ski touring- becoming independent: safety training course

The guide welcomes you at our offices, close to the SNCF station, with a coffee, tea or yogi tee.
We then check everyone’s equipment and bags and fit you out with the equipment you have requested for hire.
(If you’d like to add to your equipment, our small shop has a great range of specialist mountain gear and textiles.)

The guide will give you the day’s weather forecast and the BRA (avalanche risk bulletin), the aim being to interpret the BERA accurately and plan the safest route in terms of avalanche risk.

Then, depending on the snow conditions at the time, departure for a ski tour.

The objectives of the day will be :
– Observe the state of the snow cover in the field.
– identify "critical" terrain situations on a map
– recognise typical avalanche situations
– plan a route in detail
– communicate with a group to share decisions and enforce instructions
– adopt an overall methodology to ensure smooth, safe outing
– make a route that is safe, comfortable, aesthetically pleasing and respectful of the environment.

At the end of the afternoon, back to our accommodation. Thanks to the experience and knowledge acquired during this first day, you will decide on the most appropriate outing for the following day, referring to the latest weather and avalanche bulletins, with maps to hand.

Night in a gîte.

It’s up to you - each skier will be invited to lead the group.
The guide will advise you on the most suitable route and the knowledge acquired the day before will be pu into practice to plan an enjoyable and safe outing.

The routes generally offer an average climb of 1000 m.

End of our training course late afternoon in L’Argentière-La-Bessée.

NB : The programme is intended as a guide only. It could be modified at any time by the mountain guide for safety reasons, weather conditions or regarding the physical and technical level of the skiers.

This course has been specially designed to provide you with the most up-to-date and essential knowledge about snow cover. The instructor, a specialist in the field, will use teaching aids and slide shows to help you understand and visualise the metamorphoses of snow. In the field, we’ll go and make stratigraphic sections while enjoying the pleasures of the slopes. You’ll learn how to analyse a snow and weather report to decide which outing is best suited to the conditions at the time.

8 participants maximum. Departure is guaranteed from 4 participants. You will be notified at least 48 hours before departure in the event of cancellation. Where possible, an alternative solution will be offered.

NB : For cancellation conditions for privatised trips (made up groups) please refer to our conditions of sale.

Please note that we offer some of this equipment for rental, they are indicated by a * in the list below, you will find rental prices in the "Gear rental and extras prices" section.

Equipment rental and changes are only possible before payment of the balance of your booking (45 days before departure). We advise you to take the time, as soon as you register, to list the equipment you already have or which can be lent to you. Any equipment initially rented from ROC ECRINS even not taken on the day of departure must be paid for.

The head

• Sunglasses class 4*protective lenses
• Ski goggles
• A mountaineering or skiing helmet*
• A warm hat
• Sunscreen high protection (30 and 50)

The body

• A mountain rucksack * suitable to carry skis if necessary, approx. 25 litres
• A long-sleeved top, prefer merino wool to synthetic fabrics as the are more breathable
• A fleece or soft shell jacket
• A warm down jacket
• A Gore-tex waterproof jacket*to protect against rain, snow and wind
• An avalanche transceiver (avalanche transceiver) + shovel* and probe*.

Hands

• A pair of thin leather ou fleece gloves and a warmer pair with a waterproof membrane

Legs

• Ideally a Gore-tex type ski trousers *with with long side zips. For cold days, a long warm underwear may be worn underneath

The feet

• Ski touring skis *
• Ski skins* in good condition
• Ski crampons* suitable for your bindings
• Ski touring boots
  
• Telescopic ski poles*
• A spare pair of socks

Miscellaneous

• Bring containers for around 2 litres of water, ideally a one-litre bottle plus smaller ones to keep warm and close to your body in your jacket.
• Small knife
• Small thermos flask
• Camera
• Small first-aid kit adapted to your personal needs, also containing elastoplast and double-skin dressings for any blisters.

This list is not exhaustive and should be completed with all what you may specifically need.

