Ski Encantats Pyrenees

Overview

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Saturday to Saturday, 6 full days skiing

Introduction

The Encantats Nature Reserve (Parc Nacional d'Aigues Tortes) is a large protected area just over the Spanish border in the Catalan Pyrenees. It is well-known for its granite rock faces, twisting rivers and a myriad of frozen lakes.

The terrain provides an ideal environment for a hut-to-hut ski tour, with many different options each day depending on the snow conditions. The huts on this tour are all staffed for the holidays from mid-February through March and are fully catered and comfortable.

IFMGA Mountain Guide, Richard Dupont, will guide on this Spanish ski tour. Arguably Richard is as knowledgeable as anyone about ski touring in the Pyrenees. He chose this tour as one of his favourites.

Course base: Vielha

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Outline Programme

Day 1:	Course participants meet at the course base at 7pm. Briefing on the week's activities in the evening. You should fly to Toulouse or Lourdes, then it's a 2-hour transfer to our hotel in Vielha, capital of the Val d'Aran.
Day 2:	From Vielha we drive for 30 minutes to Pont de Ressec (1,400m) from where we head up to the Refuge Restanca, located at 2,000m. After lunch we can do some avalanche training and do a short tour (400m) skiing back down through the pine trees.
Day 3:	Ascent to Montardo (2,833m) with a 360° panorama from the top. Ski down to Refuge Ventosa (2,200m).
Day 4:	After a short descent, we head to the Col de Contraix (2,750m). We'll need to put skis on packs for the steep final section. It's then a long descent to 1,900m, before a 100m skin up hill to the Refuge Estany, located at 2,000m in the forest.
Day 5:	Ski along the lake (Estany Llong) and head up to Pic del Portarro (2,736m). Then descend to Estany de San Maurici (1,900m). This provides lovely tree skiing, before we head up to Refuge Amitges (2,350m).
Day 6:	Ascend to Tuc de Ratera (2,862m). From here there are different options to get to the Refuge de Colomers at 2,100m, all of which take us through the fabulous Cirque de Colomers.
Day 7:	Up and down through the pine trees and the final ridge to Tuc de Salana (2,483m). From here we'll head back down to Pont de Ressec, the starting point of the tour. Overnight hotel in Vielha.
Day 8:	Dispersal - transfer to Airport. Breakfast is provided the last morning before leaving the course.

Pre-Course Skiing Ability

Grade: 10B [ Ski Grading ]
For successful participation on this course you should be a competent off piste skier/ski tourer. A foundation course such as the Ski Touring Techniques would be ideal preparation.

Additional Information

If you wish to discuss any aspect of the ski or your suitability for it, please phone +44 (0)114 276 3322 or contact us.

Course Inclusions and Exclusions

The following paragraphs summarise what is included and excluded from the course cost.

What the price includes

• 6 days ski guiding (including all the IFMGA Guide's fees and expenses). Ratio 1:6 maximum.
• 2 nights’ hotel accommodation on a twin-sharing (occasionally triple/quad), bed and breakfast basis
• 5 nights' mountain hut accommodation on a half-board basis
• 2 x taxi transfers to the start point and finish point of the tour
• All group mountaineering equipment such as ropes and other technical equipment

What the price does not include

• Travel from home to Toulouse or Lourdes
• Road transfer from to Vielha and return (please contact us for details)
• Dinner in Vielha
• Lunch
• Evening meals in the valley
• Ski passes/uplift (if required)
• Skis, skins, ski crampons, boots and equipment hire
• Avalanche Safety Gear (digital transceiver, metal shovel, 240cm + avalanche probe)
• Travel Insurance
• Tips

*Please bring enough money with you to cover additional costs, especially cable cars and lunches. Credit cards are widely accepted and can be used for most cable cars. Insurance should be organised and paid for before you travel to the Pyrenees.

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Travel & Venue

Fly to Toulouse or Lourdes. A 2-hour airport transfer to Vielha will be arranged by Jagged Globe.

Valley accommodation in Vielha is to be confirmed. The accommodation is provided on a twin-share, half board basis. A single room supplement is payable should you want to have a room to yourself.