Mount Etna; Intro Ski Mountaineering

Abstract

Introduction to Ski Touring

Itinerary

Trip description

Think Sicily and you think... Sicilian Pizza, ancient wines, Greco Roman architecture and mediteranean. But what about Mount Etna? And Skiing?

At 329m Etna is the highest active volcano in Italy. So it is a volcano, that means it must be a simple cone like Mount Fuji; that would be wrong. Etna is in fact a large mass, almost four times the land area of the nearby island of Malta, and the mountain has shape. It has rolling valleys blunt aretes and couloirs just aching to be skied. In fact it is a perfect terrain for learning the art of ski touring. The ski touring season on Etna lasts for a surprisingly long time, from December to May, but probably the best and most reliable month is February.

In February 2012 we found only excellent snow on the volcano. There are two ski resorts on its flanks with the highest lifts reaching around 2400m. These ski lifts can be used to gain a little height to start some of the tours, and also as a base for the first couple of days. Here we find, in addition to the excellent ski terrain the food, the shear joy of skiing in such an unusual place... in the heart of the Mediterranean. This is a real adventure. We are offering two courses on Etna, the first is an introduction to ski touring week, and this is followed by a weekend ski ascent of the mountain. Both these courses are also open to snow boarders.

Introduction to Ski Touring week. If you are a confident piste skier, with a little off-piste experience this week will aim to introduce you to the delights of ski-touring, climbing on skis with the aid of skins. We will reach subsidiary summits of the Etna massif, and so gain access to fresh untracked snow. Each day will end with a return to the comfortable mountain huts, four course Sicilian dinners and a chance to sample the local wines.

trip price

Trip price includes the following;
all transport and accommodation from and back to Catania as per program

UIAGM qualified trip leader
Group climbing gear
first aid kit.

Not included
International flights
Airport tax and entry visa (where necessary)
Holiday Insurance (must include cancellation)
Medivac (Medical & Emergency Evacuation) Insurance
personal skiiing kit and clothing;
telephone, beverage and bar bills

Payment, Cancellation and Refund
To register for this trip please contact us. Please insure your expedition against cancellation for medical and/or personal reasons

Insurance

For this trip you must have medical evacuation insurance.

We strongly recommend the purchase of trip cancellation and travel insurance. Travel insurance must provide coverage for trip cancellation and interruption, travel delays, loss of baggage and travel documents, baggage delay,

Essential kit list

Kit must be light and functional. Heavy, unsuitable and excess kit will only hinder your ascent of the mountain:

Travel
passport + photocopy + spare passport photographs
credit cards + cash
copy of insurance certificate

Sun protection
sun hat (cricket style is good)
glacier glasses
glacier cream and lip cream

Clothing
ski hat
weather proof shell jacket
weather proof shell pants
ski gloves
2 pile or fleece jackets
base layer long sleeve shirt
pile or fleece pants
thin and thick socks
ski touring boots
trainers


Hardwear
headtorch with fresh batteries
light water bottle (local plastic bottle is good)
40 ltr (min) rucksack
Weather proof kit bag
Avalanche Transceiver, Shovel and Probe
skis with touring bindings and climbing skin
ski poles

First Aid
personal medical supplies
blister kit
spare glasses/lenses (for the myopic or hyperopic)

Optional Extras;
Helmet
camera

Guide

The team will be led by a fully qualified UIAGM  guide

Safety communications and expedition First Aid

On this mountain there is reasonable cell phone coverage. We will provide a basic expedition medical kit. You should bring your own personal first aid kit.

Il Minimo

The minimum technical level is... you need to be able to handle black pistes comfortably. This trip requires a minimum of 6 clients to run.