Ski Touring Trips
Gran Paradiso Skitour in 3 days
Technical lev. : 3.5 / 5
OFF-PISTE SKIING QUITE DIFFICULT
You have already done some off-piste skiing or hiking and you have a very good level of skiing, a steep passage (about 35-40 degrees does not scare you).
You can ski in all types of off-piste snow and ski quickly on the black runs. Maximum 6 people per group.
Physical lev. : 4 / 5
SPORTY & TRAINED PEOPLE
Effort corresponding to approximately 1200 - 1700m of ascent per day.
You like and practice endurance sports at a good level.
Discover the Aosta Valley in Italy with this 3 days ski touring trip to Europe!
The Gran Paradiso is known for its 4061 meter summit and its National Park, the biggest in Europe and the first one to be created, this wild area will allow you to take a long weekend in Italy while avoiding the Saturday traffic!
This ski touring trip to Gran Paradiso is for you if you already have some experience on ski touring and you want to achieve a dream and cross the 4000 meters mark by ski, then off we go!
. Climbing a 4000m summit in winter
. The first day of off-piste skiing to warm up at the feet of Mont Blanc
. Wild setting at the heart of the Gran Paradiso National Park
. Small groups of 4 people max.
. Local UIAGM mountain guide
Dates & Prices
The Gran Paradiso 3-day ski touring trip is available from mid-March to mid-May, depending on the opening of the hut.
Do not hesitate to can contact us if you would like to do this 3 day course on another date than the ones proposed above or for any privatization and questions!
The ski mountaineering course for the above dates is guaranteed from 4 participants.
If the number of participants is not reached 21 days before departure, Esprit des Guides SA will cancel the booking and refund the payment received (only 3% will be retained for bank charges).
If you wish and if you agree, Esprit des Guides SA can offer you to pay the remaining balance based on the number of participants reached (see prices above) and guarantee the departure.
The trip
You already have experience in ski touring, you ski in all types of snow, from powder to packed and you are in good physical shape? Then this Gran Paradiso ski tour to is for you!
We have designed this trip for you: 3 days off and you are in Italy at the feet of Mont Blanc in Courmayeur.
The first day we ski in the resort to get into shape and your Mountain Guide will show you this corner of paradise before enjoying the charm of the town of Courmayeur in the afternoon, Chamonix's Italian twin sister!
Around 5.30 pm we leave for Valsavarenche: this valley is a wild and protected part of the Gran Paradiso National Park.
Overnight in a charming mountain hotel at the end of the valley.
The day after, a first beautiful ski tour allows us to reach the Rifugio Chabod which is a comfortable and welcoming hut and the Italian gastronomy will not deceive you!
On the third day we leave for the Gran Paradiso ski ascent: we leave at daybreak to enjoy the sunshine and this magical moment.
The summit of the Gran Paradiso allows us to admire the Mont Blanc and Monte Rosa chains, together with the Grand Combin and Matterhorn: 4000s summits as far as the eye can see! You will enjoy a magnificent descent of 2400 m into the heart of this hidden paradise!
Program
Meeting point:
In Courmayeur at the Tourist Office at 8.30 am, you will meet the Mountain Guide. Then, depending on the weather and snow conditions, you will decide with him whether you will do a day of ski touring or skiing in Courmayeur. The first day allows you to get to know each other and to ski together quietly, before setting off to the Gran Paradiso climb.
At the end of the day, you head up into the Valsavarenche to spend the night in a beautiful mountain hotel.
Vertical drop: + 890 m
Time: 3 to 4 hours
You meet the guide at the hotel in the morning, at the time he will have agreed with you the day before!
You will climb to the Chabod hut, the guide will choose the route according to your fitness and the weather conditions. You may discover some great valleys before heading to the hut!
The arrival to the refuge allows you to drop off some of your equipment before making a short additional ascent to enjoy a beautiful descent to the Chabod refuge again. In the afternoon you can rest at the refuge and practice avalanche search with your guide, discuss snow and safety... The guide will help you to adjust the crampons (which you can rent at the refuge if you don't have them, allowing you to carry a lighter backpack up to the refuge!).
