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Ski touring Autonomy & Safety course Level 2
Duration:
3 days
Fitness:
Infobulle physique
Physical Level 1: For individuals who engage in occasional physical activity, positive elevation gain up to 300m.
Physical Level 2: For individuals who engage in regular physical activity, positive elevation gain up to 600m.
Physical Level 3: For individuals who engage in regular endurance activities, positive elevation gain up to 900m or ascents to altitudes above 3500m.
Physical Level 4: For individuals who engage in regular endurance activities, positive elevation gain up to 1300m or ascents to altitudes above 4000m.
Physical Level 5: For individuals who engage in intensive endurance activities, positive elevation gain exceeding 1300m.
Technique:
Infobulle technique
Technical Level 1: For occasional off-piste skiers who want to discover ski touring along the edge of pistes.
Technical Level 2: For regular off-piste skiers, capable of skiing in all snow conditions on wide, gentle slopes, and who want to discover ski touring.
Technical Level 3: For occasional ski tourers (2 to 5 recent outings), capable of skiing in all snow conditions on wide, gentle slopes.
Technical Level 4: For regular ski tourers (5 to 10 recent outings), capable of skiing in all snow conditions on varied slopes with some technical sections, mastering kick turns, and possessing basic knowledge of using crampons and an ice axe.
Technical Level 5: For experienced ski tourers (more than 10 recent outings), capable of skiing in all snow conditions on varied and exposed slopes with technical sections, mastering kick turns and the use of crampons and an ice axe.
General information
Our "Autonomy & Safety in Ski Touring" program is designed to teach you how to manage avalanche risk and ski safely and independently in the mountains. With small groups of 3 to 4 participants per guide, we provide personalized coaching and tailored programs to meet your specific needs. These courses are ideal for ski tourers who want to gain confidence and autonomy through structured progression and practical, real-world exercises.
🎯 Level 2 Objective: Lead ski tours
Our Autonomy & Safety - Level 2 course is the logical follow-up to Level 1, which focuses on the fundamentals of avalanche risk management. It takes the form of a multi-day hut-to-hut ski tour, offering an ideal setting to deepen your knowledge while confronting real conditions in the mountains. This course is intended for regular ski tourers who have already completed basic avalanche risk training. Courses are held in French, except for the following sessions held in English: xxx.
➤ Course Content - Level 2
- Identify typical avalanche situations
- Develop strategies adapted to specific conditions
- Understand the critical role of human factors
- Improve winter navigation skills: critical zones, apps
- Interpret the Avalanche Forecast Bulletin (BERA)
- Use advanced risk management and decision-making tools
- Plan a route in a simple context
- Learn the basics of glacier safety
Group booking
Group session associates several people who don’t know each other. It allows for a planned program to benefit from an attractive price on fixed dates. This formula is ideal for people looking for the friendliness of a group.
Dates : See below for the group booking module
Price 2025 : 895€ per person based on minimum of 3 participants
Registration possible from age 18
Included in the package
- IFMGA English speaking mountain guiding service
- 1 night with half board in a staffed mountain refuge
- 1 night self-catering in an unstaffed refuge
- lift access as per programme
Not included in the package
- take out lunches and daily snacks
- cost of getting to meeting point
- personal technical equipment including your mountaineering shoes
Private booking
Private guiding is the historical relationship that binds a guide to his/her client. It allows you to be alone, or in a constituted group, with your guide that meets your specific needs. It is undoubtedly the ideal formula to realize your projects because it guarantees you a maximum of comfort. You are free to choose your departure date and the itinerary can be adjusted, according to your specific expectations.
Prices 2025 :
2 people: 1535€ per person
3 people: 1110€ per person
4 people: 898€ per person
Included in the package
- IFMGA English speaking mountain guiding service
- 1 night with half board in a staffed mountain refuge
- 1 night self-catering in an unstaffed refuge
- lift access as per programme
Not included in the package
- take out lunches and daily snacks
- cost of getting to meeting point
- personal technical equipment including your mountaineering shoes
Further information
In this section, find all the information about this activity. To prepare your trip effectively, refer to the guides’ tips. They share their expertise and recommendations, ensuring you have a great experience.
Meeting point : Meet at 8.30am at the Chamonix Guides Company: 190 place de l’église
Physical level : For individuals who engage in regular physical activity, positive elevation gain up to 1000m. Carrying your own food for the night in an unstaffed refuge.
Technical Level : Suitable for skiers skilled in off-piste skiing across various snow conditions and with prior experience in ski touring. The terrain features wide slopes with occasional narrow sections and inclines of up to 35° with sections that may require boot packing with crampons.
Required Prerequisites : I have already completed training on the fundamentals of avalanche risk management: snow basics, bulletin reading, field observations, and simple tools for overall management and decision-making.
Guiding policy : 3 to 4 people. The Compagnie des Guides de Chamonix's guiding policy guarantees the most balanced groups as possible as well as high-quality personalised advice. Registration possible from age 18
Accommodation : 1 night with half board in a staffed mountain refuge, 1 night self-catering in an unstaffed refuge
Documentation : Participants must have mountain sports insurance with repatriation cover. We strongly recommend that this also includes cancellation cover. You can take out insurance when you sign up. Participants must also take valid ID with them.
