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Gran
Paradiso Ski Tour
2012
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| Course
overview |
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Course
dates & availability |
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If
you dream of climbing a summit and skiing from
it, this ski tour is for you! You summit the highest
peak entirely in Italy, the 4061m Gran Paradiso,
and have a ski descent with a vertical drop of
over 2000m.
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During
the week you make undertake a hut to hut ski tour,
set within the stunning Gran Paradiso National Park.
No previous mountaineering skills are necessary,
but any you have will allow you to take in more
summits. |
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Normally
two classic route choices are selected from, either
the approach via the Benevolo to Val Savaranches
and then the ascent of Gran Paradiso, or the circuit
of the mountain starting in Val de Cogne. The exact
choice of route is usually left until the last minute
to take account of conditions and avalanche risks.
Whatever option you go for, you are assured of some
great ski touring in breathtaking scenery each day. |
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This
is a challenging ski tour, with the ability to
use some Alpine skills, such as ascents on crampons
and the occasional easy abseil. Skiing ability
should be good as although there is only a little
steep skiing, the slopes can be icy or rutted
in places, with breakable crusts. There is often
plenty of powder on the descents!
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On
the tour you are based in comfy mountain huts, including
a three course cooked evening meal and breakfast.
This
course will also appeal to those wishing to escape
the hustle of the Alpine valley towns, and yet not
escape the creature comforts too much. Many of the
huts in this region have an impressive wine list! |
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You
will also develop your technical abilities, such
as crossing crevasses, route finding, crevasse rescue,
and becoming efficient at avalanche prediction and
avalanche tranceiver searches. |
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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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So
why choose Icicle? |
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We
are true specialists in ski touring. See our blog,
by clicking on the RSS logo (on the right). |
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Itinerary
flexibility to allow you to take full advantage
of the weather and conditions each day, so that
you maximise the amount of time spent skiiing 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
summit chances possible! For more details on the
guiding team and qualifications, please click
here. |
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Brief
Course Itinerary |
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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. Night in Chamonix. |
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Itinerary
1: Hut-to-Hut
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Itinerary
2: Circuit
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| Mon |
Drive
through the Mont Blanc tunnel to the Val di Rhemes,
and from there skin up to a summit such as the Punta
Pallato 3050m, before skiing down to the Benevolo mountain
hut for the night.
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After
a short drive from Chamonix to Cogne, you ski up the
wooded valley famed for its ice climbing, before ascending
above the treeline to the Sella refuge high above the
valley. Night in mountain hut.
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| Tue |
From
the hut you set off very early to ascend another classic
ski tour summit such as the Gran Vaudale 3400m, descending
by skis all the way to the Benevolo hut for the night.
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From
the hut, you ascend towards the watershed col separating
the Cogne and Savaranches valleys. The traverse and
descent from the col is steep, leading down to the Chabot
mountain hut.
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| Wed |
A
typical day would be to traverse from the Benevolo to
the Chivasso mountain hut, and this ski tour is through
complex terrain, which is very challenging in poor visibility.
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Today
is the big ascent day to reach the summit of Gran Paradiso
4061m. You can ski to within about 100m of the summit,
then scramble to the top. Long ski descent to Victor
Emmanuel hut.
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| Thu |
From
Chivasso you ski down into the head of the Val Savaranches,
and from there skin up to reach the Victor Emmanuel
hut, where you stay for the night in preparation for
the big day tomorrow.
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Here
you enter into the most remote section of the route,
passing Tresenta to pass to the south of paradiso massif.
Don't worry, as today doesn't involve much uphill! Night
in mountain hut.
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| Fri |
Today
is the big ascent day to reach the summit of Gran Paradiso
4061m. Ski to within 100m of the summit, then scramble
to the top. Then the long ski descent to valley, and
return to Chamonix.
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The
final stage of this classic circular route as you descend
to Cogne again by a different valley system. After a
final Italian coffee, you return to Chamonix for a celebratory
meal and drinks.
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| Sat |
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. |
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| 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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| 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 |
£899 |
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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) Two nights B&B
accommodation in Chamonix (inc. bedding & towels), 6) Up
to four nights half board accommodation in mountain huts including
three course cooked evening meals. 8)
Free 36 page technical Course Instruction Booklet, 9) Road transport
in Chamonix valley and to and from Italy, 10) Chamonix office
support. |
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| Exclusions:
1) Travel to and from Chamonix, 2) Cable Cars (not usually required),
3) Ski hire, 4) Personal laundry, telephone calls, lunches,
& any purchases in mountain huts / hotels / restaurants,
5) Activities insurance, & excess baggage charges, 6) Sunday
pre-dinner drinks & Friday celebratory meal & drinks. |
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| Notes:
The
loan of all technical climbing equipment for each client is
included* in the course price as required: ice axe, 12 point
crampons, helmet, harness, ropes, ice screws, avalanche tranceiver,
avalanche probe and shovel. The
course requires a minimum number of 4 people. If there are less
than minimum numbers, the course can go ahead if you request
it, but the price will rise (for 2 people the price is £1199pp).
In this situation, should you choose not to continue your booking,
you can opt for a full refund or a transfer onto another course
or date. |
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| Upgrade
options |
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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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