ROC ECRINS proposes for sale equipment adapted to your activity and your stay DIRECTLY on our premises in L’Argentière-La Bessée where we will welcome you on the first day . Don’t hesitate to ask us for advice or ask your guide on site.

BRANDS ON SALE :

• BEAL (Climbing and mountaineering harnesses, slings, descenders, carabiners, quickdraws, belay gloves, climbing bags, headlamps, mountaineering helmets and climbing helmets, ropes ...)
• CAMP (Climbing and mountaineering axes, liquid chalk and chalk)
• SALEWA (Mountaineering shoes)
• CASSIN (Mountaineering crampons)
• ALTITUDE EYEWEAR (Sunglasses category 3 & 4)
• YYVERTICAL (Climbing safety glasses)
• NATURAL PEAK (Technical T-shirts in wood fibre, long and short sleeves and leggings)
• ICEBREAKER (Merino wool technical T-shirts, long and short sleeves and leggings)
• DYNAFIT (Ski touring boots, second-hand and new ski touring skis)
• LES BATONS D’ALAIN (Hiking poles and ski touring)
• LABORATOIRE BIARRITZ (ecological sun cream, body, face & lips)
• COMPEED (Double skin plaster to prevent blisters ...)
• BOULES QUIESS (Ear plugs for good nights in refuges...)

Ski touring is dependent on different factors that we can sometimes neither anticipate nor control; we may therefore have to modify the programme of our high mountain holidays before or during the stay for various reasons:

• if the weather and/or snow conditions make it impossible to carry out the planned programme and/or
• if there is a delay in the opening or early closure of a ski lift or refuge

In these cases, we will offer you an alternative programme, sometimes on the day of departure, which you may not refuse.

Ski touring, as all mountain activities have some level of risk particularly of avalanche or injury in the event of a fall.
To reduce the hazards that they are exposed to skiers must follow the safety instructions given by the instructor.

No medical certificate required to take part in our trips, but it may be useful to check with your doctor that you have no contraindications (particularly in the case of chronic illness) to physical activity in the high mountains.

If you are undergoing any particular treatment, please let us know so that we can take appropriate measures if necessary.

Altitude can cause acute mountain sickness when you are not sufficiently acclimatised, also known as AMS. In most cases, it is accompanied by headaches, nausea and a general feeling of discomfort, but in the most serious cases it can lead to pulmonary or cerebral oedema, requiring an immediate descent.

To make the most of this day, you need to be in very good physical condition and practise an endurance sport regularly.
This ski tour is aimed at skiers who are at ease on red runs in all types of snow and who master the equipment and specific techniques of ski touring.

By state-certified mountain guides or trainees mountain guides (aspirant guides) from the Roc Écrins team. They will have a VHF radio connected to the emergency services, a satellite phone or a mobile phone. They will also have a collective first-aid kit.

*A trainee mountain guide is a guide in training who is authorised to work and supervise climbs from their third year of training. They are not beginners, as it takes several years of practice and training to build up a list of routes and have the experience and technical level required to enter the mountain guide training course.

To take part in one of our stays, you must be properly insured for the chosen activity (rescue and repatriation costs) in the event of an incident or accident occurring during the stay. (We strongly recommend that this also includes cancellation cover). It is your responsibility to check the cover provided by your personal insurance policy. If you do not have such an insurance, you can take out the EUROP ASSISTANCE contract when you sign up. The amount of the "ASSISTANCE" insurance covering repatriation, rescue and search costs represents 2.4% of the price of the stay. MULTIRISK" insurance covering assistance, cancellation, loss of luggage and interruption of holiday, represents 5.6% of the price of the holiday.

In a gîte in Vallouise-Pelvoux. Overnight stays in rooms for two to four people, bedsheets provided. Bring your own towels. For dinner home cooking with mountain specialities and good traditional recipes using fresh local and organic produce wherever possible.

This accommodation is subject to availability at the time of booking.

Skiers will carpool from the meeting point to the start of the course.