You prepare the equipment for the next day's ascent and enjoy the comfort of the refuge, to rest and spend a nice evening!
Vertical drop: + 1350 m; - 2250 m
Time: 4 to 5 hours on the way up, about 2 hours on the way down
The big day is here and we gently set off after a good breakfast at the hut. The ascent takes place on beautiful slopes, if the conditions are excellent, we won't need to use ski knives, but we may use them if the snow is hard.
We skin up the Glacier de Laveciau. At the top of the slope, we will find another track coming from the Vittorio Emmanuele hut: from this area the slope gradually becomes steeper; for the final slope we will probably use crampons and ice axe, the passage of the last crevasse may be done on a ladder.
We will leave the skis at the feet of the Gran Paradiso rocky ridge, we will pick them up again after we have reached the summit.
The last part of the climb involves climbing a small via ferrata, with the crossing of a rocky ridge: at the top you can admire the famous Madonna of Gran Paradiso.
The view from the summit is magnificent over the whole of the Alpine arch: we will see the Matterhorn with the many 4000s of the Monte Rosa, the Grand Combin, the Dent d'Hérens and the Mont Blanc.
After this magical moment, we put the skis back on for a wonderful descent through the crevasses of the glacier. The descent leads into a north-facing slope where the snow remains cold for a long time and is usually of good quality.
Once we get back to the refuge, we will collect our belongings and enjoy a good plate of pasta, before carrying on down the valley to our cars.
If conditions are not optimal for the Gran Paradiso climb, your Guide will organise a plan B depending on the weather conditions and on the participants.
End of the trip :
At the Valsavarenche car parking, you will find your car at around 2pm. You can probably have a drink together with your guide in Aymavilles, the first important town on the way.
Equipment
First layer on the skin - underwear:
Second layer :
Third layer :
Last layer :
Level
You must have done several ski tours before and mastered the inversion on the way up, in a 35 degree slope.
On the descent you can ski off-piste in all snow conditions and it is necessary to be at ease on a 35 or 40 degree slope.
You ski quickly on black runs.
OFF-PISTE SKIING QUITE DIFFICULT 3.5/5
You have already done some off-piste skiing or hiking and you have a very good level of skiing, a steep passage (about 35-40 degrees does not scare you).
You can ski in all types of off-piste snow and ski quickly on the black runs. Maximum 6 people per group.
SPORTY & TRAINED PEOPLE 4/5
Effort corresponding to approximately 1200 - 1700m of ascent per day.
You like and practice endurance sports at a good level.
Useful infos
Meeting with the Guide directly in Courmayeur (Italy) at the Tourist Office at 8.30 am.
End of the trip in the Valsavarenche, at the feet of the Chabod Refuge, after returning from your ascent, between 14:00 and 16:00.
If you wish to carpool with the other participants, you can select the option when you register online so that your contact will be shared with them.
Advise for meeting point for carpooling, in Chamonix at the car park at 7.45am: https://goo.gl/maps/EeGgMrqk1W6jAJEi9
IMPORTANT: Esprit des Guides SA gives you the opportunity to share your contact details but does not coordinate the carpooling.
You will use your own vehicle to reach the site.
We recommend to have your own personal travel insurance, covering accident abroad and repatriation.
Once you have booked your place online, we will take care of booking the hut for you, no need to worry about it (places for online dates have been pre-booked in advance).
If you are coming only for the climb, we can organize you a taxi to pick you up or the mountain guide can come to pick you up on the road nearby Aosta (organization upon booking).
. The guiding of the UIAGM Mountain Guide of our Team
. Collective equipment (ropes, karabiners, ice screws...)
. The avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe
. Half-board treatment from DAY 1 to DAY 3
. Transfers to and from Valsavarenche (first and last day)
. Crampons, ice axe and harness rental (about 15/20 euros per person, can be rented directly at the hut, please ask us for advise)
. Lunch, to allow everyone to eat as they prefer
. Snacks, drinks and personal expenses
. Anything not mentioned in the section “The price includes".
Photo gallery
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