If you dream of taking your first steps in the exciting world of ski touring, you’ve come to the right place! In this article you will learn everything you need to know for your first ski tour: from the necessary equipment to the benefits of a ski touring course, to the careful planning of your tours and the best places in Switzerland for beginners!
*Attention* Note that ski touring as a mountain sport activity is associated with risks. Above all, winter sports require a lot of experience and continuous training in the areas of tour planning, weather and avalanche awareness. We assume no liability for missing or incorrect information in this article, which is intended as a guide and not as a “rule of thumb” for aspiring ski tourers. Before your first ski tour, think carefully about whether you have the necessary theoretical know-how to undertake your first ski tour independently and safely. If your self-assessment is “no”, we recommend you one of our avalanche courses or ski touring courses for beginners. We are happy to advise you on our offer and check your level of knowledge to offer the right offer.
Skitouring equipment
Let’s start with the essentials for a successful ski tour: the right equipment. This is the equipment you need:
- Touring skis: These special skis are designed to be suitable for both the ascent and the descent. They have skins that give you grip on the ascent. Ski touring skis are on average between 65 and 105mm wide and are built lighter than the downhill-oriented skis you’re used to at the resort. Nevertheless, they can also be used as everyday skis. Depending on body size, skiing ability and skiing style, ski touring skis for beginners are chosen slightly shorter than your height up to a maximum of your height. A few ski touring skis that we use at Exped Tribe and with which we are very satisfied are those of the brand Zag Ski from Chamonix, which is known for first-class skis worldwide.
- Skitouring binding: These bindings allow you to release the heel for the ascent and fix it again before the descent. With different mechanisms, you can thus release the heels when ascending with skins, which allows a “pull up” of the heel and a dragging of the ski on the slope. The movement that results from this is similar to that of going uphill, but without the lifting of the front foot. Before the descent you can fix the bindings again, so that the heel can no longer be lifted. Also, common ski touring bindings offer different climbing aids that allow you to continue walking upright as the slope rises. A few brands that are known for the quality of their ski touring bindings are ATK, Marker and Fritschi.
- Skitouring boots: these are specially designed, lightweight and very flexible boots that facilitate walking during the ascent. For your first ski tours, if the binding allows it (must be a frame binding and not a pin binding) you can use your conventional ski boots. The thing is: ski touring boots are on the one hand very comfortable because more flexible in the shaft movement, on the other hand the more flexible the shaft of the ski boot, the lower the skiing pleasure. Brands that offer high quality ski touring boots are among others Scarpa, Marker and Dalbello.
- Ski poles: used are mostly telescopic poles or trekking poles, which can be adjusted in height.
- Skins: You stick these to the underside of your skis to prevent them from slipping back when you’re “skinning” uphill. Ski skins can be replaced after several seasons and cut to fit the ski. Renowned skins manufacturers are Contour and Kohla.
- LVS-device (Avalanche transceiver): An absolute must for your safety! It sends and receives signals to locate buried people in avalanches. Do not skimp here! Common avalanche beacons have 3 antennas and have functions to mark multiple burials. Manufacturers are Pieps, Mammut and Ortovox. The correct use of avalanche transceivers, shovels and probes can best be learned during one of our avalanche courses.
- Shovel and probe: These two tools are crucial for rescuing avalanche victims.
- Avalanche Airbag: This can be triggered in the event of an avalanche to increase your chances of survival. An avalanche airbag usually consists of an “air cushion” that inflates through mechanical or electronic dissolution. This creates a kind of “air cushion” in the neck area that protects you from impact and keeps you on the avalanche surface. We at Exped Tribe have been testing Aerosize Avalanche airbags for two seasons and are happy with them, but other manufacturers include Mammut, Ortovox and ABS.
- Helmet: Protect your head on the descent with a quality ski helmet. A helmet is a must for mountain sports activities and is especially useful for ski touring, as the snowpack level is not always easy to evaluate and you often ski down slopes with rocks or other dangerous features.
- Warm clothing: Layer up properly to withstand the changing conditions in the mountains. Above all, when ski touring a hardshell jacket and pants must not be missing, as well as technical underwear (eg Merino underwear) and warm gloves. Also, we recommend taking an emergency bivy like this one from Alpine Outfitters Switzerland.
- Sunglasses and suncream: Due to the intense sunlight on the snow, eye and skin protection is essential. Also ski goggles can serve in the beginning, but be aware that you will probably sweat during the ascent, which can quickly cause ski goggles to tarnish. Glacier goggles or Cat.3/4 mountain goggles that offer side glare protection are therefore suitable.
Ski touring courses and avalanche training: the safe introduction to the discipline
If you have no previous ski touring experience, we recommend that you first take a ski touring course. These courses are an excellent way to learn the basics of ski touring technique, understand the important safety aspects such as avalanche awareness and first aid, and learn from experienced experts.
