Luke Davies Outdoors

Luke Davies Outdoors

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Ski Guiding

Adventurous skiing in the alps and beyond

Want to come and ski interesting terrain away from the resort and make the most of the conditions in as safe a way as possible? 

Our ski trips are tailored to your ability and aims whether you want to ski the best snow and lines that a new destination can offer or simply want to ski itineraries and terrain that you wouldn’t normally be able to access, we have something for most.

If any of the options below sound like something that interests you, please get in contact.

Chamonix

Chamonix is one of the world’s most iconic ski destinations with terrain that is hard to beat.

Filled with glaciers, steep slopes, rocky mountains and lots of people, it can be an intimidating place for visitors and can often involve mountaineering elements not found in other ski destinations. Our guided days aim to get you to the best conditions whilst navigating these potential logistics and dangers, drawing on over 8 years of experience of living and skiing here as a home base. 

 Whether you want to come and ski the classic Vallèe Blanche, a 20km glacial descent accessible to most, or to sample some of the classic technical terrain that Chamonix is known for, there is something to offer all skiers.

Below are examples of the types of guiding that we can offer here:

Vallée Blanche

Come and ski Chamonix’s most famous ski run – a 20km glacial descent through the heart of the Mont Blanc Massif. 

Starting from the top of the Aiguille du Midi, we first descend, roped up on foot, down the ridge to where it is possible to put our skis on, before skiing all the way down to the Montenvers train, which takes us back to Chamonix town. 

Those wishing to do this should be able to ski red runs confidently (or easy blacks if north American) – there are several variations to the run that are options for stronger groups, depending on conditions.

Group sizes 1-6 skiers.

Available Late December to May

Chamonix Freeride

For those looking to find the best conditions off-piste without putting on skins – this option is for you. 

Unlike North America, beyond the pistes, there is limited control of the backcountry here and knowing where to go and when on a given day to find the best snow can be challenging – we draw on almost a decade of skiing here to provide adventurous days out.

Days are tailored to your ability level and will go wherever conditions are best – whether this is skiing the backbowls of La Tour, sampling some of the north facing descents in Val Veny or even some of the Skyway steeps. 

Group sizes 1-6 skiers.

Available December to May

Ski Touring

For those willing to go uphill for a bit, the options really open up and using the lift system we can often get 2000m descents with as little as 400m uphill. 

The range of touring options in the area are endless whether doing one of the classic ‘up and over’ ski tours in the Aiguilles Rouges, where we use the Flegere lift system and the valley trains to complete an A to B tour of the range or skiing one of the classic south facing Cols of the beautiful Argentière Basin from Grand Montets, skiers are sure to see a variety of terrain. 

Skiers should be able to happily do at least 600m of vert a day for this option (ie be happy to be going uphill for up to 3 hours and not be totally exhausted). 

Group sizes 1-6 skiers.

Available December to May

Ski Mountaineering

For ski tourers looking to do some of the more technical tours that involve mountaineering skills such as abseiling, using ice axes and crampons and other ropework this is for you. 

Whilst the skiing itself isn’t always anymore technical, by using these advanced skills, we are able to access peaks and terrain that would otherwise be off limits. 

Whether it’s a two day ascent of Mont Blanc on skis in spring or skiing the Breche Pusieux, one of Chamonix’s most beautiful tours or skiing one of the many classic ski mountaineering peaks of the Mont Blanc Massif such as the Aiguille d’Argentiére or the Domes du Miages, there are a lot of options. 

Skiers should be happy doing at least 800m of vert a day for this option and have prior touring experience. 

Group size 1-2 skiers.

Available December to early June

Steep Skiing

This option is for very experienced backcountry skiers who want to ski some of the classic steeper lines that Chamonix is famous for or for those wanting to progress their skiing into new terrain and learn the skills associated with it. 

This is often serious terrain and will incorporate multiple mountaineering skills as well as having the technical downhill ability needed to navigate this terrain safely. 

Some examples of possible lines that could be done: Cosmiques Couloir, the classic 1000m descent on the west face of the Midi; Entrèves Shoulder, Skyway classic; Aiguille du Tacul Shoulder, a technical descent in the heart of the massif; Col du Cristaux, one of the Argentiere basin north facing test pieces. 

Group size 1-2 skiers. 

Available December to May

Skills Workshops

As well as pure guiding, I can also offer workshops or course for those wanting to develop their touring or ski mountaineering skills for independent use. 

Whether that’s experienced ski tourers wanting to gain skills for glaciated terrain, skiers who want to gain mountaineering skills to access more technical terrain or experienced resort skiers looking to make their first steps into ski touring. 

Some examples would be:

  •  a one day crevasse rescue and glacial travel clinic
  • a two day mountaineering skills for skiers course
  • a five day introduction to ski touring course
 

As always, these clinics will be tailored to prior ability level and group learning aims and where possible, will try and involve some good skiing too! 

Group size 1-6 skiers.

Available December to May

The Alps

As well as guiding in the Chamonix area I can also offer guiding in many other classic destinations across the Alps. 

