Wilderness Journeys
Ski touring
Wilderness Journeys - Ski Touring Newsletter

Wilderness Journeys
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Late Availability
Backcountry Skiing Courses

Ski Touring
Our range of backcountry skiing courses and adventures holds options for all competent skiers. The Introduction to Backcountry Skiing Course runs 5-12 April.
You will learn all of the essential off-piste skills and the course provides the perfect grounding for future ski tours.

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For more experienced off-piste skiers and ski tourers who would like to develop their skills, our Advanced Backcountry Skiing Course also runs 5-12 April and costs �925 per person. There are just 2 places available so please contact us today if you would like to sign up for this off-piste adventure!

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Quick Links
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Fed up with Winter?
If you have had enough of winter and feel the need to feel the warm sun on your skin once again, we can still help! Please visit our website where you can choose from an enticing selection of trekking holidays, walking safaris, mountain biking and sea kayaking trips.

Serengeti

This is a great time to visit Patagonia, while April and May are perfect months to visit parts of Africa such as Malawi or Tanzania, where you could join our new walking safari in the Serengeti National Park.

And don't forget that if you are planning a trip abroad later this year, booking now ensures the best deals on flights, so you will save money if you book early!

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As winter makes way for spring in the Alps,  there is an audible buzz in the Wilderness Journeys office as the ski touring season arrives in earnest in Europe. The fantastic network of alpine huts which open in mid-March provide access to unlimited wilderness adventures in  the mountains on classic ski tours such as the Haute Route or the Gran Paradiso.

As well as the incredible ski touring which is now possible, it's also the time of year when tourers can enjoy rostis in the Swiss Alps followed by cappuccinos in Italy - the food is almost as good as the skiing! With forecasts predicting further snow falls and colder temperatures in Europe, the signs are looking good for a super season of Alpine ski touring. So if you are thinking of a last minute skiing holiday, make this the year when you venture further off-piste and discover the challenges and rewards of off piste ski touring.
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What is the World's Best Ski Tour?

WJ_France_ST-Paul8099It seems everyone wants to ski the Haute Route this year! We've heard it touted as the world's best ski tour which, if nothing else, provides an interesting subject for discussion during those evenings in the hut. What is certain is that it is a great alpine adventure and nothing quite beats the feeling of cruising those final slopes past the Matterhorn knowing you have completed a traverse of the high Alps.

Of course, many of you have already skied the Haute Route with us over the past few years. So what next? How about our new trip to Gran Paradiso in the Italian Alps, which will include an ascent of 4061m high Gran Paradiso. Or for the ultimate wilderness ski tour, our adventure in the Neacola Mountains in Alaska is a once in a lifetime experience. Another option you may not have considered is summit to sea ski touring in Arctic Norway. If you have any other ideas for the world's best ski tour, email Polly in our office with your suggestions!

We have a number of trips running in March and April and we have late availability on some of these trips. Please check availability on our website or feel free to call us on 0131 625 6635.
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Alpine Boots v Ski Touring Boots?
The most commonly asked question about ski touring is probably "What should I buy and what should I wear?" While the debate will rage on, the "party line" (i.e. we still haven't  agreed)  is as follows:

If you're new to ski touring and planning on just doing some short tours with only a couple of hours of skinning, we recommend sticking to your regular alpine ski boots. Skiing off-piste is challenging enough without having to contend with the unfamiliar flex of a touring boot. Sure your shins might hurt a bit on the way up but you'll be whooping it on the way down while your touring compadres are pointing to their boots as the explanation for their skiing having all the grace of a newly born giraffe!

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Touring boots have come on a long way in the last few years. The old flippety-floppety models which wouldn't look out of a place in a 1980's roller disco are definitely on the way out. However, if you are thinking of buying some new boots, why not try hiring a pair of specialist boots first and see how you feel with them? We recommend hiring a pair of the Garmont Argon or Scarpa Denali for a day's skiing  and then you will be better placed to see which boots are best for you. 
 
While some skiers will always prefer Alpine boots, on multi-day tours you will really notice the advantages that touring boots offer. Greater comfort, lower weight and more manoeuvrability when on foot can make a huge difference, such as when climbing with crampons or traversing rocky ridges. You'll also be first to the bar when you finally make it back to the valley!

If you are looking to join a ski touring trip or one of our backcountry skiing courses in March or April, feel free to contact us with any questions about kit or about the trips - we are happy to take a break from our real work to talk about ski touring!
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Thanks for taking the time to read this newsletter. If you have any questions about our holidays, then please give us a call on 0131 625 6635 or email us - we look forward to hearing from you soon.

The Team at Wilderness Journeys
0131 625 6635
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