Your ski trip

You will discover the Beaufortin Massif by ski touring. For comfort we will stay in a guest house and we will start with two easy days to get the machine going. Your mountain guide will choose the itinerary in the area depending on the snow and weather conditions to manage safety and choose the best routes of the moment. Above the small village of Granier, the summits of Combe Bénite, Cret du Rey, Mont Coin, or the Dôme de Vaugelaz could be part of the programme, before discovering the Pierra Menta at the Col de Charbonière which will surely be the most beautiful day!

The Program

Programme of the ski touring camp :

DAY 1 - MONDAY
The Dôme de Vaugelaz

Vertical drop: + 800 m and - 800 meters
Ski touring length: about 5 to 6 hours

Meeting with the Mountain Guide at 8:00 in the morning in the village of Aime La Plagne for a coffe and a equipment check-up. After everybody has arrived, you will be following the Mountain Guide with your own cars to the departure point of today.

We start from a small car park near a cross-country ski hostel. The climb starts in the forest, but soon we leave the woods and climb into snow fields. The slopes are evenly oriented to the southwest, so you don't get hot on the way up in the morning and enjoy the sun on the way down. We pass many alpine chalets. Towards the summit we will have a superb view of the whole of the border chain between France and Italy and also of Mont Blanc. Depending on the weather, your guide will show you how to use the safety equipment, which includes the avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe, and will do a search exercise with you, as well as a small mapping exercise to learn how to orientate yourself in the mountains and to learn how to call for help. The descent is easy, which will allow everyone to get back on their feet. Your mountain guide will assess your level of fitness and choose the next days outings.

You will be back at your car in the early afternoon. The guide will show you the way to the charming village of Granier and your guesthaus. You can enjoy a superb view of the Tarentaise valley!

Night at the guest house, the Gite Pollen.

Day 2 - TUESDAY
COMBE BENITE

Vertical drop: 1200 meters positive and negative
Ski touring length: about 6 to 7 hours

We leave just above the village of Granier, or from our Gite if there is enough snow, to climb the Combe Bénite. Your guide will choose according to your wishes and the weather conditions of the moment. This second day of ski touring will take us to a more technical summit and a more difficult descent, we increase the difficulty little by little. You will do some conversions to climb the steeper slopes, your guide will give you some tips to improve your technique. The descent can be done on slopes of around 35 degrees. Your guide will give you tips on how to improve your climbing and descending.

Night at the guest house.

DAY 3 - WEDNESDAY
COL DE LA CHARBONIERE

Vertical drop: + and - 1100 m  
Ski touring length: about 6 to 7 hours

We start in the forest, the climb is regular under the spruces. There are many alpine chalets and the calm is very pleasant. On the other side of the valley, we can see the ski resorts of Haute Tarentaise such as La Plagne and Les Arcs in the distance, which is quite a contrast. A valley with two faces: the sunny side with the Beaufortain Massif which has remained wild and the shade side where the resorts have developed at the gates of the Vanoise National Park.
The climb continues to the mountain pastures where the cows graze in the summer to make Beaufort cheese, which will probably be in our snack or which we will find in a dish in the evening at the gite.
The ascent can pass several valleys and valleys that your Mountain Guide will choose to shorten or lengthen the path to reach the Col de Charbonière at the foot of the Pierra Menta.
The descent will probably be on the north side to make a loop and enjoy the powder snow which is usually there. We pass at the foot of the Roignais, the highest summit of the Beaufortain with its 2999 meters of altitude. The Presset and Balme refuges may be on our trail. A beautiful descent will lead us back to the cars.

Fondue and raclette are probably already waiting for us, for the last evening above the valley.

Night at the guest house.

DAY 4 - THURSDAY
RET DU REY or POINTE DU DZONFIE

Vertical drop: 1400 m or 1200 m positive and negative depending on the chosen summit
Ski touring length: about 7 hours

We start above Granier on a forest path to reach the superb alpine pasture of La Pesée, then we climb in huge combes. You will have to choose between the fairly easy summit of Dzonfie or the more difficult summit of Cret du Rey. You will choose with your guide if the conditions allow you to do both. For Cret du Rey we will have to put the skis on the bag and walk up. For Dzonfie the climb is quicker and easier with a less technical descent.

A great day in the mountains before heading back down to the cars and saying goodbye.

See you soon for another powder trip!

Equipment

Equipment for your ski touring trip

The guide will provide you with safety equipment:

• avalanche transceiver;
• shovel and probe.

If you do not have your own ski touring equipment, we can arrange for you to hire it, please ask when booking.

Personal ski equipment :

• touring skis, touring boots and skins (if you do not have your own touring skis, we can arrange for the necessary equipment to be hired, please specify when booking);
• Lightweight and durable ski poles, telescopic or classic, with washers for off-piste skiing;
• a good backpack of between 25 and 30 litres.

What to wear for ski touring

Suitable ski touring clothing:

• a waterproof and breathable jacket and trousers, preferably in Goretex (or alternative fabric);
• a thin down jacket;
• Base layers (tights and breathable technical T-shirts);
• a breathable fleece;
• gloves, socks, neck warmer, hat etc.

Do not forget :

• sunglasses and sun cream;
• a thermos flask and a water bottle.

Level

Skiing level

For experienced skiers: you enjoy skiing on black runs and practise off-piste skiing. You are not afraid of 35-degree slopes, especially as they will be encountered gradually during the holiday.

Technical level: 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 level: 3/5

SPORTY COURSE

Effort corresponding to 1000 - 1200 m of climbing per day.

You like endurance sports and practise them regularly about 1 to 2 times a week!

Useful Infos

How to get to Valezan, in Savoie in the Haute Tarentaise Valley.

• By train, access is possible by TGV to Bourg Saint Maurice station (73700);
• By car via Albertville, access via the motorway to Moutiers - Bourg Saint Maurice is 2½ hours from Lyon.

Meeting point on DAY 1

Meet your guide at 8:30 a.m. in the village of Valezan, before Bourg Saint Maurice.
After a quick coffee and a check of your equipment and rucksack, you will set off together to the starting point of the day's hike.

Accommodation

If you wish, we can arrange a taxi for your journey from Aime or Bourg Saint Maurice station: please ask for information when you make your booking. A shuttle bus is also available from the station.

Insurance

Cancellation and repatriation insurance is compulsory, as is insurance  covering mountain search and rescue (minimum cover of €10,000).

Here is the insurance offered by Esprit Montagne: https://www.assurance-multi-sports.com. You must take out the ‘impact evasion multirisque’ insurance. Other insurance policies may not provide the same level of cover, so please read your insurance policy carefully.

Carpooling

When filling out your registration form, tick YES in the Carpooling box: in your personal account on Espritmontagne.com, you will find the details and contact information of the people in your group who wish to carpool. You can then contact them directly to organise your transport.

Esprit Montagne allows you to share your contact information, but is not responsible for carpooling.