Below are examples of destinations where I can offer trips that are mixed freeride and touring, where each day is normally based from the lift system and will involve touring but often as means to get back to resort or to maximise descent:

  • Monte Rosa: The Monte Rosa ski area is a huge area based at the southern end of the Aosta valley consisting of three valleys, the Val d’Ayas, Val du Lys and the Val Sesia that all cumulate at the base of the large Monte Rosa massif. Basing ourselves in Gressoney, we are able to sample some of the classic descents of the area that take in glaciers, hidden valleys, couloirs and more. Like Chamonix, the access here is great and you often rewarded with large descents for minimal uphill effort. Group sizes 1-6 skiers.
  • Zinal/Gimentz: The small Swiss resorts of Grimentz and Zinal offer a playground of offpiste descents not far from the lift system and often escape the crowds of many of the other larger big name resorts nearby. From the mellow touring terrain of the Vallon du Rechy to the couloirs of Orzival or Sex de Marinda there’s something for everyone here. This is a good destination for those looking to maximise downhill time as a lot is accessible with small bumps with the skins. Group size 1-6 skiers.
  • Verbier: World famous as a freeride destination and for hosting the associated x-treme competition on the Bec des Rosses, Verbier is one of Switzerland’s flagship ski resorts. In Chamonix, it’s well known that heading to Verbier and using your skins you are pretty much guaranteed to find you some powder – long after the aforementioned is tracked out. Classic freeride descents like the backside of Mont Fort or the Mont Gèle couloirs can be interspersed with touring trips to huts like the Prafleuri or even to nearby peaks such as Mont Velan and the Grand Saint Bernard pass. Group size 1-6 skiers.
  • Val d’Isere/Tignes: One of the giants of the Tarentaise ski areas, the Tignes/Val d’Isere ski area has a host of amazing off piste terrain around the lift system as well as offering good touring options from the lifts and a host of nice huts that offer overnight options to venture into the Vanoise national park. The area is great for those less confident too with a lot of the skiing being very open. Group size 1-6 skiers.
  • La Grave: Famous among skiers for it’s steep, glaciated terrain, La Grave is a small village in the Haute Alps that has one single lift transporting skiers to over 3000m. There are no pistes here , but many classic descents await. This destination is a good option for stronger skiers wanting to get a taste of the couloirs and glaciers that the area is known for. The surrounding mountains also offer plenty of good options if conditions are bad with Serre Chevalier, the Cerces and Queyras not being far and offering good touring options. Group size 1-3 skiers.
  • Zermatt/Saas Fee:  Surrounded by 4000m peaks the ski areas of Saas Fee and Zermatt offer lots to skiers – particularly those interested in ski mountaineering. In the spring, the area has many peaks that are skiable from the myriad of huts accessible by touring from the lifts. Classics such as the Allalinhorn, the Breithorn and Alphubel are doable in a day, whereas bigger objectives such as Dufourspitze, the Strahlhorn or Rimpfischhorn are doable with an early start after a hut night. Heli skiing is also an option here too. Group size depends on objective.
  • Arolla: This destination is a little bit different from the above in the sense that it requires a bit more touring each day and is mostly non lift based. However, for the advanced (and fit) skier, Arolla offers a playground of couloirs, glaciers and ski mountaineering descents. Famous for being one of the main location on the Haute Route, the area has many great huts that allow plenty of options for short overnight trips coming back to the valley base in between. Day hits like the Tsena Riefen couloirs can be interspersed with steeper lines like West couloir of the Tsa or the Vuibé. Group size 1-2.
Available December - May

Hut to huts

For ski tourers, using the vast system of huts in the Alps, allows many great multi day tours to be taken with relative ease, accessing terrain not possible otherwise. Whereas other hut systems around the world need all food and bedding to be carried, the huts here provide all of the above in dormitory style rooms, allowing for light travel in between.

Below are some examples of hut to hut trips that I can guide, however, there are countless other possibilities:

