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Verbier Off Piste Clinics
2011
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FEEDBACK:
"What a week of amazing powder! I love skiing couloirs
and can't wait to come back.
Thanks for a great week." Julie T, Southampton 2008
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| Courses
Overview |
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Verbier
is famous for being the town in the centre of one the
biggest ski areas in the world. The Four Valleys have
over 400km of runs, with plentiful off piste providing
challenging runs for intermediate to expert skiiers.
It is the home of free skiing with the off piste made
accessible by efficient cable cars or very short walk
ins.
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During
this week you will challenge and enhance your skiing ability,
with long descents down steep gullies and couloirs, or
through deep powder down into hidden valleys. We run this
course on Level 1 & 2 Clinic levels. |
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For
the level 2 course you should be a similar level to
those on our Chamonix Off Piste Level 2 course with
at least a week's previous off piste experience, such
as previously attending the Chamonix Level 1 course.
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Your
expert IFMGA Mountain & Ski Guide will show you some
of the most remote regions of the Verbier region, whilst
improving your technique and looking after your safety.
As with all our courses, you are taught important skills
such as avalanche awareness and tranceiver searches, digging
snow pits, essential Alpine ropework, route finding over
glaciers, and crevasse rescue systems. |
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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. Our aim
is for you to enjoy a challenging, thrilling, great off
piste week. |
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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:
30
Jan - 5 Feb 2011, 13 - 19 March 2011.
For current availability on these courses click
here. |
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The
course at a glance... |
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| •7
days, running from Sunday to Saturday.
Price £699pp, includes accommodation. |
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Avalanche safety kit (ARVA tranceiver, probe and shovel)
is provided for the course. |
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Top tip... there is also an upgrade option of a day of
heli-skiing (see below). |
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You could also consider... Haute
Route
or
Chamonix
Off Piste Clincs |
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Course
Photo Gallery
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Brief
Course Itinerary
The
itinerary of this course is adapted daily to cater for the best
snow conditions, and your improving ski level, but these details
should give an idea of what you can achieve during the week.
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| Sun |
Travel
to Verbier to arrive in the hotel for the 19.00 meeting
with your Guide and the rest of your group. There is an
itinerary briefing and time for equipment checks. Briefings
are over by 20:00 and the Guide usually accompanies the
group for a drink in the bar. Night in Verbier. |
| Mon |
Based from the Savolyres lifts, today is a day to ski
the powder on the Northern slopes. It is a day to get
your ski legs back, build your confidence, test your equipment,
and run through the key safety techniques of avalanche
prediction and transceiver searches. Night
in Verbier. |
| Tue |
For
over 25 years the runs from the top of Mont Gele have
provided some of the best and wildest skiing in Verbier.
The lifts have the highest elevation in the valley at
3030m. From the top there are some exposed ridge sections,
but with drops into fantastic powder filled couloirs.
Night in Verbier. |
| Wed |
Today
is a day to experience the hidden gems of the Verbier
region. This could be based from Torta or Gentianes, to
access the famous runs of Stairway to Heaven or Rock Garden,
or to enjoy the deep powder on Marlene. Due to the altitude
base at 1500m, powder in the region stays untracked for
many days which offers free skiing down challenging chutes
and through hidden valleys.
Night in Verbier. |
| Thu |
The
aim of today is to reach the highest summit of Verbier,
Mont Fort at 3330m, and to ski the long 2000m vertical
descent run via the Glacier de la Grand Desert to Siviez.
The cable car takes us up to just 30m below the rocky
summit ridge, and from here there is a short exposed climb
over the iced up rock which is protected by a fixed rope,
and a helpful rope from your Guide! From the summit the
panoramic views are amazing, with the towering peaks of
the Matterhorn and Mont Blanc. The long descent down the
backside of Mont Fort is adreanaline packed and should
not to be missed!
Night in Verbier. |
| Fri |
This
is either a day for more challenging runs in the region,
or for the opportunity to upgrade to try a day of heli-skiing
(see upgrades notes below) - weather and conditions dependent).
There is also the opportunity, if the group would like
to try a day of ski touring, of the short climb on touring
skins to reach the stunning Col du St. Bernard with its
famous Monastery and great views. Final celebratory dinner
& night in Verbier. |
| Sat |
Breakfast,
then depart for home. It is also possible to extend your
stay in Verbier for an extra night so you can enjoy a
day of extra free skiing unguided, and depart on the Sunday
(supplement payable). |
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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
days guiding, 7 days holiday in total |
£699 |
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Premium
course
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7
days guiding, 8 days holiday in total
(Standard course plus Acclimatisation weekend)
LINK |
£798 |
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Secure
online booking system |
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Course Inclusions: 1) IFMGA Mountain Guides for five
days and all their lift passes and fees, 2) Pre course information
booklet, 4) Equipment discount voucher for UK kit shops, 5)
Accommodation in the Verbier ski area (includes linen, bedding
& towels), 6) Free 36 page technical Course Instruction
Booklet. |
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| Exclusions:
1) Travel to and from Verbier, 2) Cable Cars & uplift (ski
pass for the week), 3) Ski / boot hire, 4) Personal laundry,
telephone calls, lunches, & any purchases in mountain huts
/ hotels / restaurants, 5) Transport outside the Verbier valley,
6) 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). 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 £999).
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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Acclimatisation
Weekend
£99
(throughout the season) |
To
get the most out your course, acclimatisation is essential
so that you minimise the chances of AMS (altitude sickness)
later on during your course,
details. |
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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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