Ski touring

Ski touring, a rewarding alternative to downhill skiing

Ski touring involves discovering mountain routes with skis specially designed for ascending and descending. Unlike traditional alpine skiing, this practice uses bindings that release the heel for ascent and lock it for descent.

Touring skiers often use sealskins or synthetic skins attached to the underside of their skis to improve grip when climbing. Once at the top, the skins are removed and the bindings locked for the descent, offering an experience similar to alpine skiing.

Ski touring can be practiced to explore remote mountain areas, for the pleasure of adventure or even to take part in competitions such as ski mountaineering races. This activity requires good physical condition as well as knowledge of mountain safety, particularly with regard to avalanches and weather conditions.

New ski touring route in Les Karellis: the Faysse route

In response to growing demand, Les Karellis ski area, renowned for the quality of its slopes and its off-piste skiing, is introducing a new ski touring route: the Faysse route. Named after the locality it crosses, this route aims to organise and secure ski touring in the ski area, while channelling uphill traffic away from the main downhill slopes.

The Faysse route uses an existing summer trail which will be marked out, but will not require any additional work. The 1,915-metre-long route (1.19 mi), with a 645 m (2,116 ft) ascending elevation, has an average gradient of 21%, with an intermediate point at 410 m (1,345 ft) that is ideal for beginners. The course lies between the Vordaches and Embrumes slopes, allowing skiers to descend on groomed, marked and secured red runs.