival in Chamonix - Upon arrival we'll meet up for dinner and discuss the avalanche conditions and plan for the week.
- Day 2 - Ski Valley Blanche - Or similar warm up objective based on weather and conditions.
- Days 3-6 - Ski Touring in Chamonix - We'll get an early start on the day and spend full days ski touring, covering roughly 3,000-5,000' vertical each day with lunch eaten in the field. After skiing to our hearts content, we'll regroup in town, grab dinner, and discuss plans for the next day
- Day 7 - Departure from Chamonix We'll wrap up the program with breakfast before traveling home from Chamonix.
Here are the skills and fitness you'll need for your course:
- Advanced Resort Riding Skills - Including off-piste terrain in challenging snow conditions.
- Intermediate Touring Experience - Including efficient gear management and skinning, transition technique, with 20+ days of backcountry experience.
- Intermediate Ski Mountaineering Experience - Including ice ax, crampon, and basic rope skills.
- Strong Fitness - Able to spend a long, active day outside, moving uphill at 1,000’ per hour for durations of 1-1.5 hours between breaks. Participants should be able to hike 8-10 miles, climbing 2,500 - 3,500 vertical feet throughout the course of the day. People with strong fitness typically have a strenuous workout 3-4 days a week
Here's what's included with your trip:
- Experienced IFMGA Trained Guide
- Ropes & Gear
- Group Safety Gear - your guide will be equipped with snow science tools and a first aid kit
- Wag Bags - for human waste disposal in with compliance 'Leave No Trace' principles
- Flights and Transportation to the Alps or Dolomites
- Hotels During the Trip
- Meals
- Ice Axe, Crampons, Climbing Harness
- Guide Gratuities
Ski/Split Touring Gear
- Alpine Touring Ski or Splitboard Setup - No snowshoes
- Alpine Touring or Splitboard Boots
- Climbing Skins
- Touring Backpack - with pockets for avalanche gear
- Adjustable Touring Poles
- Avalanche Beacon
- Avalanche Shovel
- Avalanche Probe
- Ice Axe
- Crampons
- Climbing Harness
Know Before you go
PRIVATE PROGRAMS
- Custom Scheduling: Choose your dates and plan around your availability.
- Tailored Experiences: Itineraries and objectives are adjusted to suit your goals, experience, and fitness.
- Cost-Effective for Most Large Groups: Private programs are typically more cost-effective for groups of 3 or more.
- Flexibility Comes at a Price: For groups of 1-2, private programs are generally more expensive.
- AIARE Courses: AIARE course pricing is based on a group of 6. Running these as a private program with fewer than 6 participants will increase the per-person cost.
SCHEDULED PROGRAMS
- Fixed Dates & Costs: Scheduled programs have set dates, itineraries, objectives, and pricing.
- Great for Solo or Small Groups: Ideal for individuals or small groups looking to share costs with others.
- Affordable for 1-2 People: Scheduled programs are typically less expensive for groups of 1-2.
- Less Flexibility: Dates fill quickly, and group programs require adapting to the skill level and pace of all participants
- Group Atmosphere: Meet others with similar interests and make some new backcountry buddies!
Note: Any scheduled program can also be run as a private program with customized dates and rates.
Both options offer exceptional guiding and experiences. Choose what works best for you!
Day 1 Meet in Chamonix
Day 2 Ski Valley Blanche or similar warm up objective (weather and conditions based)
Day 3 Chamonix Ski Mountaineering Objective
Day 4 Chamonix Ski Mountaineering Objective
Day 5 Chamonix Ski Mountaineering Objective
Day 6 Chamonix Ski Mountaineering Objective
Day 7 Conclusion of the program
Our week long backcountry focused ski trips in the Alps and Dolomites use lifts, trains and other infrastructure to maximize our skiing in Italy's incredible ski terrain. Each day we will focus on finding the best snow quality and terrain use for the group, ending the day with incredible meals in town or at rifugios in the mountains.
- Ski the best zone in the area that day, based on weather and snow conditions
- Refresh gear and technique skills
- Avalanche safety skills review throughout the day
- Enjoy delicious meals and apres in town between touring days
This trip requires a minimum of 3 people.
Here's the schedule for your trip:
- Day 1 - Arrival in Chamonix - Upon arrival we'll meet up for dinner and discuss the avalanche conditions and plan for the week.
- Day 2 - Ski Valley Blanche - Or similar warm up objective based on weather and conditions.
- Days 3-6 - Ski Touring in Chamonix - We'll get an early start on the day and spend full days ski touring, covering roughly 3,000-5,000' vertical each day with lunch eaten in the field. After skiing to our hearts content, we'll regroup in town, grab dinner, and discuss plans for the next day
- Day 7 - Departure from Chamonix We'll wrap up the program with breakfast before traveling home from Chamonix.
Here are the skills and fitness you'll need for your course:
- Advanced Resort Riding Skills - Including off-piste terrain in challenging snow conditions.
- Intermediate Touring Experience - Including efficient gear management and skinning, transition technique, with 20+ days of backcountry experience.
- Intermediate Ski Mountaineering Experience - Including ice ax, crampon, and basic rope skills.
- Strong Fitness - Able to spend a long, active day outside, moving uphill at 1,000’ per hour for durations of 1-1.5 hours between breaks. Participants should be able to hike 8-10 miles, climbing 2,500 - 3,500 vertical feet throughout the course of the day. People with strong fitness typically have a strenuous workout 3-4 days a week
Here's what's included with your trip:
- Experienced IFMGA Trained Guide
- Ropes & Gear
- Group Safety Gear - your guide will be equipped with snow science tools and a first aid kit
- Wag Bags - for human waste disposal in with compliance 'Leave No Trace' principles
- Flights and Transportation to the Alps or Dolomites
- Hotels During the Trip
- Meals
- Ice Axe, Crampons, Climbing Harness
- Guide Gratuities
Ski/Split Touring Gear
- Alpine Touring Ski or Splitboard Setup - No snowshoes
- Alpine Touring or Splitboard Boots
- Climbing Skins
- Touring Backpack - with pockets for avalanche gear
- Adjustable Touring Poles
- Avalanche Beacon
- Avalanche Shovel
- Avalanche Probe
- Ice Axe
- Crampons
- Climbing Harness
the blackbird difference
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