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Ski touring is as old as time! The trace of the first skis dates back around 4000 years, somewhere between Scandinavia and Siberia. Man can then hunt his game or his enemies even during the long winter months.
Later, after the 16th century, skiing became one of the strategic military “weapons” of the time in Northern Europe. Then the crossing of Greenland on skis by the Norwegian explorer Fridtjof Nansen in 1888 gave this practice another dimension. It follows in France at the end of the 19th century. At the beginning of the 20th century and until the First World War, crossings of mountain ranges on skis increased.
Then ski touring was lost a little thanks to the development of downhill skiing and later, after the Second World War, the advent of resorts and ski lifts. Then ski touring will be reborn in different forms and today will develop more and more, in a context of global warming, a return to nature and ecology.
To learn more about the history of ski touring.
Equipment has evolved a lot in recent years and current skis combine lightness and performance when going up and down. Shoes and bindings have also gained in simplicity and weight to facilitate the effort of ascent. Also bring a pair of knives, mandatory for steep and/or frozen slopes.
Depending on the snow conditions and the profile of the route, mountaineering equipment may prove essential: a pair of crampons, an ice ax and possibly a safety rope.
Safety equipment is also essential: an Avalanche Victim Detector or DVA, a shovel and a probe. A helmet is recommended, particularly for those embarking on more challenging routes.
Let’s add a pair of poles and clothing adapted to the outing conditions: gloves, sun protection, warm and breathable clothing.
To learn more about ski touring techniques and equipment.
Among the different existing rating systems, the system chosen here is Toponeige by Volodia Shahshahani, a system also used on Ski Tour.
This system has 3 rating scales: a climbing up rating, a descent rating and an exposure rating.
This information is taken from the SkiTour website.
According to classic mountaineering ratings:
A: hiking (ski 1 to 2.3), crampons or ice ax not necessary
F: easy mountaineering (ski 2.1 to 3.3)
PD: not very difficult mountaineering (skiing 3.3 to 4.3)
AD: fairly difficult mountaineering (skiing 5.1 to 5.3)
D: difficult mountaineering (ski 5.3 and above)
This 5 degree rating, the first 4 are subdivided into three levels and the fifth is open upwards.
Ski 1: initiation level. No slopes greater than 30°. Fairly wide passages, elevation less than 800m, low exposure.
Ski 2: no particular technical difficulties, slope of 35° maximum, greater elevation and exposure.
Ski 3: start of ski mountaineering. Technical passages and long slopes at 35°, short passages at 40°/45°, dense forests, steep forest paths.
Ski 4: corridor or steep slope skiing 40°/45° very long (more than 200 m), very dense forests
Ski 5: slope from 45°/50° very long (more than 300 m), more than 50° over 100 m.
This rating includes 4 degrees.
E1: the exposure is that of the slope itself, no major obstacle.
E2: rocky bar in the axis of the slope or slightly rotating corridor.
E3: in the event of a fall, jump from major cliffs or winding corridor with risk of percussion. Probable death.
E4: very high wall, multiple bounces, percussion guaranteed. Certain death.
To find out more, see the detailed official quotation on the Volopress website :