At Exped Tribe, you’ll find numerous ski touring courses and avalanche courses every winter, both for backcountry skiers, splitboarders and snowshoers. These trainings are worthwhile, so that nothing stands in the way of your ski touring career!
The “Art” of tour planning
Careful planning is crucial for a safe and successful ski tour. Keep the following aspects in mind when you are in the planning phase:
- Metereology: Check the current weather forecast the night before and again shortly before the tour, as bad weather can endanger your safety due to poor visibility or a cold snap. Best suited for tour planning are weather services such as Meteoblue or MeteoSchweiz
- Avalanche awareness: Understand the basics of avalanche awareness and apply them to the field with meticolous precision. What is the avalanche risk level? How steep is the slope we will be skiing? Where are objective hazards on my route? Ski touring is a very defensive activity, so it is better to be too cautious than too reckless! The avalanche bulletin in Switzerland is updated 2 times a day during the winter season: at 08:00 and at 17:00. You can find it on the website and app of White Risk.
- Rega App: We recommend this not only for your first ski tours, but for any activity on the mountain. The easy to use Rega App allows you to send out an emergency call and your coordinates are sent directly through the app, so that a localization can be done much faster.
- Route choice: As a beginner you should consider easy tours. In Switzerland there are many areas that are suitable for beginners, a few ideas for your first tour in Central Switzerland can be found in the paragraph below. Suitable difficulties for beginners are L or WS of the Skitouring difficulty grading of the SAC.
- Route planning: Plan your route thoroughly, including the ascent and descent routes and possible escape routes. As a rule of thumb, you can consider ascents between 400 and 800 m for your first ski tours, and descents that are not steeper than 30°.
Suitable tours for your first ski tour in Switzerland
Switzerland offers numerous regions that are ideal for ski touring beginners. Here are some cantons, areas and tours you can consider:
- Uri: Clearly our favorite in the range, because our mountain school is located here 😉 Uri offers as a mountain canton optimal slopes and tours to dare you the first time on deep snowy slopes. Among others, tours in the area of the Lidernenhütte (e.g. on the Rossstock or Hagelstock), in the Hospental and Andermatt area are ideal for beginners, as the slopes and descents are often wide, not too steep and not interrupted by rock sections. Examples of suitable tours in Hospental are the tours to the Schafberg and the Albert-Heim hut from Furkapass road, or the ski tour on the Stotzigen Firsten, which we have described in the following blog post:
- Graubünden: In the east of Switzerland you will find a wide range of ski touring possibilities, including the Engadin and the Oberhalbstein. Easy ski tours can be found in the Prättigau area (e.g. Sassauna or Fadeuer), in the Disentis Sedrun area (e.g. Pizzo dell’uomo and Alp Culmatsch) or in the Davos Klosters area (e.g. Sentisch Horn).
- Glarus: So close to Zurich and yet so alpine! A great beginner ski tour is for example at Chli Chärpf, with start from Elm. This tour is rated WS, yet 1430Hm of ascent await you! It may therefore not be the easiest beginner ski tour in this article. Nevertheless, your efforts are guaranteed to be rewarded with the best fluffy powder snow!
- Jura: The Jura is particularly beginner-friendly with gentle slopes and less demanding terrain.
- Valais: Valais is another hotspot for ski touring with options for beginners and advanced skiers. In this mountain paradise you will find incredible landscapes for your first ski tour. Especially in the region around the Simplon you will find easy tours like the Tochuhorn from Simplon Hospiz, the Staldhorn, the Spitzhorli or even a ski high tour on the Breithorn. Also the areas in the Lötschental (e.g. the route “Vom Hockenhorngrat” in the area of Lauchernalp) are a popular destination for pleasure and ski touring beginners.
- Bernese Oberland: More possibilities for your first ski tour can be found in the Bernese Oberland. Popular tour destinations for beginners are the Schatthore in the Simmental Lenk area, Der Stand and the Niederhore in the Diemtigtal area and the Schafhubel near Meiringen, to mention just a few of the dozens of possibilities.
Conclusion: Between equipment, planning and the right location for your first ski tour in Switzerland
Overall, Switzerland offers a rich selection of ski touring opportunities for beginners. With the right equipment, a ski touring course and knowledge of avalanche hazards, solid tour planning and appropriate preparation, nothing stands in the way of your first ski touring adventure. Take your time to research everything with enough time, don’t force too difficult tours in your first season and train also during the week to be fit for the ascent and the descent. Enjoy it, because ski touring means above all joy, freedom, happiness!
Need more information to plan your first ski tour?
This is where we from Exped Tribe come in the game!
Feel free to call us or send us your wishes via the contact form and we will get in touch with you promptly. We can immediately discuss your wishes and needs. So nothing stands in the way of your training, trial course or guided tour!
Your first ski tour: everything you need to know to tackle your first ski tour
“Through white silence we glide with majesty, With touring skis, the mountains’ proud splendor.”
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