Being a Woman in the Snow | Ski touring & avalanches with a female mountain guide

We’ll meet at the valley station of the Andermatt ski resort, Gemsstock.

To start with, we’ll take some time to get to know each other and discuss your expectations, goals and previous experience. After that, we’ll head straight out onto the winter terrain.

Depending on conditions, we’ll set off on a ski tour from the Oberalp Pass. Our destination is either the shoulder or – if conditions allow – the summit of the Pazolastock. During the ascent, covering an elevation gain of around 500 to 800 metres, we will learn and consolidate the key principles of avalanche assessment. Afterwards, a spectacular descent of around 1,400 metres in elevation awaits us, taking us all the way down to Andermatt.

Daily destination:
You are familiar with the key principles of avalanche assessment and can use your observational skills more effectively in winter terrain.

In the evening, we take some time to reflect on the day’s experiences and plan the next day’s tour together.

Today we’ll set off straight from our accommodation and head out on a ski tour towards Pizzo del Uomo. As we go, we’ll gradually leave the well-trodden paths behind and, depending on the conditions, find a suitable route through the wintry terrain.

During the ascent, we keep an eye on the snow cover, assess the terrain and continually evaluate the current conditions. It’s not just a matter of following a planned route, but of understanding why we choose a particular path, slope or spot to take a break.

If conditions allow, we can look forward to a long, uncrowded descent towards Realp or the Gotthard Pass road, depending on the conditions. This means that, even on the descent, we’ll experience how the terrain, snow conditions and our own skiing technique all work together.

Daily destination:
You’ll be able to apply the basics of avalanche assessment whilst on a ski tour and gain greater confidence in making your own decisions.

Focus on the women’s climbing team:
We also observe what happens within the group: When do I trust my own judgement? When do I voice my doubts? How do we make decisions together? And how can we take responsibility whilst at the same time trusting others?

On the final day, we’ll combine freetouring with putting what we’ve learnt into practice independently. At the Gemsstock, we can look forward to varied terrain with an ascent of around 600 metres and a descent of up to 2,000 metres.

Today you’ll have even more opportunity to observe and assess things for yourself, and to share your thoughts with the group. Where shall we head in? Which route shall we take? How are the terrain and snow conditions changing? And which decision feels right to you?

The mountain guide guides you through the process, provides feedback and offers support where necessary. This enables you to apply what you’ve learnt over the past few days with increasing independence and to make your own decisions in a considered manner.

Daily destination:
You’ll set off on your next ski tours with greater knowledge, experience and confidence.

To round things off, we’ll take some time to reflect together: What have you learnt? In which areas do you feel more confident? Which topics would you like to explore in more depth? And what will you take away from this for your next ski tours?

We’ll round off our time together back at the Sust Lodge or at Andermatt railway station. Armed with new experiences, greater knowledge and increased self-confidence, you’ll set off on your journey home on your own.