Taster Course Snowshoeing
If you want to move through snowy winter landscapes and enjoy the tranquility of nature without skis, snowshoeing may be the perfect winter activity for you. During our snowshoeing taster course, you will learn ascent and descent techniques, equipment essentials, and basic avalanche awareness. This course will prepare you to join bigger guided snowshoe hikes or set you up for the basic skills snowshoeing course.
Tour Details
- Fitness Level: Basic
- Experience Level: Beginner
This course is ideal if this is your first time snowshoeing. This is an easy beginner level course where enjoyment of nature and exercise is the best prerequisite. A hiking duration of 3 hours with a backpack is not a problem for you.
- Snowshoeing gear talk
- Hiking up and down - techniques
- Avalanches
- Nature
After this course you will know if snowshoeing is a good fit for you. You will learn about equipment, techniques, avalanche awareness, and nature, and you will be prepared to join guided snowshoe hikes or advance to the basic skills snowshoeing course.
Group Course (4-6 participants)
| CHF 215 per person | |
Private Course
| 1-3 people | CHF 850 per group |
| 4-6 people | CHF 215 per person |
To book a private course please contact us:
First time on snowshoes
You will meet your guide in Grindelwald and then take the Ski Bus to Hotel Wetterhorn. After a quick discussion about theory, you will head out to the snow and learn how to walk in snowshoes. Your guide will explain ascent and descent techniques as you venture out along the path. During the hike, your guide will also review avalanche safety and discuss how we can minimize our impact on nature and local wildlife. Finally, you will review equipment essentials and discuss the gear requirements for any snowshoe hike. You will end the day where you started with coffee and cake at Hotel Wetterhorn.
| Season | December - April |
| Departures for official tours | See "Closest Bookable Dates" |
| Departures for private tours | Private tours can be booked daily |
| Meeting point | 8:45am at the Outdoor Shop and Café - Dorfstrasse 103, 3818 Grindelwald |
- Guiding from a licenced mountain guide/ aspirant guide
- His or her expenses
- Technical equipment
- Course Certificate
- Your expenses
- Snacks
Backpack
- 20-25l
Clothing
- Warm, functional clothing
- Rain jacket
- Mountaineering or hikin pants
- Sunhat
- Gloves (ideally one thin and one thick pair)
- Beanie or headband
- Thermal underwear
Footwear
- Solid and warm hiking or winter boots
The basics
- Sunglasses (category 3 or 4)
- Sunscreen lotion and lip balm (minimum factor 30, 50 better)
- Thermos flask, drink bottle
- GA or Half Fare Travelcard (if you have)
- Camera and binoculars (optional)
Technical Equipment
- Ski poles (preferrably telescopic)
- Robust snow shoes with tele crampons
- LVS (avalanche transceiver)
- Avalanche probe
- Avalanche shovel
- Gaiters (optional)
General Information for Mountaineering School
Our team is here for you. If you have any questions, please contact us or visit us in our shop in Grindelwald. We are happy to help!
OUTDOOR - Mountaineering School Grindelwald
Dorfstrasse 103
3818 Grindelwald
Switzerland
Trip status for group courses
1-2 days before your tour or course we will review the weather forecast and conditions with the mountain guide to determine if we can operate. We will contact you by phone with an update.
Minimum of participants (group tours)
As soon as the minimum number of participants is reached, we will send you a confirmation by email.
Cancellation
If we have to cancel your tour, you have the option to reschedule to a new date, or you will receive a full refund.
Equipment
Please refer to the equipment list for your tour or course. At our shop in Grindelwald, you can purchase technical equipment, mountain clothing, shoes, and backpacks. We also have technical equipment available for rent.
Clothing
Choose functional clothing that is moisture-wicking and quick-drying. Dress in layers so you can easily react to temperature changes. The range at our shop in Grindelwald is tailored to mountain tours and our expert staff are happy to advise you on the best clothing for your tour or course.
Lunch
Lunch is not included in the offer. We recommend bringing bars, dried fruits, nuts, or a sandwich. The amount you will need to drink depends on your individual needs and the length of the tour. We recommend .75 -1.5 liters of water, warm tea, isotonic drinks, or whatever you prefer. We also recommend that you hydrate enough the day before, so your body is well prepared for the tour.
Huts
A mountain hut is not a hotel. Running water is not guaranteed and electricity is not available everywhere, so it is not always possible to charge batteries or phones. If you have special dietary needs, please inform us in advance so we can make arrangements with the hut.
Safety
Our tours and courses are led by IVBV certified mountain guides or mountain guide aspirants. We prioritise your safety by requiring regular training to ensure our guides have relevant, up to date knowledge. Outdoor is certified by the Swiss Council for Accident Prevention (BFU) and our safety and emergency concepts are audited by this organization annually.
General terms of contract
Our General Terms and Conditions apply.