Ski touring: answers to the most frequently asked questions

Stay safe in the mountains on your ski tour with the right equipment and clothing. If you dress in layers, you can be prepared for the different temperatures too.

You’ll get warm quickly on your ascent, but you’ll be glad to have an extra jacket (at least) during breaks or at the summit. That’s why it’s best to wear several layers, so that you can easily adapt your clothing to the changing temperatures and your level of exertion.

It’s important to check your equipment, especially at the beginning of the season: are the bindings set correctly? Do you have everything you need (skins, safety equipment, helmet, gloves, etc.)? Does your avalanche transceiver need an update? Have you put new batteries in your avalanche transceiver? On the subject: be sure to take the batteries out over the summer so that, if they leak, they don’t destroy the device.

You should know how to use the 3x3 grid when planning your route. If you’re unsure about this, it’s best to take an avalanche course or join a guided tour. When planning, keep an eye on the weather forecast and the avalanche bulletin, above all. Check the weather just before you leave, as well, as conditions can change quickly in the mountains. Plan the route to suit your fitness level and don’t underestimate the descent. If you’re a beginner, in particular, you need more energy for this than for a descent on a groomed slope.

Think about what you’d do in an unexpected situation, too – if the weather changes suddenly, or if you or someone else in the group runs out of steam. Before you set off, consider where you could cut short your tour and where you could shelter. Defining a ‘point of no return’ also helps give you a sense of when it’s still possible to turn back.

The cost of ski touring equipment varies greatly depending on your requirements: everything is available in either cheaper or higher-quality versions. The following information serves as a guide for mid-range equipment.

• Touring skis: from approx. CHF 600

• Touring bindings: from approx. CHF 400

• Touring ski boots: from approx. CHF 600

• Skins: from approx. CHF 200

• Avalanche equipment (avalanche transceiver, shovel, probe): from approx. CHF 300

• Backpack, without airbag: from approx. CHF 200, with airbag: from approx. CHF 700

This means you’ll be spending around CHF 2,000 on ski equipment. In addition, there are clothes, helmets and other accessories such as gloves or a hat to think about. You might not be starting from scratch. If so, you can use the clothes you’d wear for skiing on the slopes for ski touring, too.

If you want to try out ski touring, it’s worth renting your equipment.

You’ll find numerous suggested tours on Skitourenguru. As soon as an avalanche bulletin is available, it’s included in the evaluation of the tour. You’ll also find information about the level of difficulty, the altitude you need to handle and the distance you’ll cover.

You can plan a tour from start to finish on White Risk, which takes into account all the important aspects of route planning. You can even download the map to your smartphone for use offline.

Not an app, but a digital aid: when planning, check out the webcams in ski resorts in the area you’re heading to. This lets you see the current weather conditions and roughly how much snow there is.

This depends on your fitness level, the terrain and the snow conditions. Experience shows that you can cover about 300 to 500 metres of altitude per hour. If you’re new to ski touring, this figure is probably a little less, while experienced ski touring enthusiasts can do more.

Make sure you plan enough breaks. If you’re touring in a group, don’t forget about those who are slower: they also need enough time to take a break and not feel under pressure.

While this is possible, touring skis aren’t made for the slopes – and you can feel it. They’re particularly light and wide, so you can climb a mountain easily in deep snow. The skis therefore feel less stable on the slopes and turning is more difficult.

If you’re mainly skiing on slopes, alpine skis are a better choice.

Find out about wildlife ‘quiet zones’ and protected areas. If possible, stay on marked paths or use existing tracks to avoid disturbing the animals. Stay alert, though, and don’t follow tracks through the terrain blindly.

And never go on a ski tour alone. Be sure to tell others about your tour: let them know where you are and roughly when you are planning to be back.

You can find more tips on considerate ski touring here.

That depends on how often you go skiing, as the material wears out more quickly if you use it frequently. It’s important that you maintain your ski touring skins properly. This includes drying the skins after each tour and waterproofing them regularly to preserve their adhesion and slipperiness. Remove dirt after each tour, too.

Avalanches are one possible danger, but you can greatly reduce this risk with the necessary knowledge, good preparation and a cautious choice of route that takes the circumstances into account. For example, an avalanche is unlikely if you’re touring on slopes with an incline of less than 30 degrees. The weather is somewhat more difficult to predict, especially as conditions can change quickly in the mountains. Unlike on the slopes, precipices are not marked in open terrain. Be vigilant, observe the terrain closely and don’t follow other tracks blindly.

As with skiing on the slopes, injuries, for example to the knee or hip, remain a risk.