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Chamonix
Off Piste course 2012
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Course
overview
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Course
dates & availability
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We
offer two challenging levels of course: Level
1 - Adventure, and Level 2 - Performance.
Level 1 is for those with a little off piste experience,
such as a day on Vallee Blanche or 'between the
piste' off piste. Those on Level 2 will have at
least a week's previous off piste experience,
such as attending the Level 1 course. If you are
in doubt as to how to judge your ski level, click
here.
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Both
courses are a week of the most thrilling ski runs
in the Chamonix valley, and Mont Blanc massif.
Our aim is for you to enjoy a challenging, thrilling,
great off piste week.
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Your
expert IFMGA Mountain & Ski Guide will show
you some of the most remote and beautiful wilderness
regions, whilst improving your technique and looking
after your safety. On the Level 2 course you will
be offered the opportunity to try using ski touring
kit if you all wish for a day during the week. |
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The
level of the runs is only limited by your previous
off piste experience and the conditions. You do
not need to be super fit, but good stamina will
make the days easier and allow you more breath to
enjoy the scenery. |
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Key
skills taught during this course include... |
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•
avalanche
transceiver use
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glacier travel techniques
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recognising avalanche traps
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choice of kit for glacier
skiing |
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group
management off piste
•
emergency
procedures
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crevasse rescue for skiers
•
route planning & navigation
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The
group for each course is limited to six people per
Guide to ensure that you get good access, and learn
as much as possible, as we have found that a small
group on the mountain achieves and learns far more.
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Dates:
these
are listed in the column on the right, and they
show the live availability from our secure online
booking system. When you book online, you receive
immediate confirmation, your Alpine Information
Booklet, course specific kit list and invoice. |
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Course Dates
Chamonix Level 1
- [ 0 ] 5 - 11 Feb 2012
- [ 2 ] 12 - 18 Feb 2012
- [ 2 ] 26 Feb - 3 Mar 2012
- [ 2 ] 4 - 10 Mar 2012
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Course Dates
Chamonix Level 2
- [ 0 ] 5 - 11 Feb 2012
- [ 2 ] 4 - 10 Mar 2012
- [ 2 ] 18 - 24 Mar 2012
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| Client
feedback |
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A
great mixture of teaching, skiing and socialising
with a fun group. Learnt loads, and had
a ball of a time
Josei
Stephens , Off Piste Course
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Amazing
week of skiing, with intimate local knowledge
to
find the best powder for us. Great
teaching from our guide, so my skiing went
up several gears
Wayne
Wei , Off Piste Course
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Skiing
the Argentiere Glacier on Level 1 off piste
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Skiing
in Chamonix's mountains on Level 2 off piste
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Ski
technique analysis
This
video clip was taken on an Off Piste Level 1 (novice)
course based in Chamonix, for the purposes of using for
feedback and analysis sessions after each day of guiding.
We use video feedback on many of our off piste courses,
whenever it is the best tool for helping people improve
their style and skills. Whenever we get film footage of
you skiing, we ensure that you get a copy of the film,
so when you return home you can show your friends what
a brilliant skier you are!
Safety
kit included
The
course price includes the loan of an avalanche transceiver,
shovel and probe, and avalanche safety kit of harness,
sling and karabiner. Note that if you were to hire this
it would cost over £20 per day!
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So
why choose Icicle? |
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We
are true specialists in Chamonix off piste. See
our ski blog, by clicking on the RSS logo (right). |
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Itinerary
flexibility to allow you to take full advantage
of the weather and snow conditions each day, so
that you maximise the amount of time spent skiing
each day. |
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Our
prices are fixed in £ pounds sterling, to
protect you from euro currency fluctuations, so
that you can budget accurately. |
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We
have a team of over 30 IFMGA guides, and a resort
support team, who all want you to have the best
off piste skiing possible! For more details on the
guiding team and qualifications, please click
here. |
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Which
level of course? |
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The
photo gallery to the left is from Level 2 courses,
and the gallery above to the left is from Level
1 courses. The photos give a good idea of the types
of terrain skied on each level of course. |
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Level
1 skiers can competantly ski any piste, and will
have skied a little between the pistes,
or a day or two of off piste at most. |
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Level
2 skiers will have at least a full week of previous
off piste skiing experience as an absolute minimum,
and usually more. |
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If
you are in any doubt as to which level you are better
suited to, then please get in touch, so that we
can advise you better, to ensure you get the most
out of the course. |
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Brief
Course Itinerary
The
Level 1 - Adventure, and Level 2 - Performance
courses run on different weeks, with the itineraries adapted
daily to cater for the best snow conditions, and your improving
ski level. The itineraries are for guidance, but should give
an idea of what you can achieve during the week. Level 2 tackles
harder, longer, and deeper off piste...
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Sunday
Travel to Chamonix to arrive for the 17:00 check-in followed
by and course safety and itinerary briefings. There is
time for kit checks or rental of equipment. Briefings
are over by 19:00 and the Chamonix hosts accompany the
group to pre-dinner drinks. Some clients opt to travel
out a day or two early to get their ski legs back and
to test out their skis, whilst many others opt to do a
one day avalanche awareness training course. Night in
Chamonix. |
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Monday
After breakfast you and your guide are driven to one of
the ski areas, such as le Tour. The focus of the day is
to get skiing straight away, and to introduce you to some
of best off piste runs at Le Tour. For
either level of course you will find untracked powder
in the bowls and through the trees, with descents towards
Tour, Vallorcine or Trient. Evening theory session on
the key safety knots and skiers crevasse rescue systems.
