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Ski touring Cosy bivouac in the Swiss Valais
Duration:
2 days
Price from: 425€
Fitness:
Infobulle physique
Physical Level 1: For individuals who engage in occasional physical activity, positive elevation gain up to 300m.
Physical Level 2: For individuals who engage in regular physical activity, positive elevation gain up to 600m.
Physical Level 3: For individuals who engage in regular endurance activities, positive elevation gain up to 900m or ascents to altitudes above 3500m.
Physical Level 4: For individuals who engage in regular endurance activities, positive elevation gain up to 1300m or ascents to altitudes above 4000m.
Physical Level 5: For individuals who engage in intensive endurance activities, positive elevation gain exceeding 1300m.
Technique:
Infobulle technique
Technical Level 1: For occasional off-piste skiers who want to discover ski touring along the edge of pistes.
Technical Level 2: For regular off-piste skiers, capable of skiing in all snow conditions on wide, gentle slopes, and who want to discover ski touring.
Technical Level 3: For occasional ski tourers (2 to 5 recent outings), capable of skiing in all snow conditions on wide, gentle slopes.
Technical Level 4: For regular ski tourers (5 to 10 recent outings), capable of skiing in all snow conditions on varied slopes with some technical sections, mastering kick turns, and possessing basic knowledge of using crampons and an ice axe.
Technical Level 5: For experienced ski tourers (more than 10 recent outings), capable of skiing in all snow conditions on varied and exposed slopes with technical sections, mastering kick turns and the use of crampons and an ice axe.
General information
Perched at the foot of the Dents du Midi in the Swiss Valais region, the Dents du Midi hut - bivouac offers an extraordinary vantage point overlooking the high summits of the Valais and Mont Blanc Massifs. Though not staffed in winter, the hut provides a high level of comfort with a wood burner, pots and pans, and comfortable beds. Spending the night in the Dents du Midi bivouac promises an unforgettable experience in the heart of the winter mountains. The varied itinerary will take you through the valleys of Susanfe, Emaney, and Fenestral, not far from Lake Emosson. To fully enjoy the tranquility of the area and take your time, the logistics of this program rely solely on public transport. This program is designed for individuals with prior ski touring experience who wish to have an extraordinary experience and explore a wild and pristine environment.
If you’re looking for a similar experience with less elevation gain, we recommend our trip to the Cabane de Fenestral, starting from the Ovronnaz ski resort in the Swiss Valais.
Group booking
Group session associates several people who don’t know each other. It allows for a planned program to benefit from an attractive price on fixed dates. This formula is ideal for people looking for the friendliness of a group.
Dates : See below for the group booking module
Price 2025 : 425€ per person based on minimum of 4 participants
Registration possible from the age of 18.
Included in the package :
- IFMGA English speaking mountain guiding service
- half-board in not guarded mountain huts (dinner, breakfast and night)
- ski lift access as per programme
- rental of full safety kit (avalanche transceiver/DVA, shovel, probe)
Not included in the package :
- take out lunches and daily snacks
- personal drinks in huts and other personal expenses (we recommend you bring Euros)
- cost of getting to meeting point
- personal technical equipment
Private booking
A private booking is the historical relationship that binds a guide to his/her client. It allows you to be alone, or in a constituted group, with your guide that meets your specific needs. It is undoubtedly the ideal formula to realize your projects because it guarantees you a maximum of comfort. You are free to choose your departure date (depending on the availability of the huts) and the itinerary can be adjusted, according to your specific expectations.
Itinerary modification : Depending on the conditions, the basic itinerary described for Day 2 may be extended after the descent from Col d'Emaney, with an ascent to Col de Fenestral (2,450 m), followed by a descent to the village of Finhaut (1,300 m). This modification allows for a positive elevation gain that is roughly equivalent on Days 1 and 2 (1,250 m).
Prices 2025 :
2 people : 875€ per person
3 people : 635€ per person
4 people : 515€ per person
5 people : 440€ per person
6 people : 390€ per person
Included in the package :
- IFMGA English speaking mountain guiding service
- half-board in mountain huts (dinner, breakfast and night)
- rental of full safety kit (avalanche transceiver/DVA, shovel, probe)
Not included in the package :
- take out lunches and daily snacks
- personal drinks in huts and other personal expenses (we recommend you bring Euros)
- cost of getting to meeting point
- personal technical equipment
Further information
In this section, find all the information about this activity. To prepare your trip effectively, refer to the guides’ tips. They share their expertise and recommendations, ensuring you have a great experience.
