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Icicle
Snowshoeing Guides
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Experience
of snowshoe guides
All
our snowshoeing leaders are qualified UIMLA guides, and in
addition they have all been trained in the more advanced skills
of avalanche awareness, and snowshoeing techniques. We insist
that all our leaders are based out in the Alps throughout
the year, so they have a great local knowledge, and an intimate
awareness of the snow pack and its evolution to maximise your
safety.
If there is any risk then you will be equipped with avalanche
tranceivers for the day. These are emergency beacons so that
the guide or rescue team can locate you quickly and dig you
out. Also the leader will carry snow shovels and avalanche
probes. This point is not to scare you, but to show the lengths
to which we go to ensure your safety at all times.
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Sponsored
by GV Snowshoes
We
are very kindly sponsored by GV Snowshoes of Canada, and
our guides are using Polar Trail snowshoes in the 2008/9
season. Click on the logo on the left to visit GV Snowshoes
website. They are the leading manufacturer of snowshoes
in Canada & now export their snowshoes to Europe.
This year GV are celebrating 50 years of trading, as they
were established in 1959. |
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Articles
on Snowshoe Magazine
We
are regular contributors to the Snowshoe Magazine, and
you can read some of our articles by clicking on the logo
on the left. This website is also a great resource for
reading reviews on different types of snowshoe, the racing
circuit in Europe and North America, and also reports
on snowshoeing around the world. |
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Qualifications
of snowshoe leaders
During the day, our focus is on
your comfort, enjoyment, education and safety, all of
which are equally important. To balance all these goals
is a challenging task, and we ensure that you are led
by the most qualified leader possible, an International
Mountain Leader (IML) who is dual registered with both
the British and French Associations of International
Mountain Leaders, as well as holding the all important
carnet of the Union of International Mountain Leaders
(UIMLA). The Accompagnateur / IML qualification takes
most people about five years to attain, and is a legal
requirement in the Alps.
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Why
to hire a snowshoeing leader
By using an IML to take you on
a snowshoe trek, you are hiring far more than someone
to show you the way. You will learn about the environment
and Alpine animals, as well as the geography, history,
and geomorphology of the region. In terms of safety
you will learn how to use avalanche tranceivers and
to assess the safety of the snow conditions. They can
advise you best on what equipment to take, clothing
to wear, and all about the area.
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Photo:
the Chalets de Loriaz with Mont Blanc in the background. This
is a popular day snowshoe trek.
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