So what is ski-touring?

I have heard a bit about ski touring and seen some photos before arriving to Switzerland; it has never really attracted more of my interest (I lived at the ocean side at that time). On one of the glorious days of the first ski season in Switzerland, as I was sitting comfortably on the chair lift that was carrying uphill my precious self with the skis attached, the two ski-tourers caught my attention. It was a beautiful, clear sky day; the tourers were far, alone on a quiet slope climbing slowly to the summit. A revelation. Suddenly the chair lift, the comfort, this whole ski infrastructure lost the appeal and sense. I craved for the mountains, but the real ones; without ski lifts and hundreds of skiers, without flashy, fashion clothes and noise of the bars; I craved for quiet, untouched mountains where all you leave behind is your trace in the snow. The next week I  signed-up for the initiation course, a few weeks later I bought the touring skis. I have not abandoned completely Alpine skiing as it is still fun and good times shared with friends. But ski-touring is the real thing; it will take you to the heart of the mountains, in undisturbed silence, unveiling the vistas you would never experience. So if now you are sitting comfortably in your sofa in Switzerland or any other mountain country and dreaming about white and undisturbed snow spaces, do yourself a favour… All you need is to get  physically fit and be able to ski red pistes. Ski touring doesn't pay back immediately; the pleasure comes after physical effort.

Ski touring (in french: ski de randonnée) uses special ski equipment that enables the skier to climb and then descend slopes without the use of ski lifts. The main differences are a binding with a freeheel for climbing and skins that attach to the base of skis.

Attaching skins to the skis for ascent.
The skin (usually made of Mohair or Nylon) grips the snow and prevents the ski from sliding backwards.

The free heel makes for fluid, walking like movements when climbing. Slopes of up to 25 degrees can be climbed directly. Steeper slopes, up to 35 degrees, can be climbed in a series of kick-turns or conversions. Beyond 35 degrees it is often easier to strap skis to a special touring rucksack and climb on foot. Pure touring skis typically are much lighter than downhill and weigh less than 2.5 kg for a pair. The lightest may require considerable skiing skills. Touring boots weigh from around 2.5 to 4 kg. They are more flexible than downhill boots which gives less control, especially at speed, in difficult snow or on steep terrain.

During a ski-tour you need to carry a rucksack with avalanche search equipment including an avalanche transceiver, snow shovel and probe. And also a couple of extra layers for cold weather.

Here is my avalanche transceiver. During a ski tour it is strapped around your chest, at the end of the ski tour it lays on a table of a local bar next to the glass of "panaché".

As you get to the summit you take the skins off, eat your packed lunch, enjoy the space and you are ready to ski down...

The most unforgatable days are the powder snow days. In a season, regulars will remember four or five like these.. But hey, you will remember them for a long, long time…even for a lifetime.