Join us in Engelberg on February 5th and 6th for a beginners avalanche safety and ski tour course
With Corona coming back, and potentially another lockdown on the horizon, how about learning an activity that you can do outdoors, even when the ski Lifts are closed? Ski touring was one of those activities that has seen a surge in popularity last season as everything was shutdown. The problem was that all equipment sold out immediately, and many did not have the opportunity to try it. Now, we bring you a two-day beginners camp to learn ski touring and avalanche safety. If you ever wanted to learn how to ski tour, this is your opportunity! With all that is happening right now, ski touring allows you to go out there, no matter what is open or closed. And with a basic course like this, you will be able to join other ski touring groups as well.
Our ski touring weekend course consists of an avalanche safety course on Saturday, and overnight stay in Engelberg, and a beginner’s ski tour on Sunday. All activities are led by our certified and experienced mountain guide Beni Bühler. We have had TONS of Adventures together already, Including mountaineering, ice climbing, and outdoor climbing courses. Read about the adventures here.
Our Outdoor Adventures:
What is Ski Touring?
Wikipedia defines ski touring as “Skiing in the backcountry or unpatrolled areas”, but that does not do it justice. Skiing is the activity done least in terms of time. Because the activity takes place in the back country, there are no lifts to get you up to the top of the mountain. Most of the time is spent ascending the mountains, which is a great work out! The skiing part is just the reward for your hard day’s work. Ski tours can vary in length and difficulty. Some of the most famous ones, like the Haute Route, take over a week and go all the way from Chamonix to Zermatt. Tours like the Haute Route take a lot of preparation, and since it goes over glaciers and through high alpine territory, it is recommended go plan these tours together with a mountain guide and is only something for experienced ski tourers.
Avalanches are a serious concern when ski touring. Therefore, an avalanche safety course is a prerequisite for anyone who wishes to participate in ski tours. The avalanche safety course can be split into two categories: 1. Tour planning and assessing avalanche risk, and 2. Recuse operation when someone is caught in an avalanche. Of course, everything should be done to avoid the risk of being caught in an avalanche, but the danger is always present, and the risk cannot be reduced to zero.
Requirements
While you do not need to have ski toured before, and there is no requirement to be great at skiing off-piste, you should be a good skier already and know how to get down a black slope. If you don’t know how to ski yet, then we recommend to first learn to do so on a prepared slope. Otherwise, there are no requirements apart from being fit enough for a five-hour hike. Please see below what equipment will need for both days.
Location
The beginners ski tour weekend will take place in Engelberg. A central location easily reached from almost all corners of Switzerland. Engelberg has some great opportunities for ski touring and there are a multitude of hotels to choose from. We have chosen, and reserved for you, the Hotel Terrace. Centrally located in Engelberg, we have double rooms and access to a Sauna and Steam Bath! Breakfast is included on Sunday morning.
Itinerary
We meet by the Engelberg Train station on Saturday. From there, we head on over to our hotel to drop equipment that we will not need for the avalanche safety course. At the hotel, we will also meet our Guide before heading out directly into the mountains for the avalanche safety course. The practical part of the safety course will cover the functionality of the LVS devices and how to locate a buried person, how to use a probe and the best way to shovel snow. In the theoretical part, we will learn how to evaluate avalanche risk by using a multitude of online and offline resources. The best way to stay safe is to never get into an avalanche in the first place.
After the avalanche safety course, we will check in to our hotel and get some free time to freshen up. If you want to use the Sauna or Steam bath, now is your chance! Later in the evening, we are planning an optional group Dinner for those who wish to socialize a bit more.
On Sunday, we will have an early start. After a quick breakfast, we will be heading out to the mountains with our ski touring equipment. The whole day is dedicated to learning ski touring and how to use the equipment. Additionally, we will check your knowledge about avalanche safety. The exact route will be planned by our mountain guide and will depend on the conditions. We plan to be in the mountains most of the day and expect to be back in the village only in the late afternoon.
Hopefully satisfied, we will pick up any baggage left at the hotel before saying our goodbyes and heading home
Equipment
The Event will take place in almost any weather. Make sure you bring enough warm layers, including waterproof clothing. Otherwise, you will need the following technical equipment: Avalanche Safety it (LVS, Probe, shovel), touring skis, ski furs, ski crampons, ski poles, touring ski boots. If you prefer a split board, you are welcome to join too!
In terms of clothing, the following is recommended: Thermal underwear, underlayer (shirt, pants), pullover, down jacket, soft shell jacket, rain layer, ski socks, hat, under gloves, thick gloves, scarf or buff, personal medicine, camera, chargers, sunglasses, sunscreen, lip balm with sun protection, water/tea bottle, backpack, warm boots. – First aid Kid will be carried by our mountain guide.
Pro Tip! Bring a change of clothing that you can leave in the hotel or a car.
Costs
The cost for the event is 490 CHF per person and includes the salary for the mountain guide for two days as well as their expenses (their overnight and travel). It also includes one night in a shared double room in the three-star hotel “Terrace” in Engelberg. Breakfast is included in our rate and the hotel has a sauna and steam bath on offer that can be used free of charge.
Not included in the costs are your travel to and from the event, as well as any personal expense for snacks or drinks during the stay and the mountain guide tip.Tipping is optional and your personal choice, Personally, I give 10-25 CHF per day – . Dinner on Saturday will be organized, but is optional, and costs are to be paid individually. Any rental equipment you require must be organized and paid for from your side. We may or may not need a ski ticket for the ski lift, depending on the tour. This ticket is not included in the pricing.
Other Notes
We do not have breakfast or lunch reservations on Saturday. Make sure to eat a healthy breakfast before arriving in Engelberg and bring a packed lunch and some snacks. Dinner on Saturday is not included. We are planning an optional group Dinner, either in the Hotel or in another restaurant once we know how many participants we are. The Dinner is not included in the price and is optional.
Sunday morning, we have breakfast included but need a bring a packed lunch to the ski tour. Depending on the tour we take on Sunday, we plan to finish around the late afternoon in Engelberg. We can leave our baggage in the hotel and can pick it up after the ski tour before we depart.
Covid
Since we will be staying at a hotel, C19 Certification is required for this event. You must be healthy to attend this event. Proof of vaccination must be provided in the Swiss Covid App. This is a G1 event.
Cancellation policy
Registration is confirmed once we receive your payment. Cancellation from your side before February 3rd, we can refund 50% of the event costs. We cannot refund cancellations after February 3rd. The event requires a minimum of four participants, otherwise it will be cancelled. If the event is cancelled from our side, a full refund will be issued.