Documents available for download
Equipment
We recommend that you take special care in choosing your equipment because it contributes greatly to the success of your trip. Weight is decisive; you must always evaluate the weight / comfort ratio in order to find a good compromise. In general, it is better to stack thin layers rather than having one big garment and it is essential to stay dry in all circumstances.
Equipment
- 35L backpack
- A pair of skis, mounted with ski-touring bindings and Ski Touring Ski Boots
- Touring skins and « ski crampons » specially adapted for your skis
- Ski poles with a large disc at the bottom
- A helmet suitable for ski touring / mountaineering is recommended
- Lightweight crampons and an ice axe
- A safety kit: avalanche transceiver (DVA), shovel, probe in working condition
- A glacier safety kit: harness, 1 directional screwgate carabiner, 1 120cm sling
- An orientation kit: map holder, IGN Chamonix 3630OT map, compass, altimeter
Clothing
- Clothes suitable for ski touring
- Warm clothes for the exercices
Clothing
- Waterproof and windproof, non-insulated parka with hood (Gore-tex or equivalent), rentable
- Waterproof and windproof, non-insulated pants, rentable
- Thick polar-pile fleece jacket or equivalent
- A light down jacket
- 1 long-sleeve shirt
- Medium weight thermal underwear (top + bottoms, silk or polypro, double as pyjamas)
- Warm ski socks
- Warm ski hat and light sun hat with brim
- Warm ski gloves or mittens
- A pair of thinner/finer gloves (in leather or fleece)
- Neck protection
- Spare thermal underwear (for sleeping and change)
Accessories
- High-altitude sunglasses (grade 4 is recommended)
- A pair of goggles
- 1.5L water bottle
- An isotherm bottle
- A mini toilet bag including: sun block for face and lips, aspirin, elastoplast, 2nd skin kit, earplug, toilet paper
- A headlamp with spare batteries
- A cotton or silk sleeping sheet: compulsory in every hut. - Hut provide blankets, slippers or clogs
- A plastic bag containinig your ID card & Euros for extras
Our Rental Partners : You can rent your equipment with our rental shops partners and benefit from special price Millet, Sanglard Sports, Ravanel & Co & Concept Pro Shop
Our Equipment Partners : Millet, Dynastar, Julbo, Grivel & Monnet
Itinerary
Day 1
The educational content is covered through the following itinerary
We start at the Bochard lift station (2,766 m) and traverse to the Lognan Glacier (2,700 m). From there, we skin up to the Rognons Glacier (3,050 m) via the Col des Rachasses, then continue to the Col des Grands Montets (3,225 m). We then ski down to the Lognan Hut (2,032 m), where we spend the night and prepare the route for the following day.
Vertical ascent: 575 m / Vertical descent: 1,200 m
Day 2
The educational content is covered through the following itinerary
We reach the Passon moraine (2,380 m) and cross it on foot; crampons may be necessary. The climb then continues on skis, with wide slopes leading to the col, which we access using crampons. The views from the col (3,028 m), overlooking both the Argentière and Le Tour basins, are simply breathtaking. We then ski across the Tour Glacier towards the Albert I hut (2,700 m), which requires a short uphill section. We spend the night at the unstaffed mountain hut and prepare the route for the following day.
Vertical ascent: 1,100 m / Vertical descent: 350 m
Day 3
The educational content is covered through the following itinerary
From our mountain hut, we ski up to the crest above us (3,094m), which we will climb using crampons. On the other side, the sunny, gentle slopes of the Glacier des Grands welcome us. We then ski down through the wild landscape of the Grands and Bron glaciers, all the way to the Combe de la Chaux des Grands (2,400m) at the foot of the Grandes Autannes (2,680m). We reach the summit by ski and then on foot. Afterward, we take on the famous north side descent to the Herbagères (2,033m). Finally, we ascend to the Col de Balme (2,200m), which gives us access to the Tour-Vallorcine ski area, where we ski down to the village of Le Tour. We return to Argentière by public transport in the mid-afternoon.
Vertical ascent: 850m / Vertical descent: 1,750m
Booking
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Calculate your carbon footprint
Discover the carbon emissions of this activity and add your trip to the meeting point.
CO2 emitted per person for the activity: 32 kg. Learn out more about the footprint calculation of this activity
CO2 emitted per person for the activity: 32 kg. Learn out more about the footprint calculation of this activity
CO2 emitted per person for this activity & journey(s) = 0 kgIn order to limit global warming to +2°C by 2100, the COP-21 agreement stipulates that each human should emit no more than 2t of CO2 per year. According to the French Ministry of Ecology, today European citizens emit an average of 11t per year, and American citizens emit an average of 21t annually., or 3.2€The price for a ton of CO2 is currently 100€ in the European Union to offset.
Find out more about our zero impact strategy.
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