Ski Touring in the Aran Valley
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Place
Aran Valley, Cataluña España
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Duration
4 days
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Season
Spring
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Level
⤤See table
Program in PDF
GALLERY
THE TRIP
The Aran Valley is a great place for ski touring. We have designed three itineraries to ascend to three summits. ideal for people who are already initiated in this activity. The itineraries are suitable for people with an average level in this activity. The itineraries will be made at a leisurely pace.
We will carry light luggage as this is not a high route from refuge to refuge. We will sleep in the village of Salardú and every day we will make an ascent.
The Aran Valley offers spectacular conditions for the practice of mountain skiing. The great snowfall and its orography, from smooth hillside to abrupt slopes, makes this region a perfect place for the practice of the ski touring. Even at the beginning of the season and when the conditions are bad in other areas, the valley offers good routes favoured by its snowfall, its forests and its gentle prairie mountains.
THE DESTINATION
The Aran Valley is located on the Atlantic slope of the central Pyrenees, a fact that determines its climate, history and relationships with its neighbors. The Garonne River makes its way north by Aquitaine land, in France. In fact and despite being administratively integrated in Spain, it was not until 1948, when the tunnel of Vielha was inaugurated, that the valley was communicated throughout the year by road with the rest of the state. All this has meant that its language and its Occitan culture have been preserved. Another important aspect of the Aran Valley, besides its orientation, is that the 30% of the valley is above the 2.000 meters altitude.
Despite the great urban development that the valley has suffered in recent years, we can still enjoy its cultural heritage. Villages, churches, stately homes, churches, public laundries, mills or water troughs have lasted until our days. The village of Arties, with beautiful views of the Montardo Mountain (2.833 m), and its Romanesque church of Santa María de Arties, are just one example
This land has natural products used in their traditional cuisine, such as garden vegetables, game meat, mushrooms, berries (cranberries, wild strawberries, currants and raspberries) and honey. Some of their typical dishes are the “civet” made with wild pig, “olla aranesa” and “truhada”.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Ideal landscape ski touring routes.
- Optional choices in case of bad weather.
- Good snow conditions.
- Good traditional gastronomy in the valley.
MORE INFORMATION
It is important to carry a light back pack in order to ski comfortable, so it is recommended to carry just light and indispensable equipment. If you don’t have all the equipment you can rent it, please consult us.
- Backpack (between 30 and 35 litres) with ski tapes.
- Ski touring equipment (skis, boots, skins, blades, batons). An extra skin.
- Safety equipment: ARVA (with extra battery), shovel and probe.
- Crampons and ice axes.
- Helmet
- Technical clothes:
- Socks
- Ski touring pants
- Thermal t-shirt (base layer). An extra one for the hut.
- Extra tights for the hut.
- Fleece jacket or similar (second layer)
- Gore-Tex or similar jacket and trousers (third layer)
- Primaloft jacket or similar.
- Neckie.
- Light and thick gloves.
- Woollen cap.
- Sun cap.
- Goggles and sunglasses.
- Head lamp (extra batteries)
Notes
- Date Flexibility
Aside from the regular travel trip dates, we are flexible to reconsider new dates if those are more convenient to the client’s leisure plans. Do not hesitate to contact us should you have any different dates in mind.
Itinerary adjustment
According to weather and snow reports, itineraries may be adjusted on a daily basis to ensure security considering group and environment conditions.
Time and meeting point
One week prior to the trip departure date, an email will be sent to each participant to give away the meeting point and time along with the guide contact information. At this point any information considered essential to the trip organization will be shared.
Bed linen and towels
To be provided by the shelter
Equipment and material
In case of equipment or material damage, rental options are available in the area.
Insurance policy
This activity includes a basic insurance policy; however, we highly recommend to add, for wider coverage, an extra specific travel policy. This extra policy can be contracted exclusively for the activity dates or annually (flexible starting coverage date), covering not just Muntania Outdoors trips but any other sport activity you may carry out throughout the year.
Extra insurance coverage with cancellation option, will allow you or a family member, in case of incident, to get back the total paid amount (or a percentage if you are already travelling) either for plane tickets or any trip service you might have hired. Moreover, through this coverage home return expenses will be taken care of.
Intermundial insurance company is our supplier for extra coverage insurances; thanks to the signed agreement between parties, Muntania gets to offer lower prices than handling directly with them. The travel insurance with cancellation option offered by Muntania will covered up to 900€ for national trips and 2000€ for abroad travel. In case your total trip cost is higher than the given coverage limit, an extension is always possible (please consult).
Pre and post day trip extension are possible.
Links of interest
PROGRAM
RELATED TRIPS
- Places available
- Confirmed departure
- Last places available
- Group completed
5 days