Ski Grand St Bernard and Mont Velan
The area around the Grand St Bernard pass is a perfect one for ski touring, having a wealth of summits suitable for ascents on ski plus excellent ski-touring routes on both the Swiss and Italian sides of the frontier.
We start by ski-touring from the famous Grand St Bernard Hospice, a 10th century monastery founded by St Bernard to give shelter to traders passing over the col. Still run by monks, its hospitality is as warm as it ever and it provides an excellent base from which to ski tour. The Hospice has comfortable rooms (beds with sheets and showers) and is a unique place to stay, having a fascinating museum, chapel and treasury. In winter the hospice can only be approached using skis or snow shoes, giving it a remote ambience.
We then make a ski ascent of Mont Velan (3731m), a striking flat-topped peak between the Col de Grand St Bernard and the Grand Combin. At the summit, the views to the Mont Blanc Massif to the west and along the Swiss Valais to the Matterhorn are truly breathtaking.
Who the course will suit:
The course is ideal for people who want to gain more ski touring experience before embarking on more demanding multi-day tours such as the West Oberland Haute Route or the Ski Oberland Traverse. As such it is a perfect follow-up week to our Ski Touring Skills course. Ascents of most summits can be made within 4 hours, giving plenty of time to enjoy the descents and to work on off-piste technique.
Sample Programme:
day 1 (Sunday evening) Course convenes at the Grand Chalet hotel with welcome by ISM guides at 6.45pm and course briefing followed by evening meal.
day 2 After a short drive we make a two and half hour ascent using skins through the 'Combe de Mort' which leads us to the Hospice. In the afternoon there is time for a short ski tour and later we can look around the Hospice which is steeped in history and has an excellent museum.
day 3 An ascent of Mont Fourchon (2902m), the classic ski-touring peak of the area giving superb views of Mont Blanc and the Grand Combin. If time and conditions permit we make an ascent of Mont Mort (2866m) in the afternoon for great powder skiing down its northern flank.
day 4 The Combe de La, the classic trip of the area crossing 3 cols and culminating in a 12km descent. The route has a wild remote feel and is exceptionally scenic as it traverses a terrace overlooking the east side of the Mont Blanc massif, giving views of the Grand Jorasses, Mont Dolent and Mont Blanc, which are very impressive from this unusual angle. We stay in the Hotel Bivouac de Napoleon in Bourg St Pierre.
day 5 Mont Velan (3731m) is climbed over the next two days. The first day we make the four hour ascent from Bourg St Pierre to the Mont Vélan hut. This is a modern hut and very comfortable. The first part of our ascent from Bourg St Pierre to the hut follows the classic Haute Route.
day 6 This is the big day on Mont Velan. The six hour ascent takes us over the rocky ridge of La Gouille (technical ascent and short descent) and then on to the big glacier climb. If the top of the glacier is icy we might use ice axe and crampons for the final ascent. The back drop of the Grand Combin gives Mont Velan a very dramatic ambience. We descend the north facing glacial descent back to Bourg St Pierre.
day 7 (Saturday) Breakfast is included at the hotel before departure.
Maps: Martigny 282S 1:50 000 and Arolla 283S 1:50 000
Ski ability required: Effective turns off-piste, good general fitness. Ski touring experience is desirable, but people without touring experience may join the course provided they are strong off-piste skiers. Good general fitness is important and you must be able to comfortably sustain a climb at a rate of 250 to 300 vertical metres an hour. A typical day will involve 4 to 6 hours uphill skinning (up to 1200m height gain).
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