Ski touring is also called ski mountaineering and is becoming more and more popular with experienced skiers looking to explore immaculate, untouched areas of the resort. Skiing on perfectly groomed slopes is great, but more and more skiers are choosing to venture off to other parts of the resort.
Ski touring in Morzine in the Portes du Soleil ski area
There is nothing quite like skiing in powder snow. This amazing feeling has to be earned though and you’ll have to use ski skins to climb to the top before enjoying the ultimate reward as you ski down through the immaculate snow!
Ski touring is an all-round sport that requires both endurance and technique. It is a great way to enjoy the wide-open spaces that cannot be reached via the ski lifts. Far from the crowds, you’ll be overcome by an indescribable feeling of utter freedom!
For the uphill climb, you’ll need to concentrate on your heart rate to make sure you don’t use up all your energy too quickly, focus on your technique with every step and don’t forget to admire the scenery all around you of course! It would be a shame not to enjoy the views! On the way down, just enjoy the well-deserved rush after all that effort.
We bet many of you dream about trying ski touring! No more queuing at the ski lifts and then skiing down the slopes in amongst the other skiers. Instead, come and explore the wide-open spaces in the midst of nature! And as an added bonus, there’s nothing better than ski touring to stay in shape!
Go ski touring in complete safety. Ski touring is not permitted on the ski slopes. It may be tolerated on some slopes between 5.30pm and 7.30pm. During this time frame, ski tourers are solely responsible for their actions and they cannot be rescued by ski slope staff. We also recommend equipping yourself with lights so you can see and be seen. Other than during this time frame and on specific slopes, night time skiing is very dangerous, particularly because this is when the slopes are groomed. An official notice will be published to specify on which slopes ski touring is authorised.
We recommend you double check with the ski slope staff at the beginning of the next season. Ski touring is permitted in all non-marked-out (off-piste) areas. But make sure you plan your route before setting off and respect all the safety guidelines. The areas that are not marked-out are not completely safe! Ski touring can be dangerous, which is why it is of the utmost importance to have all the right gear for this sport, as well as the necessary safety equipment (avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe). Before setting off into the mountains, we recommend you tell at least one other person where you are going and for how long you expect to be gone.
Don’t hesitate to call upon a guide or qualified instructor when you’re planning on venturing into areas that are neither marked-out nor entirely safe. The mountain professionals know where the dangerous areas are and where you can go ski touring in complete safety. They will also tell you all about local wildlife, about the surrounding mountains and above-all, will take you to all the best places so you can really get the most out of your outing. Get ready to see the most beautiful scenery and the best views in the Portes du Soleil!
