Sometimes, crossing a ridge is all it takes to enter another world! This day of freerando in Les Orres starts with the ski lifts, before we put on our climbing skins to explore wilder terrain.
From Grand Vallon to the Eyssalette valley and Boussolenc, some routes feel like a real journey: the resort fades away, the views open up, and the descent takes us somewhere new…
Depending on the snow, your ability and what you feel like doing, we’ll find the right balance between climbing and skiing. Enough to get your legs working and bring you back with a smile!
Your freerando day in Les Orres
We meet at 8:45 am, ready and fully equipped! Before setting off, we’ll discuss the conditions, your ability and what you’d like to do. The aim is to make the most of the snow and the day’s possibilities, adjusting our plans as we go.
We’ll use the ski lifts for a few warm-up runs in the off-piste terrain close to Les Orres, to get our legs moving, get to know each other and get a feel for the snow. Then we’ll leave the resort behind to explore wilder areas: Grand Vallon, the Eyssalette valley, the Boussolenc sector… We can link several descents with climbs on skins, or opt for a single climb into a valley followed by a long descent. It all depends on the snow, how our legs are feeling and what the group wants!
For lunch, we’ll stop for a picnic in the mountains.
This freerando day in Les Orres is also an opportunity to build your skills and independence. Along the way, I’ll share how I assess the terrain and snow, choose a route and manage the group, as well as how to use an avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe.
There’s no fixed programme: we’ll adapt the day as we go, enjoying the mountains around Les Orres, developing your skills and finding some great descents!
We’ll say our goodbyes at around 4 pm.
Guiding fees
€500 per day for the group (up to 4 people)
€45 per day for each additional person
Maximum group size: 6 to 8 people, depending on the type of day
Additional costs
Adult day lift pass (for lift-assisted ski touring or off-piste skiing): €15–€66 per person (depending on the resort)
Avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe rental: €10 per person
Ski equipment rental: approximately €70 per person
What You’ll Need
Ski pass: available to buy online.
Personal accident insurance covering off-piste skiing.
Clothing suitable for skiing and high-mountain conditions: warm base layers, fleece, down jacket, waterproof Gore-Tex-type jacket, ski trousers, ski socks, hat, warm gloves and liner gloves.
Ski goggles, sunglasses and sunscreen.
Water bottle or thermos and food for the day: energy bars, dried fruit, sandwiches, etc.
For off-piste days: skis, ski boots and poles suitable for off-piste skiing and your ability.
For freerando days: ski touring equipment (touring skis, skins, ski crampons, touring boots and poles).
Helmet.
Approx. 30-litre backpack with ski-carry straps, large enough to carry your shovel and probe (airbag backpack optional).
Meals for participants and the guide, either at a mountain hut or restaurant, or as a packed lunch (confirmed the day before).
Good to know
Ski touring, off-piste skiing, ski mountaineering, steep skiing and lift-assisted ski touring take place outside marked and secured pistes, in a mountain environment that is constantly changing. Avalanches, falls, obstacles, crevasses and changing weather are among the factors to consider.
I will choose and adapt our routes according to current conditions, the group’s ability and how the situation develops throughout the day, to reduce these risks. The programme may therefore change when necessary, so we can make the most of what the mountains offer.
Climbing or skiing with a mountain guide helps assess and reduce risks, but cannot eliminate them entirely. This uncertainty is part of off-piste skiing and, more broadly, of spending time in the mountains.
First Contact
Please contact me first to tell me about your project and discuss your experience, skill level, availability, and goals. First Contact by email, phone, WhatsApp, or text message.
Reservations and Payment
Your reservation will be confirmed upon receipt of a check or bank transfer for a 50% deposit, which you must send me at least one month before departure. Full payment is due at the time of departure or upon your return from the race.
You should be comfortable skiing off-piste on moderate slopes and able to handle different snow conditions. You don’t need to be an expert in steep couloirs! We’ll discuss your experience before the day to choose suitable routes.
We use the ski lifts to gain altitude, then continue on climbing skins. Total ascent ranges from 500 to 1,500 m, depending on the conditions, the group’s fitness and what everyone wants to do. One climb followed by a long descent, or several climbs to explore different slopes: we’ll plan the day together!
Freeride touring (freerando) combines ski touring and freeride skiing: starting from a ski resort, climbing skins are used to reach wild, off-piste areas otherwise inaccessible by lift.
Some ski touring experience is helpful, but it isn’t essential if you have the right off-piste skiing ability and fitness. I’ll show you how to use climbing skins, switch your bindings between touring and skiing modes, and make uphill kick turns. Let me know if you’re new to ski touring: we’ll plan manageable climbs and allow enough time for you to get comfortable with the equipment and techniques.
Thanks to the ski lifts, freerando allows for more descents in a day, which suits those who aren't especially keen on the uphill climb.
Standard ski touring equipment is perfectly suitable. There's also a range of "freerando" skis designed more for descent enjoyment, since weight is less of a constraint than in classic ski touring.
