Ski Touring Trips
Gran Paradiso Skitour in 2 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 2 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 limit by ski, then off we go!
. Climbing a 4000m summit in winter
. 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 2-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 2 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 3 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.
Trip
Do you already have experience of ski touring, can you ski in all types of snow, from powder to windpacked snow and are you in good physical shape? Then this Gran Paradiso ski tour is for you!
We've designed this 2-day ski touring course to make the most of the ascent!
The stage takes place in Italy, into the Valsavarenche valley: this Gran Paradiso valley is a wilderness protected by the Gran Paradiso National Park. This first day's hike will take us to the Refuge Chabod, where we'll be treated to a warm welcome and delicious Italian cuisine!
On the next day we set off to climb Gran Paradiso on skis: we set off at sunrise to make the most of this magical moment as the sun arrives.
From the summit of Gran Paradiso, you can admire Mont Blanc, Mont Rose, the Grand Combin and the Matterhorn: 4000m peaks as far as the eye can see! Enjoy a magnificent 2400 m descent into the heart of this hidden paradise!
Program
Ascent: + 890 m
Time: 4 to 5 hours
You will meet your guide in Valsavarenche at 9.00 am.
The guide will choose the route according to your fitness and the weather conditions. You will discover some superb valleys behind the refuge before reaching the refuge!
In the afternoon, you can relax at the refuge and enjoy a stunning view of the north face of Grand Paradis!
The guide will help you adjust your crampons, which you can hire from the hut if you don't have them, so you can carry a lighter bag up to the hut!
You prepare your equipment for the next day's ascent and enjoy the comfort of the refuge, where you can rest and spend a lovely 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.
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
Meet the guide in Valsavarenche at 9.00 a.m.
End of the ski touring course in Valsavarenche, between 16:00 and 18:00.pm.
If you wish to carpool with a participant on your course, you can tick the option when you register online so that your contact details are visible to others: you will find these details in your Esprit Montagne account.
IMPORTANT: Esprit des Guides SA gives you the opportunity to share your contact details but does not coordinate car-pooling.
Cancellation and repatriation insurance is mandatory, as is mountain search and rescue insurance (minimum cover of 10,000 Euros).
Esprit Montagne offers the following insurance: https://www.assurance-multi-sports.com.
Once you have booked your place online, we will take care of confirming the hut reservation for you (places for online dates have been pre-booked in advance).
You can park your car in Valsavarenche at the car park next to the river and before the bridge.
Please contact us for further information.
Refuges generally accept credit cards, but we advise you to bring cash in case of malfunction.
. The guiding of a qualified mountain leader from our team, plus his/her accommodation and meal expenses
. Collective equipment (ropes, karabiners, ice screws...)
. The avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe
. Half-board treatment
. 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
Any question?
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The ascent of the summit of Gran Paradiso is one of the most beautiful ski ascents in the Alps. With its glaciers, lakes and breathtaking views, this trek is an unforgettable experience. To make a success of this ascent, it's important to be well-prepared and have the right logistics in place. For this, we advise you to use a travel agency with an experienced guide.
Gran Paradiso is an Italian national park in the Western Alps, in north-eastern Italy. The park lies at the northern end of the Italian region of Valle d'Aosta and stretches as far as the French and Swiss regions, reaching an altitude of 4061m. It is home to an incredible array of flora and fauna, amidst ever more colourful mountain pastures !
The best time to climb Grand Paradis is in summer, between June and September, when the snow and ice have melted and the weather conditions are most favourable! Gran Paradiso is not an easy climb for a first-time mountaineer, so practise and take mountaineering boots that you're comfortable in ! Ideally, you should practise on long hikes with technical or even rugged trails.
As a general rule, Gran Paradiso has cold, snowy winters, with average temperatures below zero, heavy snowfall and relatively low humidity. The average winter temperature is around -3°C and the average snowfall is around 1 metre.
Ski-mountaineers wishing to visit the Gran Paradiso National Park must comply with a number of rules and instructions in order to preserve the natural environment as much as possible. In particular, it is forbidden to cut down trees, carry flammable or toxic products and leave rubbish behind! Ski-mountaineers must also ensure that they are properly equipped and aware of the weather conditions in the region before embarking on a run, whether on a normal route or off-piste.