Night in Chamonix. |
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Tuesday
Typically today involves off piste over glaciers, such
as one (or more) descents of the famous Vallee Blanche
above Chamonix. If you've done the classic route, there
are runs via Helbronner by a more testing route such as
the Italian Bowl. Another option is skiing the Glacier
de Toule from Helbronner to Le Pavillion, followed by
the Vallée Blanche. Evening
session on Alpine weather prediction and the effects of
mountains on the weather. Night in Chamonix. |
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Wednesday
Searching for fresh tracks over glaciers and through crevasses,
either the classic Pas de Chevre from Grand Montets to
Montenvers, or maybe the Argentiere glacier. Another
option is skiing in the Aiguilles Rouges above Index.
As you will by now have spotted there are hundreds of
options for off piste skiing in Chamonix, so don't worry
as there is too much to choose from. Evening
session on avalanche prediction and tranceiver searches.
Night in Chamonix. |
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Thursday
By now your ski level should have developed well, and
you could consider a more challenging off piste descent
such as the back of Le Tour to Trient, or the Grand Envers
from the Aiguille du Midi. Another possibility is to drive
through the Mont Blanc tunnel to have a day of Italian
off piste with fresh tracks and powder skiing above Courmayeur.
Evening
session is an avalanche skills video, which is optional.
Night in Chamonix. |
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Friday
On the final day of skiing, most groups go for a big day
of classic off piste runs. The Grand Montets lift above
Argentiere is a classic venue for this, as there are so
many lines down to the glaciers or on the front face.
An alternative for the level 2 group is to try ski touring
on the Argentiere glacier, so as to pick up a new skill
to access better off piste next time. Evening instruction
session, then a celebratory meal, with the final
night spent in Chamonix. |
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Saturday
Breakfast
then the accommodation check out is by 10:00. Most arrange
their airport transfers to leave around this time, to
catch a flight from Geneva about midday.
Depart for home.
ITINERARY NOTES: Where possible we follow itineraries.
Mountain adventures are weather and conditions dependant,
so occasionaly we are forced to alter the plans. If this
is the case, suitable alternatives are offered. Please
use this outline itinerary as a guide to the types of
route / activity that you will attempt.
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Skis
and equipment advice
Because
we know it is so important to you to have the most suitable
equipment and clothing for off piste skiing, we have devoted
a page especially to it, which you can access by clicking
on the image to the right, or by clicking
here. This page outlines the key equipment
you should bring, and gives examples of skis that are
suitable for the course. If after reading this page you
have any queries, please do not hesitate to get in touch
with our Chamonix team, who will be able to advise, and
to help you avoid any costly mistakes. The key point to
highlight is that it is highly unlikely that your piste
skis will be suitable for off piste skiing, as they are
too narrow at the waist and will not offer enough flotation
in the powder. In fact slalom style skis cut through powder
to the older crusty snow below. |
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| Course
Prices |
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Standard
course
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5
full days IFMGA guiding, 1:6 max ratio
7 days holiday in total, Sunday-Saturday |
£649 |
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Live
availability
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Click
on the planner logo to the right to
see the real time live course availability
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Secure
online booking system |
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Course Inclusions: 1) IFMGA Mountain Guides for five
days, 2) Chamonix course hosts for logistics & briefings,
3) Pre course information booklet, 4) Equipment discount voucher
for UK shops, 5) Six nights B&B accommodation in Chamonix
(inc. bedding & towels), 6) Free 36 page technical Course
Instruction Booklet, 7) Road or rail transport in Chamonix valley
to and from the slopes each day, 8) Safety equipment as detailed
in the notes below, 9) Chamonix office support, 10) Optional
evening instruction sessions as per detailed itinerary. |
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| Exclusions:
1) Travel to and from Chamonix, 2) Cable cars (approx £180,
click
for current prices), 3) Ski hire, 4) Personal
laundry, telephone calls, lunches, & any purchases in mountain
huts / hotels / restaurants, 5) Transport outside the Chamonix
valley e.g. Courmayeur, 6) Sunday pre-dinner drinks & Friday
celebratory meal & drinks, 7) Activities insurance, excess
baggage charges. |
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| Notes:
The
loan of all avalanche safety kit is included (avalanche tranceiver,
avalanche probe and shovel), and glacier safety kit (harness,
sling and karabiner). There is no discount if you already have
all this equipment. |
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| Reductions:
If
you do not need any accommodation for the course, a £100
discount per person is offered. |
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| Upgrade
options |
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Half
Board Upgrade
£99
(throughout the season) |
For
every night that you are in town, you eat in a different
restaurant in the centre of Chamonix. Always three courses,
to power you for the next day. |
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Avalanche
Skills Day
£49
(throughout the season) |
To
learn avalanche prediction, reutschblocks and use of avalanche
tranceivers. Course is available on any day during the
week (includes ARVA),
details. |
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Already
got a group?
The
course price for our scheduled course dates is just £649
per person, and all the dates are guaranteed to run. There's
no difference to the scheduled dates course price whether
you are booking on your own, or as a small group. However,
if you have a group and would like to form a private group
whether you have a group of six people or are on your
own, we can run an off piste course for you on any week
of the winter season.
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Number
of people
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Cost
per person
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1
person in group
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£1699
per person
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2
people
in group
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£999
per person
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3
people
in group
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£749
per person
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4
people
in group
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£625
per person
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5
people
in group
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£549
per person
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6
people
in group
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£499
per person
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The table above shows the group rates for any group size.
If there are more than six of you, you will require multiple
guides, but can work out the costs based on the table.
The prices for the private groups have exactly the same
inclusions and exclusions as the scheduled courses, as
detailed above for the standard course. |
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