Why are ski touring and ski mountaineering so popular?

Ski touring is skiing on unmarked slopes and off-piste areas that are not groomed for downhill (alpine) skiing. It is a combination of skiing, winter hiking and cross-country skiing.

The main difference between downhill skiing and ski touring is that in ski touring you do not use ski lifts or other means of transport to get up the slope. You climb the hill on foot or on skis. If ascending on skis, you need to fit skins to your skis to stop you from sliding back down the slope. When you get to the top of the hill, remove the skins and get ready for an adrenaline-boosting descent and a wild ride across virgin snow.

You can also climb hills on foot. In this way, you combine ski touring and winter hiking. Fix your skis to your rucksack and set off for the summit on foot. Walking on slippery, ice-covered slopes or in deep snow can require a lot of physical effort. Using crampons makes it easier to get up icy slopes. Snowshoes come in handy in the case of dry, deep snow. For really steep slopes, you will also need an ice axe.

What is the difference between ski mountaineering and ski touring?

Ski touring is a combination of winter hiking and off-piste skiing. This type of skiing is only for those who love challenging ascents and enjoy travelling across untouched terrain. Ski touring requires special equipment, which varies from individual to individual. If you are thinking of trying ski touring, you should be a very good skier. Above all, you need an adequate level of physical fitness for a sport of this kind.

Snowboard touring is a combination of snowboarding on unmarked slopes and winter hiking. Snowboarders strap their boards to their backpacks and set off uphill on foot. Once at the top, they get on their boards and set off down powder-covered slopes into the valley. Snowboard touring is only suitable for very good snowboarders and requires a lot of physical strength for the ascent.

Ski mountaineering could be described as ski touring on steroids. In this type of skiing, it is usual to ascend and descend by the same route. Alternatively, you can get to the top of the hill by helicopter and then ski back down (this is known as heli-skiing). If you’re interested in ski touring and heli-skiing, try the ski areas of Kanin or Stol. Ski mountaineering involves difficult terrain such as rock faces, ravines, gullies and even waterfalls. If you decide to give this discipline a try, you will need additional mountaineering equipment. Only suitable for excellent skiers.

Safety in ski touring and ski mountaineering

Ski touring and ski mountaineering are quite a lot more dangerous than traditional downhill skiing. When setting off on a ski tour off the beaten track, you should be wary of avalanches and other hazards such as crevasses hidden by snow.

Before setting off on a ski touring or ski mountaineering expedition, be sure to check the weather forecast and snow conditions in the mountains. Don’t forget to bring suitable safety equipment. Never set off on a ski touring expedition alone. Make sure there is someone with you who can call for help in the event of an accident. Always carry a basic first-aid kit.

What equipment do you need for ski touring?

The basic gear for a ski touring trip should include the following items:

• touring skis;
• ski skins;
• ski crampons;
• ski goggles;
• crampons or snowshoes;
• avalanche safety gear:
• transceiver: this is worn under the clothing and must be always “on” (in transmitter mode), so you can be found by other skiers or rescuers in the case of an avalanche;
• probe: to find the exact location and depth of an avalanche victim;
• avalanche beacon;
• shovel: to dig avalanche victims out of the snow;
• avalanche airbag.

When is the best time to go ski touring?

The best times of year for ski touring are winter and spring. Depending on snow conditions and air temperature. Snow conditions are usually good in spring, thanks to the presence of “corn snow” (a type of snow with a crusty surface which melts and refreezes on a daily basis), although you should watch out for the best time of day to ski (preferably the early morning and late afternoon).

The days are also longer in spring, which means more time skiing. The winter season, on the other hand, increases the chances of finding powder snow, the ultimate desire of skiers. In winter you can ski all day until it gets dark. Of course, the days are a lot shorter in winter, night falls quickly and the air cools rapidly. Be careful not to let nightfall take you by surprise. Skiing down a mountain in the dark is extremely dangerous. The low winter temperatures mean that hypothermia can set in quickly.

Why should you hire a local guide for a ski touring or ski mountaineering trip?

Icy mountain slopes can be very unpredictable and dangerous. There is a high risk of falling or slipping, which can result in injury. Newly fallen snow is also dangerous. Large quantities of newly fallen snow that has not yet had time to bond with the frozen base represent a major avalanche risk. Never set off into the mountains alone in winter. Especially not on a ski touring expedition. Ski touring should always be done in the company of experienced ski tourers or mountaineers. Never set off down into the valley alone. You should always be with someone who can help you or call for help in the event of an accident. If you don’t have much experience of ski touring, hire a certified and experienced mountain guide. Mountain guides have expert knowledge of the terrain and weather conditions. A good guide will help you improve your skills on icy terrain and teach you more about skiing and the proper way to behave in the mountains.

The most popular ski touring destinations in Slovenia

Ski touring in the Kamnik–Savinja Alps

There is always enough snow in the Kamnik–Savinja Alps. A snowy blanket covers the extensive mountain slopes, to the delight of ski touring enthusiasts, who can enjoy idyllic ski tours here. Set off on a ski touring expedition to Golte or Menina Planina. Ski from Smrekovec towards Raduha, or on Velika Planina, the Dleskovec Plateau (Dleskovška planota) or the glacial cirque of Okrešelj, where Turski Žleb and Savinjsko Sedlo are particularly popular with ski touring enthusiasts. Suitably expert ski tourers can set off with a qualified mountain guide on less well known tours in the Kamnik–Savinja Alps. On Krvavec you can ski along the SKI ALP trail. Pavličevo Sedlo and Jezersko also offer opportunities for ski touring and ski mountaineering. The Jezersko side of the Kamnik–Savinja Alps is popular with both ski tourers and cross-country skiers.

