Ski Touring?

Imagine being in the mountains in silence, without the hustle and bustle of lifts, without queues or background music. Just you, the crunch of skins on snow, and cold air entering your lungs. You reach the summit, breathe, and descend as a reward, feeling your body flow, the wind on your face… That is ski touring, the art of earning your descent.

Beyond skiing

Skiing on pistes is fun (usually), and even more so with friends. But ski touring is an experience that allows you to experience the mountains with different sensations. You are more present, more attentive. I would almost say it's one of the best meditations available.

Advancing with your own energy, reading the terrain, feeling your body adapt to the physical demands as your mind clears with the constant rhythm of the climb.

Where to practice it?

Ski touring has two main settings:

• Within the resort, on specific routes designed for training or getting started without avalanche risk. It's the perfect place to learn technique, get used to the equipment, and gain confidence.
• In the backcountry, where the real adventure begins. Silent forests, pristine snowfields, peaks opening before you. Here the experience multiplies, but so do the responsibilities and the need for mountain safety knowledge.

In both cases, the feeling is the same: conquering the mountain with your own effort.

Why is it so captivating?

Those who practice it know that ski touring has something magnetic.

• Silence and solitude: In daily life, we often operate on autopilot, in a hurry and without much thought, but with ski touring, away from the bustle, an intimate space opens between you and the mountain.
• Physical exertion: A cardio and strength workout like few others, testing legs and lungs. When you finish, you feel so good.
• The reward of virgin snow: When the snowpack is at its best, the sensation of floating in untracked powder is unparalleled.
• Mental connection: Each ascent is also a moving meditation, a reset from the accelerated pace of daily life.

Preparation and physical fitness

You don't need to be a professional athlete, but you do need a baseline of endurance. Uphill skiing is more demanding than hiking: the weight of the equipment and the incline add intensity. Therefore, it's advisable to arrive in winter with prior training: running, long hikes, leg strength training, or even something as simple as climbing stairs. Consistency is key.

The equipment that will accompany you

Ski touring requires specific equipment, but each piece is designed to facilitate the adventure:

• Touring bindings with walk mode.
• Boots with cuff release, allowing more natural movement during ascents.
• Climbing skins, essential for uphill progression.
• Lighter skis, which save energy on the ascent.
• Technical backpack, with space for safety gear, warm layers, water, and, of course, some food.

To this is added classic alpine skiing equipment (helmet, goggles, gloves, technical clothing). Oh! And a snack, which can be as valuable as the avalanche transceiver.

Safety

The beauty of ski touring does not hide its risks. In avalanche terrain, preparation is mandatory. Avalanches, cornices, crevasses, or simple weather changes can turn an outing into a serious challenge. Therefore, in addition to knowledge, safety equipment is non-negotiable: ARVA, shovel, and probe are as important as the skis.

The best way to learn is to enroll in snow science and rescue courses, where skills are acquired to read the terrain, anticipate dangers, and act in an emergency. The freedom of the mountains demands respect, and that respect is demonstrated through preparation.

Earning the descent

Ski touring is not about chronometers or records. It seeks something else: the intimate satisfaction of having conquered every meter of altitude gain with your own legs. Upon reaching the top, there's no rush: there's contemplation, a deep breath, the open horizon. And when you release the skins and adjust your boots, the best part arrives: gliding down with the certainty that every turn has been earned.

Because, in the end, the essence of touring is simple: the mountain gives you nothing for free, but it gives you everything back.