Meeting point
Grindelwald Terminal
Grundstrasse 54, 3818 Grindelwald
Basic Course Ski Touring on Glaciers
2 days
Basics of glacier ski touring
Crevasse rescue, navigation, and route planning
Experience your first high mountain tour
Season:
March May
Departure Times
07:40
Key info
At least 4 days of ski touring completed
A strong skier who handles black runs with ease
Able to handle descents in mixed snow conditions
Comfortable with 4 hours of hiking while carrying a pack
Overview
Recommended for:
Anyone who trades comfort for the view.
Discover the high mountains on ski tours: route planning, crevasse rescue, and glacier navigation.
Ski tours on glaciers require knowledge: Where is there a risk of falling into a crevasse? When do you need a rope? How do you plan a safe route? In this course, you'll learn how to move safely in the glaciated high mountains—with practical exercises in crevasse rescue, navigation, and track setting. The theory is applied directly on the tour.
Course details
AcademyLearning objectives
- Independent planning of simple ski tours on glaciers.
- Identifying and avoiding crevasses.
- Applying basic crevasse rescue techniques.
- Interpreting maps in glaciated terrain.
- Setting a safe track across glaciers.
- When and how to use a rope on glaciers
- Assessing dangers in high alpine terrain.
- Improving orientation and route finding on the glacier.
Assessment methods
Progress is continuously assessed
Learning progress is assessed through practical exercises, active participation in tour planning, and the application of learned techniques during the application tour. An oral assessment and feedback are provided by the mountain guide.
Certification
Certificate: Basic Course Ski Touring Glacier
Upon completion of the two-day course, participants receive a certificate. This confirms successful participation in the basic course on glacier ski touring, but is intended as a keepsake and is not an official document.
Issued by:
Outdoor Switzerland AG
Itinerary
Meeting points Day1
Day 1: Ascent to Hollandia Hut
Meet in Grindelwald. Together we take the train to Jungfraujoch, where our high mountain adventure begins. After an initial descent to the Konkordiaplatz, we focus on crevasse rescue: How do you identify crevasse zones? How do you rope up? How does a pulley system work? How can I make an anchor? Then we attach the skins and ascend over the Aletschfirn to the Hollandia Hut. The scenery: endless ice, rugged peaks, and the warm hut light welcoming us.
Day2
Day 2: Climb the Aebniflueh and long descent
We rope up and ascend over the Äbeni Flueh-Firn towards the summit. Track setting, rope techniques, navigation—we put into practice what we've learned. At the top, a fantastic panorama awaits us. Then follows the long descent: first to the hut, then over the Lang Glacier to Blatten. Glacier scenery and open slopes enjoyed in wide turns—a descent that burns in the legs and stays in the mind.
Whats included
Guiding from a licenced mountain guide/ aspirant guide
Expenses of the mountain guide
Overnight stay(s) with half-board for the mountain guide
Hut reservation
Course Certificate
Not included
Costs for cable cars and travel expenses of the guest
Overnight stay(s) in bunk room with half-board for the guest
Snacks
Technical equipment
Costs for a taxi if needed (guests pay for the guide's share)
Pack list
Backpack
Backpack 25-30 l
Clothing
Warm, functional clothing
Rain jacket
Rain pants
Mountaineering or winter hiking pants
Sunhat
Gloves (ideally one thin and one thick pair)
Beanie or headband
Extra underwear and socks
Thermal underwear
Footwear
Ski touring boots or snowboard boots
Technical Equipment
Crampons with anti-snow plates
Harness
Ice axe
Prusik
Accessory cord 4 m (min. 6 mm)
Sling 120 cm
Locking carabiners, approx. 3
Ski touring skis or splitboard with skins and tele crampons
Ski poles (preferrably telescopic)
LVS (avalanche transceiver)
Avalanche probe
Avalanche shovel
Avalanche airbag (optional)
Microtraxion and / or Tibloc (if you have one)
Ice screw (if you have one)
Basics
Sunglasses (category 3 or 4)
Sunscreen lotion and lip balm (minimum factor 30, 50 better)
Thermos flask, drink bottle
Headlamp
Silk sleeping bag liner
Toiletries
SAC/DAV permit (if you have one)
GA or Half Fare Travelcard (if you have)
Earplugs (optional)
Camera and binoculars (optional)
Snacks
Weather info
General weather info
Weather can influence any tour, and a clear decision is often only possible on the day itself. We review conditions carefully and remain within our safety limits, and bad weather alone does not mean we have to stop.
Make sure we can reach you with current contact information in case your booking changes. Silence from us means your tour is still planned or the final call is not yet made. If we need to cancel, you can rebook, choose another activity, or get a full refund.
For detailed advice on how to prepare for (and enjoy!) bad weather days in Interlaken, check out our weather blog
Meeting points
Meeting points
Activity location