We respect your
right to privacy!

Cookie settings

By clicking on "Accept" , you consent to use cookies and other technologies (provided by us and other trusted partners). We use such data for anonymous statistical purposes, tailor-made settings and to display personalized content and advertisements. It will help to provide you with an improved website experience. Please find out more about this topic in our Privacy Policy | Imprint

  • These cookies are absolutely necessary for the operation of this site and enable safety related functionalities, for example. Additionally, this type of cookie is as well used to save your personal cookie settings.

  • In order to further improve both our offer and website, we collect anonymized data for statistics and analyzes. By means of these cookies we can, for example, analyze the number of visitors and the effect of certain pages on our website by optimizing our content.

  • We use these cookies to improve usability of the site for you. For example, based on an accommodation search you already made, you can conveniently access the same lodging when you visit our website again.

  • These cookies are used to display personalized content that matches your interests. It enables us to provide you with offers that are particularly relevant to your personally planned trip.

Ski Tour Planning Tips & Equipment

Perfectly planned peak conquest

Which important facts must be taken into account when you plan a ski tour? Which equipment is absolutely necessary? Those who follow their own paths in open Alpine terrain should be well prepared but also well equipped. Take a closer look at the ski tour planning tips & important ski touring equipment.

Tour Planning Tips

 

  • 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.

Skitour Obergurgl Hochgurgl Landscape Winter

Recommended ski mountaineering equipment

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.

Ski mountaineering equipment list

  • Sports underwear
  • Pair of socks
  • Long Sleeve Zipp
  • Ortovox Merino 320 Jacket
  • Softshell
  • Down Jacket
  • Sunglasses
  • Rucksack 35l+
  • Touring skis
  • Ski touring shoes
  • Climbing skin
  • Avalanche transceiver (LVS in German)
  • Avalanche shovel
  • Avalanche probe
  • Ortovox Gemini bivouac sack
  • First-aid kit
  • Snack
  • Enough to drink
  • Telescopic poles