Pure Pyrenéerna

The Last Post

The Pyrenées form a natural boundary between France and Spain where the mountains separate the Iberic peninsula from the rest of continental Europe. A large part of the Pyrenées is formally classified as wilderness and is very sparsely populated. In terms of ski touring the area offers endless variation with hundreds of summits and reliable snow conditions in February and March. Right in the centre of the Pyrenées lies the village Val d’Aran, our start and end point.

The valley is considered the most picturesque and untouched area in the Spanish Pyrenées. In the nearby ski resort of Baqueira, the Spanish royal family has their winter residence. Val d’Aran has belonged to Spain for a long time, but due to its isolated location it couldn’t be reached during winter until comparatively recently, and this has given the valley its own completely separate culture and its own spoken language, Arranés. Vi have four ski touring days in the Pyrenées where we start out towards the Amitges hut and finish in the Ventosa area. We’ll average between 1,100m and 1,200m vertical meters per day, with lunch on the hill. In the evenings we can expect a cosy mountain hut at around 2,000m altitude with exquisite Catalan cuisine, cold beer and a comfortable bed.

Pure Ski Touring only hires IFMGA Mountain Guides

What is a Mountain Guide?
A Mountain Guide is a specially trained and highly experienced professional who is certified by authorities or mountain guide associations. They are considered experts at a high level and are hired to instruct or lead individuals and small groups in mountain environments that require this advanced expertise. The profession of mountain guide originated in the mid-19th century when alpine climbing became recognized as a sport.

IFMGA Certification
The title IFMGA Mountain Guide is reserved for individuals who have received full certification through their country’s national mountain guide association, whose curriculum and training are approved by the International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations (IFMGA). Certification is obtained through a rigorous examination process that includes rock climbing, alpine climbing and ski mountaineering. Certification usually takes between three and seven years to complete.

Swedish Mountain Guide Organisation
The Swedish Mountain Guide Organisation (SBO) is Sweden’s only professional organisation for mountain guides. SBO trains and examines guides and offers further training. The organisation promotes the interests of its members nationally and internationally and administers information, fees and meetings. The requirements for authorisation are high and include technical skills, teaching and leadership skills. SBO cooperates with other organisations and is a member of the International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations (IFMGA), which gives Swedish guides the right to work internationally according to the federation’s standards.

Read more here:
SBO
IFMGA

Our IFMGA Mountain Guides at Pure Pyreneese is