Italian Alps Ski Week
We'll tackle the following objectives and skills:
- 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 Chamonix in between touring days
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 Chamonix
- 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
Blackbird Mountain Guides offers both scheduled group programs and private programs.
Private programs are simply above and beyond what Blackbird Mountain Guides currently has scheduled. Scheduled courses are not always less expensive. Before booking a trip with Blackbird Mountain Guides, clients are encouraged to review the differences between these types of programs, and to decide what works best for them.
SCHEDULED PROGRAMS
Scheduled Programs have fixed dates, itineraries, objectives, curriculum, and costs. They typically appeal to solo individuals or small groups or who are looking to share the cost of their program with a larger group. Correspondingly, scheduled programs are less expensive for smaller groups (1-2), and they provide the opportunity to meet others with similar interests. If you have a large group (3+), Scheduled programs will often be more expensive. They can fill up quickly, and scheduling flexibility is obviously limited.
Scheduled programs will have advertised dates. All scheduled programs can be run as private programs with private dates/rates as well.
PRIVATE PROGRAMS
Private programs have scheduling freedom. They typically appeal to those who would like some flexibility in planning their own trip or course. In this regard, Itineraries and objectives can be tailored to suit current conditions as well as client goals. Private programs are normally less expensive for larger groups (3+). If you have a small group (1-2) private programs will be more expensive.
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
We'll tackle the following objectives and skills:
- 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 Chamonix in between touring days
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 Chamonix
- 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
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Awesome Experience
“Taking this course with Zeb was the best decision! He was extremely friendly, relaxed and knowledgeable and answered all our questions with great patience.
An Exceptional Course
“I took an AIARE 1 with Blackbird and couldn't recommend it more. The knowledge gained was well-worth every penny, and then some."
Too Good For Words
Just took the "lift-assisted" Avalanche Rescue course, and it was a fantastic opportunity to act out more realistic rescue scenarios. It was a great refresher and learning experience. Our instructor Evan was knowledgeable and a lot of fun. Highly recommended!
An Incredible Weekend!
Completed AIARE 1 w/ Blackbird. Instructors were very knowledgeable, experienced, patient, attentive, and down-to-earth in relating to clients across a wide spectrum of ability. Highly recommended. Great group of people!
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