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Zermatt
Off Piste Clinics
2011
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FEEDBACK:
"Zermatt is brilliant as everything is so accessible
and compact. Skiing past the
North Face of the Matterhorn was fantastic." Tanya
S, Cheltenham, 2007
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| Courses
Overview |
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For
those looking for challenging off piste in stunning
scenery, this could not be better as you are surrounded
by over 29 mountains higher than 4000m. From the highest
cable car of the Klein Matterhorn at over 3800m you
can ski all the way back to the valley with over 2200m
of vertical descent.
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For
this 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 Zermatt 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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By
the end of the week you should have enhanced your skiing
ability in this amazingly varied terrain, from tree skiing,
to deep powder, to steep couloirs and even some cliff
jumps (optional, for the brave....!!). |
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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:
23
- 29 January 2011, 20 - 26 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 £799pp, 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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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 Zermatt 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 Zermatt. |
| Mon |
Your first day is a test day of runs from the stunningly
located Gornergrat cable car. Starting from opposite the
main Zermatt train station, this train takes you up to
the start of the runs through a range of spectacular Alpine
vistas with stunning mountain peaks in every direction.
The slopes of the Riffelberg area are gentle and easy
to build your confidence and give you time to get your
ski legs back. Night
in Zermatt. |
| Tue |
Today
is based from the more challenging Stockhorn cable car.
Your
Guide will take you through the
huge untracked powder fields, with demanding runs through
the trees. As
Zermatt is both high in altitudes with an abundance of
north facing slopes, huge areas of powder snow or spring
(corn) can still be found many days after it falls
- and your Guide will know where to find it! Night in
Zermatt. |
| Wed |
The
most recognisable mountain in the world is the Matterhorn
which towers over Zermatt. Perfectly mountain shaped,
this mountain was used as the inspiration for Toblerone
chocolate. A week of off piste in Zermatt is not complete
without a day skiing the longest run in Zermatt from the
high Klein Matterhorn ski station where you can descend
all the way back to Zermatt past the North face of the
Matterhorn - a distance of over 17 kilometers, but you
are not just limited to the pistes.
Night in Zermatt. |
| Thu |
A
day of high adrenaline! Today is an opportunity to stray
further from the pistes and cable cars to try some 'hidden
gems' of Zermatt, with steep couloir skiing and some cliff
jumps. Night in Zermatt. |
| Fri |
This
is either a day for more challenging runs, or the opportunity
to upgrade to try a day of heli-skiing (see upgrades notes
below) - weather and conditions dependent). A big day!.
Night in Zermatt. |
| Sat |
Breakfast,
then depart for home. It is also possible to extend your
stay in Zermatt 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 |
£799 |
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Premium
course
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7
days guiding, 8 days holiday in total
(Standard course plus Acclimatisation weekend)
LINK |
£898 |
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Secure
online booking system |
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Course Inclusions: 1) IFMGA Mountain Guides for five
days and all their fees and ski pass, 2) Pre course information
booklet, 4) Equipment discount voucher for UK kit shops, 5)
Accommodation in Zermatt (includes linen, bedding & towels),
Free 36 page technical Course Instruction Booklet. |
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| Exclusions:
1) Travel to and from Zermatt, 2) Cable Cars & upift (ski
pass for week), 3) Ski / boot hire, 4) Personal laundry, telephone
calls, lunches, & any purchases in mountain huts / hotels
/ restaurants, 5) Transport outside the Zermatt 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 £1099).
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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