22 December 2021
If anyone knows what is important in ski touring, it is Séverine Pont Combe. The seven-time Swiss ski touring champion shares her best tips for a wonderful ski touring excursion.
Hardly anyone knows the ski touring routes in the Crans-Montana region better than Séverine Pont Combe. The 41-year-old athlete is living proof that it is practice that makes a master: as well as her seven Swiss ski touring championship titles, the 41year-old has won a total of twelve medals at the World and European Championships and she has won the demanding "Patrouille des Glaciers" not once, not twice but four times.
But Séverine Pont Combe doesn’t just demonstrate her skills and knowledge when she is on skis: with her husband Nicolas Combe, she has also designed the entire Crans-Montana Ski Rando Parc. The couple, who are passionate about ski touring, still actively support this great project and lend a hand today, so that others can fully enjoy the adventure of ski mountaineering in the vast, safe area of the Ski Rando Parc.
«The Crans-Montana region is particularly well-suited to ski touring: it is extensive and enjoys a special climate. In addition, there are four departure points in the resort which offer an easy and convenient starting point for ski touring routes. Speaking of convenience: equipment can be rented in the resort, digital or printed maps are available free of charge, and the departure points are easy to reach – on foot, by car or by public transport».
«And there is something for everyone: the Crans-Montana Ski Rando Parc has 16 safe and marked routes. This makes a total of 45 kilometres and an 8,000 metre height difference! Also, everyone can enjoy ski touring. For children, it is recommended to use cross-country skis and fix small skins under them: they are lighter and the boots are better for small feet».
«The Ski Rando Parc is secured by the ski area team. This is why the ski touring itineraries and their opening times also depend on the ski area. For users, this means that you should always check whether the route is open before you set off. In the event of an accident, the ski area patrols will intervene, and for the downhill, you can also use the prepared ski pistes or the gondola lifts. And all of these services cost next to nothing! The Rando Pass costs just 5 francs per day or 50 francs per season – and only if you don’t already have a ski pass».
«Good equipment is essential for ski touring. This includes a rucksack, something to drink, a little something to eat – for me, that’s usually bananas or a cereal bar – warm gloves, and depending on the weather, a jumper and a spare jacket for the descent. When it’s snowing, ski goggles are also handy. If it’s wet, I also recommend taking a second pair of skins. My advice is to wax the skins well so that wet snow is less likely to stick».
«Personally, I always carry a helmet and a survival blanket with me, as you never know what can happen in the mountains. The Ski Rando Parc is well secured, so it’s not a requirement to carry a shovel, probe and DVA. However it is certainly wise to quickly get used to having your equipment with you at all times when you’re ski touring. After all, the main aim is to make you feel safe and comfortable on the route, and for you to enjoy yourself while you are on the trail».
«The Crans-Montana Ski Rando Parc is very well signposted. So to be safe on the path, you just have to follow the signposted routes. However it is always advisable to have a map with you: on one hand, you can always check the distance you’ve already covered, or still have to go. On the other hand, the map helps you when you want to switch from one route to another. Sometimes when ski touring you come across tracks that take you out of the Ski Rando Parc. It’s therefore important to always follow the official signs».
«If you would like to go on a ski tour or mountain hike outside the Ski Rando Parc, it is best to be accompanied by a professional for safety reasons, and also because they will add all their experience and passion too, which will make the hike a very special experience».
«When it comes to ski touring, it’s the training that leads to perfection. The more ski touring we do, the more our technique improves. Today’s equipment is much lighter than it used to be: that’s why it’s even more important to lift the ski as little as possible when walking, and to keep your feet very close to the ground – so you walk a bit like a teenager dragging their feet (laughs).
It’s also important to lean on the poles. You could say that they are our third and fourth legs and they’re extremely useful, especially in frozen sections or on slopes. A good technique also always includes observation of the terrain: if a section is too steep or too frozen, a small diversion not far from the route can sometimes be useful and important».
«In ski touring, you often start at 1,500 metres and you may think that it’s quite warm and that you probably don’t need a warm jacket. Big mistake: a moment later, you’re in the mountains and the conditions can be completely different. It’s therefore important to have different layers on that you can put on and take off as needed. I recommend putting on a base layer – possibly with a waistcoat – then a warm layer and finally a waterproof hard shell jacket for protection against the snow and wind».
«The blue routes around Crans-Montana are all well-suited to beginners. Route numbers 5, 10 and 13 in particular are absolutely ideal : they are located on snow-covered roads, the terrain is not very steep, and they’re not too technically demanding either on the way up or on the way down. These itineraries are made for all those that want to try ski touring but that also want to be safe. If you’re a beginner, route 10 is a perfect choice. With this route, you can do a circular walk and then return to the resort on the free shuttle bus».
«There are several itineraires in Crans-Montana where you have the impression that you are completely alone in the world. Just a few steps from the ski area, you arrive in isolated places where nature still reigns. The red itinerary number 7, for example, is quite simply magnificent: it starts in the forest, and nature here is so wild that you don’t really know where the path will lead you. Amongst the snow-covered trees, you feel like you’re in Lapland. If you like slightly more technical routes, you can try your hand at conversions on route number 8. And for the real experts, routes 9 and 12 are a real pleasure».
«Basically, the black routes in the region are all very technically demanding and have lots of conversions. In addition, the weather and snow conditions can be difficult, especially in spring when the slopes are usually still frozen in the morning. Beginners should therefore never choose these types of itinerary for their first ski tours».
«My favourite ski tour in Crans-Montana is route number 8. Especially during the last part, you’re not far from the ski slopes, but you’re still in the middle of wilderness between the cliffs. Route number 7 offers an exciting mix of different landscapes, and number 14 and number 12 in the Aminona region are also beautiful and peaceful».
«As you can see, I like all the routes in the Rando Park. Luckily, I live here and I don’t have to choose between them (laughs). But the strong point of each itinerary is always the experience of nature, the environment and the views. It’s precisely this variety that really makes ski touring for me, and it really is a pleasure to be able to train here. There are lots of ski touring discovery routes and everyone will find an itinerary to suit their level and what they are looking for here».
