Back to the descentOff-piste
Off-piste
Leaving the marked runs is not another line on a menu: it is a different activity, with its own entry conditions and its own rules. Here they are, written down before you call.
The level you need
Being able to ski down a red run in any snow, without tensing up and without having to stop every ten metres. It is not about skiing fast: it is about being relaxed enough to look around you. If you are not sure, we do a half day on-piste first — this cannot be guessed over the phone.
Equipment
I provide a transceiver, shovel and probe for every participant, and we run a practice search before setting off: a real search, not a demonstration. Your usual skis are fine in most conditions; for deep snow I will point you to a rental shop for something wider.
How an outing gets decided
The avalanche risk bulletin comes out every morning. I read it, cross-check it against what I have seen over previous days, and choose the sector accordingly. The route can still change once we are out there. That is normal, and it is exactly what separates a guided outing from an improvised one.
What I refuse
I do not go out above risk level 4, I do not take groups whose levels are too far apart, and I cancel when I don’t like the snowpack. A cancelled outing is rescheduled or refunded. This is not commercial caution: nobody has ever come down a slope safely because of a price.
Ski touring
For those who would rather climb on skins than take a lift, I run full-day outings on the classic routes in the area. Touring equipment can be hired in both Morzine and Châtel.