Ski Touring in France

The Ascent

So, what's ski touring all about? It's basically hiking up mountains on skis to find awesome, untouched snow, far away from the resort crowds. You "earn your turns" by putting in the effort uphill.

Where are the best spots in France?

• Chamonix-Mont-Blanc Valley: This is the big one, the "mecca" of ski touring.

• Vanoise National Park: Think beautiful national park, great for hut-to-hut trips.

• Southern Alps (Queyras and Ecrins): A bit more chill, less crowded, and sunny!

Are you ready for it? You need to be pretty fit, good at skiing off-piste in all sorts of snow, and for the tougher stuff, know your mountaineering skills (crampons, ice axe, ropes, etc ).

Get a guide! Seriously. Especially for glaciers or multi-day trips. They know the mountains, the weather, and how to keep you safe from things like avalanches and crevasses. Look for IFMGA certified guides.

Gear up! You'll need special touring skis, boots, poles, and definitely avalanche safety gear: transceiver, shovel, and probe. You can rent most of it.

Safety first, always!

Check the daily avalanche bulletin from Météo France. It tells you the risk level (1 to 5).

• Even low ratings aren't totally safe, so pay attention.

• Most avalanches happen on slopes like steep red or black runs (35-45 degrees).

• Keep an eye out for recent avalanches and listen for "whoomphing" sounds (bad news!).

• Intermediate: Day trips like Col des Dards (700m uphill, amazing views!) and Col des Autannes. Or try a 2-day intro to glacier travel with the Argentière Glacier Trip.

Advanced:

• The Vallée Blanche: A classic 20km off-piste run. You NEED a guide for this one.

• Chamonix-Zermatt Haute Route: A legendary 6-day tour, super tough, lots of climbing with crampons.

• Ski Ascent of Mont Blanc: The ultimate challenge, 3 days, crazy fitness, and serious mountaineering skills needed.

• It's France's first national park, so it's beautiful and wild.

• Great for multi-day trips, linking up summits and passes.

• The Classic Vanoise Ski Tour is 5-6 days, starting near the Trois Vallées and ending in Val d'Isère. Expect some glacier skiing and even a bit of roped climbing. Day 4 has a big 1420m climb!

• Lots of sunshine and fewer people.

• Intermediate (Queyras): Perfect for stepping up your game. Try a 3-day hut-to-hut trip with about an 850m ascent and some fun steep gullies.

• Advanced (La Grave & Ecrins): This is for the experts. La Grave is ungroomed and unpatrolled, so it's wild. The Tour de la Meije is a hardcore 4-day ski mountaineering adventure, complete with rappels and climbing with skis on your back.

• Jan: Cold, fresh powder, empty slopes, cheaper. But shorter days and unpredictable weather.

• Feb: More lively, good weather, but super crowded and expensive (school holidays!).

• Mar-Apr: Sunny, longer days, great spring snow. Can get slushy lower down in the afternoon.

When to go?

• Hut life: You'll stay in mountain huts – basic but comfy. They usually include dinner and breakfast, and you'll sleep in dorms. Bring a sleeping bag liner!
• Chamonix: What's on offer?
• Vanoise National Park: Hut-to-Hut Heaven!
• Southern Alps: Escape the Crowds!

Planning your trip:

Bottom line: Ski touring is an amazing journey of self-discovery. Pick your route based on your skills, respect the mountain, understand the risks, and get ready for some unforgettable adventures!