• To join us: Please bring suitable equipment for your vehicle (snow tyres or snow chains), MANDATORY on some of the roads used during your stay. >HAUTES-ALPES.FR

The Pays des Ecrins region has excellent transport links.

If you’re coming by train,

The SNCF provides direct daily services from Paris, Marseille and Grenoble to L’Argentière-la-Bessée station.
PLEASE NOTE: the Pays des Ecrins station is called "L’Argentière les Ecrins". You must specify the full name of the station when booking, otherwise you may receive a ticket for "l’Argentière" station in Savoie.

• TGV connection, Paris-Turin. Get off at Oulx then take the shuttle to Briançon and l’Argentière.
• TGV connection, Paris-Valence or Paris-Grenoble with bus connections
• Night trains from Paris and the East of France. Information www.sncf.connect.fr
• from Nice, Marseille or Gap, regular bus services (www.autocars-scal.fr - 04 92 51 06 05)

If you are coming by car,

• From the north, take the A48 motorway to Grenoble, then the Col du Lautaret (RN91). Drive through Briançon towards Gap. You enter the Pays des Écrins at Saint-Martin de Queyrières.

• From Italy, take the A43 Maurienne motorway through the Fréjus tunnel, then the Col de Montgenèvre. Drive through Briançon towards Gap.

• From the south, take the A51 motorway to La Saulce, then head for Briançon (RN 94). You enter the Pays des Écrins at La Roche de Rame.

• Mountain guiding service , including their meals, overnight accommodation
• Full board accommodation in a gite from the first evening to the lunch on the last day, picnic lunch
• Organisation and reservations (accommodation, guide, equipment) of your stay

• We welcome you to our premises for a cup of coffee or tea and equip you on site
• Free parking is available at the meeting point
• You can have a shower at the end of your stay
• You have free access to a relaxation area with Wifi, toilets, microwave, etc. while you wait for your train (5 minutes’ walk from the station)
• You can leave a bag with your personal belongings on the ROC ÉCRINS premises during your stay
• You will receive a 10% discount on our entire sales area (ROC ÉCRINS customers only)

Mountains are a magic place, a place where wildlife is still present and a place of great freedom That’s why we like it so much as well as so many more and more people. But it’s also a fragile environment that need to be respected and protected. Please follow few simple rules of good behavior: stay on the trails, don’t take anything, don’t throw anything away, and be discreet. The mountains are one of the last silent places, and this silence is a treasure to be cherished, respected and shared!

IN THE MOUNTAIN, you’ll be roped up with your guide, your friends or other people you don’t know, all united by the same goal. It’s all about helping each other, not only within the group but also with anyone else who need help. And don’t forget when walking: those who go down let the way to those who go up.

IN THE REFUGE also, it’s important to respect certain rules. You’ll need to take your shoes off to go up to the dormitories; sleepers are provided for this purpose.
Don’t forget that climbers get up very early in the morning so please be discreet. When leaving the dormitory , it’s
usual to fold the blanket.

At the end of the day or of the stay it’s customary to offer a drink to the group
to soothe moments of doubt and fear, and/or to celebrate the summit, sharing the day’s
strong, funny and joyful moments. And, if you feel like it, at the end of your stay, you
can thank your guide with a small tip, an old tradition but nothing is mandatory.

To book your trip :

• complete the pre-registration form online
• You will receive a booking contract by email. It sets out the details of your booking as well as the schedule and payment terms.
• On receipt of this contract, the deposit of 30% must be payed within 4 days in accordance with the terms and conditions set out in the contract. Your registration can only be confirmed when the deposit has been payed.
• The balance must be paid 45 days before the departure. Please note that any balance not paid within 45 days of departure will be considered as a cancellation of your booking. Financial withholding would therfore be applied in accordance with our terms and conditions of sale.
• For a of a booking made less than 45 days before departure, the total amount of the booking must be paid on receipt of the booking contract in accordance with the terms and conditions set out therein.