Meeting point : Meeting point: 7h15 at the train (TER) station of Chamonix. Not to be confused with the Montenvers station, located next door. The specific logistics of this trip requires you to be on time
Itinerary : This is provided as a guideline and may be adjusted according to the group's level and mountain conditions
Technical Level : Suitable for skiers skilled in off-piste skiing across various snow conditions and with advanced ski touring experience, including the ability to perform kick turns. The terrain features wide slopes with occasional narrow sections and inclines of up to 35°.
Physical Level : Designed for individuals who regularly engage in physical activity. Expect a positive elevation gain of up to 1,300 meters per day and an effort of 6 to 7 hours each day.
Guiding policy : 4 to 6 people. Registration possible from the age of 18.
Accommodation : Half-board in not guarded hut. Before & after the trip: We have some hotel partners in Chamonix with special prices for our customers
Documentation : Participants must have mountain sports insurance with repatriation cover. We strongly recommend that this also includes cancellation cover. You can take out insurance offering both of these types of cover when you sign up. Participants must also take valid ID with them
Documents available for download
Equipment
We recommend you to pay particular attention to the choice of your equipment. It contributes greatly to the success of your stay. Weight is decisive: you always have to evaluate the ratio weight/comfort, to find the best compromise.
Equipment
- Comfortable frameless rucksack of 35l on which you could fix your skis & ice-axe
- Ski touring skis & shoes, rentable
- Adhesive climbing skins & ski knifes adapted to your skis, rentable
- A pair of crampons, rentable
- A pair of poles with large discs, rentable
- A security pack including DVA, shovel & probe - this pack will be lend by your guide
Clothing
- Waterproof and windproof, non-insulated parka with hood (Gore-tex or equivalent), rentable
- Waterproof and windproof, non-insulated pants, rentable
- Thick polar-pile fleece jacket or equivalent
- A light down jacket
- 1 long-sleeve shirt
- Medium weight thermal underwear (top + bottoms, silk or polypro, double as pyjamas)
- Warm ski socks
- Warm ski hat and light sun hat with brim
- Warm ski gloves or mittens
- A pair of thinner/finer gloves (in leather or fleece)
- Neck protection
- Spare thermal underwear (for sleeping and change)
Accessories
- High-altitude sunglasses (grade 4 is recommended)
- A pair of goggles
- 1.5L water bottle
- An isotherm bottle
- A mini toilet bag including: sun block for face and lips, aspirin, elastoplast, 2nd skin kit, earplug, toilet paper
- A headlamp with spare batteries
- A cotton or silk sleeping sheet: compulsory in every hut. - Hut provide blankets, slippers or clogs
- A plastic bag containing your ID card & Euros for extras
Our Rental Partners : You can rent your equipment with our rental shops partners and benefit from special price Millet, Sanglard Sports, Ravanel & Co & Concept Pro Shop
Our Equipment Partners : Millet, Dynastar, Julbo, Grivel & Monnet
Itinerary
Day 1
Start in Chamonix, where we catch our train to the small family ski resort of les Marécottes, Switzerland (1 100m). The ski lifts leave us at 2200m, starting point of our adventure. We reach the Col de la Golette (2 470m) by ski and then by foot, to access the wild Salanfe Valley. We ski down a gentle, great slope, often with fresh powder, all the way to the lake (1 900m), which is completely ice-covered in the winter. We cross it and start the way up to the Dents du Midi refuge (2 885m). Cosy night at the hut.
Elevation gain: 1250m / Elevation loss: 550m
Day 2
We start our day with the beautiful descent of the Combe du Sé Rouge, which leads us to Lake Salanfe (2,050 m). We follow the impressive east face of the Tour Salière up to Col d’Emaney (2,460 m), providing access to the wild Vallon d’Emaney. The initial descent requires some caution, but the slopes then widen, taking us all the way down to the Vallon (2,000 m), at the foot of the Aboillon peaks. We continue our descent through the Vallon d’Emaney, exiting around 1,600 m to reach the Marécottes ski area. From there, we descend to the village to catch the train back to Chamonix, arriving in the mid-afternoon.
Elevation gain: 600m / Elevation loss: 2000m
Booking
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Calculate your carbon footprint
Discover the carbon emissions of this activity and add your trip to the meeting point.
CO2 emitted per person for the activity: 13 kg. Learn out more about the footprint calculation of this activity
CO2 emitted per person for the activity: 13 kg. Learn out more about the footprint calculation of this activity
CO2 emitted per person for this activity & journey(s) = 0 kgIn order to limit global warming to +2°C by 2100, the COP-21 agreement stipulates that each human should emit no more than 2t of CO2 per year. According to the French Ministry of Ecology, today European citizens emit an average of 11t per year, and American citizens emit an average of 21t annually., or 1.3€The price for a ton of CO2 is currently 100€ in the European Union to offset.
Find out more about our zero impact strategy.
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