Ski Tour Planning Tips & Equipment

• Yes, ski touring can be really exhausting! Endurance sports strain the heart and circulation and require good health and excellent self-assessment.
• Inform yourself in advance about the length of the tour, altitude difference, difficulty level and current snow conditions.
• Always keep an eye on the weather forecast. Strong wind and poor visibility increase the risk of accidents immensely.
• Organize yourself in small groups. Companions can help each other by also reducing the risk. High Alpine glacier crossings are allowed only in a group by using a rope.
• Before starting a tour, you should tell someone in the valley about the tour's destination and the time you plan to be back. On each ski tour an avalanche transceiver is an absolute must.

Tip: Hot, isotonic drinks are perfect thirst quenchers and also provide warmth. Light food such as cereal bars or snacks will satisfy hunger on the go.

More about safety in open Alpine terrain and details on useful apps and tools for ski mountaineers and how Obergurgl-Hochgurgl supports you (besides workshops on avalanche safety), can be found here.

The "standard ski mountaineering equipment" is: touring skis with touring bindings, telescopic poles, climbing skins, ski crampons, digital avalanche transceiver, avalanche shovel, avalanche probe, first aid kit and mobile phone. A ski helmet can prevent severe head injuries.

A "complete glacier equipment set" contains: sit harness, two prusik loops of different lengths and ascenders, two HMS carabiners, ice pick, climbing irons, bivouac bag, airbag system and rope.

Pack your rucksack carefully and don't forget extra clothes for the descent, sun protection/cream, cold protection, enough food and drink. If you stay overnight at a mountain hut take toiletry articles and a hut sleeping bag with you.