Inaccessible by car as early as the first snow falls block the road of St Bernard pass by the end of October, until the road is opened by snowploughs by the beginning of June, Great St Bernard hospice is a magic place, where the canons warmly welcome travelers, standing by Saint Bernard de Menthon's commitments: "The canons of our religious order must go to the travelers' assistance, when these travelers are in distress, either lost in the mountains, or freezing in the storm".
In the surroundings of the hospice, many easy peaks can be climbed and skied, offering beautiful viewpoints on Mont-Blanc group. As the hospice is far from the big ski resorts, just a few skiers will be met during the tour, a authentic ski tour token. The hospice provides excellent comfort, with 4 beds heated sleeping rooms, hot showers, lounges. Free round trip shuttle from Geneva Airport.
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Transfer to Bourg Saint Bernard, ascent up to the hospice of Great St Bernard pass. Meeting place at Geneva Airport at 07.30 am. Transfer in your guide's car to Bourg Saint Bernard (6,322 feet), a very small ski resort on the Swiss side of the pass. Ascent up to hospice, passing by "Death valley" (la combe des morts), where many travelers died in the 18th and the 19th century, while attempting to pass from Switzerland to Italy during the winter storms. We have a picnic stop before the last ascent leading to the hospice. Arrival at the hospice, 8,071 feet, in the beginning of the afternoon. By mid-afternoon, we train to Avalanche rescue close to the hospice. Night by the hospice. Duration of the ascent: 2 hours. Difference of level: 1,749 feet up, 0 feet down.
Day 2: With light backpack, ascent of Mont Fourchon, 9,521 feet. Starting with a short descent on the Italian side of the pass, we reach "Tour des Fous", a nice rocky peak dividing the south slopes. We put on seal skins and ascend nice combs till Mont Fourchon peak, placed exactly on the Italy - Switzerland border, a fantastic viewpoint on the Swiss and Italian slopes of Mont-Blanc group. We ski down small valleys till "Pain de Sucre", close to Baou chalet, a good place for picnic. Early in the afternoon, a short ascent of half an hour leads us back to the hospice. Night by the hospice. Duration of the ascents: 2 hours and a half. Difference of level: 2,270 feet up, 2,270 feet down.
Day 3: With light backpack, ascent of Tête Crévacol, 8,563 feet. A nice descent on the Italian side of the pass leads us to the footbridge of Farcox stream, 6,417 feet. There begins the pleasant ascent, through forests of larch trees, combs and mountain pastures, leading to Tête Crévacol, 9,521 feet. Picnic on the summit, facing Gran Paradiso group. Superb descent back to Farcox stream, and way up back to the pass and the hospice. Duration of the ascents: 4 hours. Difference of level: 3,799 feet up, 3,799 feet down.
Day 4: Ascent of Tête de Fonteinte, 9,104 feet, and Drone peak pass, 9,386 feet. Way down back to Bourg Saint Bernard. Transfer to Geneva airport. The icing on the cake. A very short descent on the Italian side of the pass, and there begins the ascent up to la Fenêtre d'En Haut, 8,937 feet. From la Fenêtre, a quick ascent of 5 minutes leads us to a viewpoint peak named Tête de Fonteinte, 9,104 feet, with views on Mont-Blanc, Grandes Jorasses, Val Ferret, Val of Aosta. Ascent, partly with skis "at the slope", to Drone peak pass, 9,386 feet. There begins a long coomb, wide, easy to ski, going right down till Bourg Saint Bernard, a long moment of pleasure for skiers. End of the programme at Bourg Saint Bernard, and transfer in the guide's car till Geneva Airport, where we will be by 4.30 pm. Duration of the ascents: 1 hour an a half. Difference of level: 1,680 feet up, 3,428 feet down.
Your mountain guide will do everything possible to make this tour being a success. But, in high altitude, exceptional risks may exist: storms, avalanches. Your guide, responsible for your life, may change the programme of this tour for your safety.
Training:
- Technical level: you have a very good control of your skis when going down, whatever the quality of snow may be (you can turn with skis parallel in deep powder snow), or when going up (half turns). You like to ski "off-piste", and you have already practiced several ascents in Ski Touring. This programme is also opened to fit skiers experienced in off-piste skiing, but with no experience in Ski Touring.
- Fitness level: you practice twice a week either ski touring, running, biking or swimming. During the two months before this tour, you must either run 30 minutes 2 times a week, bike 2 hours 2 times a week, or practice 4 hours of ski touring each week-end. In the same time, you will practice exercises in a gymnasium to get strong muscles in your legs (quadriceps and calf mainly). Like this, you will be perfectly prepared for both ascents and descents, and you will appreciate the pleasure of ski touring on altitude slopes. The average pace goes from 1,000 to 1,150 feet of rise per hour.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price Includes:
- Guiding by a mountain Guide, and all his expenses (food, lodgings, transfers)
- The following group equipment (radio linked to the relief organization, pharmacy, survival blanket, maps, compass, GPS, altimeter)
- The loan of a Avalanche Transceiver, a probe and a shovel
- The reservation of the places by the hospice
- Lodging and half-board by the hospice (3 nights)
- Free round trip shuttle from Geneva Airport (contact us for further information).
Price Excludes:
- Optional insurances Generali/Europ Assistance
- Your Lunchs
- Your drinks by the hospice
- Hot showers by the hospice (2 EUR for a hot shower)
- Your personal expenses
- The personal equipment and the technical equipment required for this tour
- Generally speaking, all the expenses not indicated in the paragraph "the price includes".
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
Switzerland
Italy
Outdoor: Mountain Ranger
Skiing & Snowboarding
Mountain/Rock Climbing
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