Ski touring in the Julian Alps – Soča Valley

The Soča Valley is located in the mighty Julian Alps and the Triglav National Park. It is an excellent starting point for ski mountaineering and ski touring expeditions. Trekking with skis over isolated snowy terrain and skiing down untouched white slopes is the dream of every ski mountaineering and ski touring enthusiast. Stol, Čisti Vrh, Matajur and Mangartsko Sedlo are ideal for ski touring beginners and those who prefer less difficult terrain.

Ski touring classics in the Soča Valley include Mala (Little) and Velika (Big) Mojstrovka, Sleme and Krn (from the Primorska side). More demanding ski mountaineering and ski touring enthusiasts will enjoy more difficult tours such as the tour from Špička below Jalovec or the tour through the remote Bala Valley.

Ski touring in the Julian Alps – Bohinj

In Bohinj the ski touring season lasts from December to May when snow conditions are good. The chain of mountains above Bohinj offer some of the most beautiful areas for ski touring in this part of Slovenia.

For slightly easier ski touring, we recommend Rodica, the peaks around Pokljuka and some tours on Komna. Even basic skiing skills are enough for you to try ski touring here, provided you have a suitable guide and conditions are good. Vogel and the surrounding area also offer excellent possibilities for ski touring. Komna is a ski touring paradise. The wonderful terrains of the Fužinarske Planine mountain pastures are a major discovery for ski tourers.

The longest and most famous ski touring route in the Julian Alps is located in Bohinj: running from Kanjavec to Stara Fužina, it is 15 km long and has an altitude difference of 2,000 m. One of the most beautiful ski touring routes is the Triglav Traverse (Triglavska magistrala), running via Vogel, the Seven Triglav Lakes, Dolič, Kredarica and Za Cmirom into the Vrata Valley.

Ski touring in the Julian Alps – Upper Sava Valley

Have you ever tried skiing down from Dovška Baba? There are plenty of opportunities for ski mountaineering and ski touring enthusiasts in the Upper Sava Valley. You can try ski touring from the peaks of the Karavanke (Karawanken) range. The ridges of the Julian Alps are the right choice for those who enjoy more extreme ski touring and ski mountaineering experiences. The most popular ski touring descents are from Mojstrovka, Kotovo Sedlo below Jalovec or the Za Cmirom valley, and from Stenar into the Vrata Valley.

Ski touring in the Karavanke range

If you love mountains and skiing, then the Karavanke range (Karawanken in German) is the right destination for you, with a large number of ski touring slopes ranging from easy terrain that is suitable for anyone to more demanding routes that verge on ski mountaineering. The slopes of the Karavanke range offer plenty of opportunities for ski touring. Experienced ski tourers can set off on winter expeditions to natural ski areas on the slopes of Stol, Košuta and Kriška Gora. Meanwhile Zelenica is the most suitable destination for ski touring beginners.

Half the pleasure of ski touring is the hike to the summit. The most popular tours in the Tržič area are from Kofce to Veliki Vrh and Kladivo. Many people are familiar with the winter beauty of Tegoška Gora, Košutnikov Turn, Tolsta Košuta, Dobrča, Veliki Javornik and many others. The tours offer considerable variety and begin with the first snow of the year. Let yourself be enchanted by a winter fairy tale on the Karavanke slopes.

Ski touring in Koroška

An ascent on skis to distant peaks is rewarded by unforgettable descents. Feel the adrenaline flow as you glide down the silent slopes of Kope, the Ribniško Pohorje and the Karavanke. The Koroška region offers wonderful opportunities for ski touring on the slopes of Peca, Raduha and Olševa.

Peca is very popular with ski tourers, especially those who prefer the descent to the ascent. On the Austrian side of Peca (Petzen in German), a cable car will take you to just below the summit, at an elevation of 1,950 m above sea level.

Ski touring in the Škofja Loka Hills

With their wonderful views, the Škofja Loka Hills (Škofjeloško hribovje) are a popular ski touring destination. You cannot go wrong with a ski touring expedition to Blegoš (1,562 m), the highest peak in the range, where large numbers of ski touring enthusiasts congregate soon after the first snowfall. Blegoš is a popular destination that is also safe from avalanches.

Ski touring has a tradition of several decades in Slovenia. When snow conditions are good, there are countless opportunities to visit snow-covered hill and mountain areas. Ski touring is possible in a wide range of destinations, including Snežnik, the Gorjanci, the Zasavje Hills (Zasavsko hribovje), the Pohorje, the Škofja Loka Hills, the Cerkno Hills (Cerkljansko hribovje), the Polhov Gradec Dolomites and the plateau of Trnovski Gozd. The choice is particularly wide in the Alpine part of Slovenia, with opportunities for ski touring and ski mountaineering expeditions in high-mountain areas including the Julian Alps, the Karavanke, the Kamnik–Savinja Alps and the slopes of the Pohorje.

We wish you a safe ski touring experience!