Options for Advanced Ski Touring Course (SKIMO 3)

Advanced Ski Touring Course (SKIMO 3)

Price per person. Pre-formed group of 4–6

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Offer! 195,00 € Price per person VAT included

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Options for Advanced Ski Touring Course (SKIMO 3)

Advanced ski touring skills in the Spanish Pyrenees

Advanced Ski Touring Course (SKIMO 3) — ADVANCED TECHNIQUE · 2 DAYS

Refine your ski touring technique with PirineoSur's SKIMO 3 course in the Tena and Aragón valleys, near Jaca. Two full practical days, preceded by an introductory evening, focus on more demanding terrain, avalanche decision-making and technical rope skills.

This skills-improvement course builds on the foundations of SKIMO 1 or equivalent knowledge. The detailed programme includes steep-slope turns, group travel and rescue exercises; contact us if you need help choosing the right level.

What will you practise?

Downhill technique: adapt turns to snow and terrain, link wider turns, manage effort and rhythm off-piste, and practise jump turns on steep slopes.
Uphill travel and route choice: use snow clues to choose an itinerary, set a track and manage pace and regrouping.
Avalanche awareness: review human factors and decision-making, apply the 3×3 planning framework and practise transceiver searches involving multiple and deeper burials.
Rope techniques: use ski anchors, retrievable anchors, specific knots, handlines and ropes to negotiate obstacles or steep sections on ascent and descent.
Feedback: review video of your skiing and prepare a mountain outing with the group.

Technical practice and a mountain outing

The programme combines steep terrain in a ski area, avalanche exercises and a mountain ascent and descent. Possible objectives include Garmo Negro, Pico de los Infiernos, Pico Tebarray and the northeast side of Bisaurín, depending on conditions.

Read the requirements, timetable and equipment list below, then contact PirineoSur to discuss your experience and preferred dates.

Cover image: Skiing powder snow Chamonix.JPG, by Webwizzard, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped, lettered and adapted with AI. The photographic adaptation retains the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence. The logo is an identifying trademark of PirineoSur.

Included and not included
Programme
Requirements
Equipment

Included

Two full days with a qualified higher-level high-mountain sports technician.
Ice axe and crampons, if you do not have your own.
Avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe, if you do not have your own.
Initial assistance insurance.
Photographs and video of the course.
Technical advice.
Taxes.

Not included

Touring skis, climbing skins, ski crampons and boots. Complete equipment rental carries a supplement of €35 per day; contact us.
Accommodation and meals; contact us for advice.
Ski area lift pass.
Transport.

Course objectives

Develop the technical and risk-management skills needed for ski tours on demanding to complex terrain, working towards more independent decisions.

Introductory evening

Meet at 19:30 at PirineoSur, C/ Antonio Beltrán 1, Jaca. The introductory theory session runs approximately from 19:30 to 21:00.

Human factors and decision-making.
Advanced avalanche rescue involving multiple buried victims.

First full practical day

Meet at 08:00 at PirineoSur in Jaca; ask about other meeting points. Practical training runs approximately from 09:00 to 16:30, followed by theory from 19:00 to 20:30.

Check and adjust ski equipment, warm up and carry out avalanche transceiver start-of-tour checks.
Use different turns according to snow and terrain. Practise wider turns, effort management and rhythm off-piste, including jump turns on steep slopes.
Work on individual and group behaviour during a descent, taking terrain and weather into account. Skiing is filmed for feedback.
Practise on steep sections in a ski area.
Practise transceiver searches involving multiple victims and deeper burials in mountain terrain with moderate to steep slopes.
Review the 3×3 route-planning framework, prepare an outing and analyse video of your skiing in the evening theory session.

Second full practical day

Meet at 08:00 at PirineoSur in Jaca; ask about other meeting points. Practical training runs approximately from 09:00 to 15:30.

Carry out transceiver checks and practise travel decisions based on snow clues, route choice, track setting, ascent pace and regrouping.
Use a rope on ascent or descent to negotiate obstacles and steep sections.
Read the descent line and select regrouping points, technique and group travel patterns according to terrain, conditions and the group, including single-track and individual-track options and their limits.
Build ski anchors and retrievable anchor systems, and use specific knots.
Practise handlines, roped descents with skis, belayed descents on steep slopes and self-arrest with skis.

Possible ascents and descents include Garmo Negro, Pico de los Infiernos, Pico Tebarray and the northeast side of Bisaurín. Objectives depend on conditions.

The timetable is indicative. The course consists of two full practical days with an introductory evening. Small groups allow the content to be adapted to participants' needs; contact us to discuss the programme.

Previous experience

You should have completed SKIMO 1 or already have a clear understanding of the skills covered at that level.

The course is for alpine skiers and ski tourers looking to improve their skills beyond those foundations. The programme includes steep terrain and technical exercises; discuss your experience with us before booking if you are unsure about your readiness. Small groups allow personalised teaching during the practical sessions and mountain ascents.

If your downhill skiing needs further work, we can offer piste technique lessons. The instructor can assess whether you are ready for this course.

If you are unsure about the most suitable level, call us or contact PirineoSur to discuss your experience.

What to bring

A complete ski touring setup, including touring boots. Equipment can be rented locally; ask us about rental.
A waterproof jacket and trousers, such as Gore-Tex or equivalent.
Trekking trousers and a 200-weight fleece or equivalent.
A thermal base layer.
Gloves and a spare pair.
A warm hat, cap, sunglasses and ski goggles.
A 45- to 50-litre backpack.
Sun protection.
Food for the practical outings and 1.5 litres of water.