Advanced Course Ski Touring
This 4-day advanced course will prepare you for independent ski touring. With the help of a qualified mountain guide, you will assess avalanche conditions and consider the most important factors when preparing for a ski tour. During your four days in the area surrounding Berghotel Schwarenbach in Kandersteg, you will focus on route selection, ski touring technique, and avalanche safety. At the end of the course, your guide will provide feedback and advice that will help you prepare for future ski tours.
Tour Details
- Skinning up ski techniques
- Route selection/ track setting
- Avalanches: partner rescue
- Ideal route choice for the descent
- Tour planning 3x3 formula
- Snow pack observations
- Interpretation of the avalanche bulletin
- Weather science
After the course you will be able to plan easy tours and undertake these tours by yourself or with friends. With a personal assessment from your mountain guide at the end of the course, you will be prepared to join more complex guided ski tours.
Group Course (4-6 participants)
| CHF 1090 per person | |
Private Course
| 1 person | CHF 3490 |
| 2 people | CHF 1890 per person |
| 3 people | CHF 1390 per person |
| 4-6 people | CHF 1090 per person |
To book a private course please contact us:
Day 1: Arrival in Kandersteg and ascent to the mountain hotel Schwarenbach
You will meet your guide at the valley station of the Sunnbüel cable car in Kandersteg. After introductions you will take the cable car to the top and enjoy a short downhill run before mounting skins on skis and hiking up to the Schwarenbach Hotel. We will begin the course by discussing avalanche awareness and avalanche theory in outdoor and indoor environments. In the evening you will plan for the first practice tour the following day
Days 2 – 3: Practice tours, locations dependant on conditions
In the area surrounding Schwarenbach, you will have the opportunity to work on your ski touring technique and apply the concepts you have learned regarding tour preparation and avalanche awareness. You will have to assess which locations have the best conditions, what kind of snow conditions you are working with, and you will need to determine if your plans work in accordance with the avalanche bulletin. Based on these determinations, you will decide which locations are best suited for the application tours. Regardless of your chosen route, fresh mountain air and alpine views will not disappoint.
Day 4: Final tour and assessment
On the fourth day you will enjoy a final ski tour in the Schwarenbach area and your mountain guide will offer feedback from the course and advice for future ski tours. Take in summit views before skiing back down to the hotel. After a delicious piece of cake, you will continue to the Sunnbüel cable car and then make your way down to Kandersteg.
| Season | December - April |
| Departures for official tours | See "Closest Bookable Dates" |
| Departures for private tours | Private tours can be booked daily |
| Meeting point | 10am at the bottom station of the Sunnbüel cable car |
- Guiding from a licenced mountain guide/ aspirant guide
- His or her expenses
- 3 nights in bunk room with half-board
- Tea for the next day
- Course Certificate
- Your expenses
- Snacks
- Rental equipment
- Costs for cable cars, ski lifts
- Costs for a taxi if needed (guests pay for the guides share)
Backpack
- 30-35l
Clothing
- Warm, functional clothing
- Rain jacket
- Rain pants
- Mountaineering or hiking pants
- Sunhat
- Gloves (ideally one thin and one thick pair)
- Beanie or headband
- Extra underwear and socks
- Thermal underwear
Footwear
- Ski touring boots or snowboard boots
The basics
- Sunglasses (category 3 or 4)
- Sunscreen lotion and lip balm (minimum factor 30, 50 better)
- Thermos flask, drink bottle
- Silk sleeping bag liner
- Headlamp
- Toiletries
- GA or Half Fare Travelcard (if you have)
- Earplugs (optional)
- Camera and binoculars (optional)
Technical Equipment
- Ski touring skis or splitboard with skins and tele crampons
- Ski poles (preferrably telescopic)
- LVS (avalanche transceiver)
- Avalanche probe
- Avalanche shovel
- Avalanche airbag (optional)
- Ski helmet (optional but recommended)
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.