mountain adventures

Even when the ski season has finished, there is still plenty of mountain sport on offer in Nendaz. Here is a selection for the intrepid ranging from ice climbing to heli-mountaineering.

Extreme skiing and extreme comfort combine for a perfect winter holiday

DARING SUMMER SPORT

You have packed away your skis for the summer, waved goodbye to the snow and now suffering mountain withdrawal symptoms. Whether you are already a mountain expert or simply feel a need to respond to the call of the Alps, you will find plenty of high mountain adventure on offer throughout the summer. Our partners, Montagne Loisirs, can arrange bespoke activities with qualified and experienced guides. And the beauty is that you can comfortably use Secret Alps in Nendaz as your base.

The summer programme starts at the end of May with rock climbing. Other activities, including mountaineering, trekking and hiking, are available from June until the end of October. There is no shortage of peaks around Nendaz but you can also go further afield thanks to the advent of heli-hiking and heli-mountaineering.

You can helicopter out of Nendaz and land safely on an Alpine summit so that you can then start the ascent of another peak, set off for a glacial trek of a large area or go ice climbing. Montagne Loisirs also offers a number of courses on various high mountain skills throughout the summer. See here for info.

DREAM SPORT FOR THE FEARLESS

This is not a suggestion for the faint-hearted. Read on only if you are thrilled by the possibility of launching yourself off peaks of 3,700m into virgin snow, steep terrain and the prospect a full day’s challenging ski back to Haute Nendaz.

Montagne Loisirs, the mountain guiding company, organises winter adventures to satisfy even the most ardent powder enthusiast. What they offer is helicopter flights departing from Nendaz to various peaks so that you can spend the day being guided back home, indulging in the kind of ski touring and free ride that is normally associated with the wilds of North America.

A group of 3 to 6 skiers with a guide is transported to a peak such as Rosablanche (3330m), Petit Combin (3660m), Pigne d’Arolla (3790m) or Trient (3330m). After being put down on the peak, the group then free rides back to Nendaz.

All of the above is dependent on suitable weather and snow conditions and Montagne Loisirs gives instruction and advice about the terrain plus use of emergency equipment before departure. If it were impossible to fly on the day, Montagne Loisirs would organise an alternative programme which could include ski touring, freeride and avalanche training.

The price of the adventure depends on how far you fly and how many are in the group. So how much does it cost? Prices start at CHF 330 per person in a group of 6 and include the guide’s fee, helicopter flights and taxi transfers. It does not include other expenses such as accommodation, meals, lift passes, equipment or accident and mountain rescue insurance.

Full action man equipment is always needed. Do not leave without skis, ski touring bindings, avalanche transceiver, shovel, avalanche pole, climbing harness, hot drink, snack, emergency chocolate ….

For more information about Montagne Loisir’s exciting winter activities, see here or simply ask Secret Alps.