  • The Haute Route: The most famous of all the hut to huts, the Chamonix to Zermatt haute route follows a historic route between the two Alpine centres taking in some of the biggest terrain in the Alps chain over 6 days. For ski tourers able to do 1000m+ a day and ideally with a bit of mountaineering experience.
  • Silvretta: A great option for a first hut to hut, the Silvretta chain traverses the border of Eastern Switzerland and Austria and has some fantastic huts (with more amenities than most). Starting out in Ischgl we pass the fantastic Jamtalhutte and end up in the shadow of Piz Buin (of suncream fame). Lots of options with this tour for longer and shorter tours.
  • Urner Haute Route: The Urner Haute Route, or Skiers Haute Route as it is sometimes called, prioritises long descents over the usual traversing that a lot of hut to huts do. Consequentially it has a fair bit of uphill too so is for those who are relatively fit. It starts in Andermatt and passes over the Furka and Sustli passes before making it’s way down to Engelberg over 6 days.
  • Val Clarée/Mont Thabor: The Val Clarée is just north east of Briancon and provides a good early season hut to hut option due to the early opening times of the huts and the lower altitude. The huts here are amazing and the Val Clarée itself is beautiful in early winter. There is also the option here for doing a circular tour of Mont Thabor for stronger tourers dropping into Italy before making our way back. Lots of options for different length trips.
  • Spaghetti Tour: A high altitude outing that is typically done later in the season, the Spaghetti Tour is the traverse of the 4000m peaks on the Monte Rosa massif. Starting and finishing in Zermatt, this tour has a lot of ski mountaineering involved in it and is all at high altitude and so is for the fitter and more experienced tourer.
  • Bernese Oberland:  The Bernese Oberland has several hut to hut touring options, the two classic itineraries being the West Oberland tour and the 4000ers tour. The West Oberland tour is a good option for ski tourers newer to the activity and takes place in the mountains near Gstaad snd Lammeren Hut. The 4000ers tour is a longer tour starting from Grindelwald that takes place on the Aletsch Glacier, one of the longest in Europe. The surroundings of this tour are truly huge and we seek to summit several 4000 peaks such as the Jungfrau, Monch, Fiescherhorn and more. This is a tour better suited for more experienced ski tourers.
Available February to May

Beyond the Alps

I love using skis as a reason to travel and explore different parts of the world and would be keen to organise and guide trips for groups looking to do the same. As well as looking for interesting and diverse skiing in each destination, we also get to sample the unique culture that going somewhere new brings. These trips are for experienced ski tourers looking for an adventure that often goes beyond just the skiing and is hard to find purely in the Alps.

Below are examples of destinations where I can offer trips:

  • Hokkaido, Japan: Japan’s northern most island is blessed with one of the greatest quantities of snow anywhere on earth during the early winter months. It’s a playground for powder seekers offering fantastic tree skiing in deep, dry powder as well as descents of the many volcanoes that make up the Daisetsuzan range and Annapuri ranges. Whilst it is getting busier each year, using skins will pretty much guarantee fresh tracks, making it a good option for those seeking fresh snow early in the season. Beyond the skiing, the Japanese food is outstanding and the onsen culture (public hot springs) is unique. I can guide groups of 1-6 skiers here during January following conditions around the island. For the more adventurous there is the island of Rishiri with it’s fickle weather but stunning terrain…
  • Northern Norway: The north of Norway is one of the premier ski touring destinations in the world and a great option in March and April, when the season in the rest of Europe is coming to a close. Areas such as Lyngen, Lofoten, Senja, Kvaloya and Finnmark are easily reachable from Tromso airport and offer adventurous skiing from sea level to summits, couloirs and maybe even see the Northern lights.
  • Svaneti, Georgia: The Caucus mountains that form the border between Russia and Georgia is home to some truly adventurous ski touring not far from the rest of Europe. Basing ourselves in the Svaneti region, we ski descents in the shadows of the giant mountains of the Bezengi wall and Ushba, the emblem of the Caucus, all while being immersed in Georgian culture. I can run trips here during February and March for groups of keen and experienced ski tourers up for a bit of adventure.
  • Gulmarg, India: For those wondering what skiing is available in the Himalayas, there is very little developed on the map. Gulmarg in Kashmir is one of the only ski ‘resorts’ with a central lift taking skiers up to a central ridgeline (think Midi) at a height close to 4000m. From here many options are available including great tree skiing lower down for bad weather days. Indian food and culture is truly unique and Kashmir is a vibrant area itself with a lot of history. I can run trips here during late January and February for experienced groups of ski tourers with a sense of adventure.
  • Altai, Kazakhstan: A great option for early season powder skiing, the western Altai mountains around Ridder get good amounts of snow from November and along with it extreme cold. Basing ourselves here, we are able to take advantage of the great early season conditions and do day tours and cat skiing from the town. I can run trips here in December for keen powder skiers and those looking to experience something truly unique.
  • Dolomites, Italy:  The Dolomites are known world wide as a ski destination with large, expansive pisted areas and shear limestone walls. One of the main attractions for the skiing here are the long couloirs that form amongst the walls of the peaks that offer a unique skiing experience for experienced skiers. I can run trips here from January to April for small groups of experienced skiers with some steep skiing experience to sample some of the classic lines of the range.
  • Chile: For ski tourers, the volcanoes of Chile make a unique experience. On this trip, we would aim to ski as many as possible, taking in the classics near Pucon and further afield. The landscapes in Chile are unlike anything in Europe and coupled with the Chilean culture and food, make for an unforgettable trip. I can run two week trips here for experienced ski tourers in September and into October.
  • Greece/Crete/Morocco/Turkey: For ski tourers wanting something a bit different then I can run trips to destinations around the Mediterranean such as Greece, Crete, Turkey and Morocco. All can offer unique skiing that is as much a cultural experience as a ski experience. For these trips, I can offer them in February and early March but are subject to the snow conditions that year – Morocco and Crete can sometimes be fickle whereas Turkey and Greece more reliable. These trips are adventurous trips for the experienced ski tourer.