Snowshoe tours - SimplyTourIt

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When hiking with snowshoes, you move far away from civilization in untouched, often deeply snow-covered winter landscape. The hikes train endurance and combine the experience of nature with various positive effects on health.

Packing list

Proper equipment for the tours is a question that is very difficult to answer! It depends on the season and weather, as well as the type and duration of the tour. Basically: as little as possible, as much as necessary!

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Snowshoe tours scale

For the snowshoe tour scale, we at SimplyTourit use the SAC difficulty rating of snowshoe tours.

The difficulty rating does not take into account the length of the tours. All tours require a good knowledge of orientation tools (map, compass, altimeter or GPS) and route selection. The requirements in this regard as well as the seriousness usually increase with increasing difficulty.

Furthermore, for all tours (except WT1) it is recommended to bring an avalanche transceiver (LVS), shovel and probe. The degrees of difficulty are approximate values in good snow, weather and visibility conditions and apply only to the route taken with snowshoes. [1]

Grade	Terrain	Dangers	Requirements	Example tours
WT1 Easy snowshoe hike	< 25°. Overall flat or little steep There are no steep slopes in the immediate vicinity	No avalanche danger No danger of slipping or falling	Avalanche knowledge not necessary	Buffalora–Jufplaun Goldau–Wildspitz Zettenalp La Lécherette–Mt. Chevreuil Chasseron
WT2 Snowshoe hike	< 25°. Overall flat or little steep Steep slopes are present in the immediate vicinity	Avalanche danger No danger of slipping or falling	Basic knowledge in assessing the avalanche situation	Val S-charl (Talboden) Parpan–Churer Joch Dreibündenstein Realp–Tiefenbach Hundsrügg Solalex–Pas de Cheville La Dôle Alpe Casaccio–Campo Solario
WT3 Demanding snowshoe hike	< 30°. Overall little to moderately steep Short steeper passages^1.	Avalanche danger Low danger of slipping, short, run-out slippery slopes	Basic knowledge in assessing the avalanche situation	Munt Buffalora Mattjisch Horn Buochserhorn Hengst (Schrattenflue) Turnen Bürglen Staldhorn Croix de Javerne (N-Grat) Campo Solario–Passo del Sole–Cap. Cadagno
WT4 Snowshoe tour	< 30°. Moderately steep Short steeper passages1. and/or slope traverses. Partly rocky. Glacier with few crevasses	Avalanche danger Danger of slipping with risk of injury. Low risk of falling	Good knowledge in assessing the avalanche situation. Good running technique. Elementary alpinistic knowledge	Piz Calderas Schilt Bannalp–Chaiserstuel Hohgant Steghorn Wistätthorn Col de Chaude–Rochers de Naye Madrano–Föisc
WT5 Alpine snowshoe tour	< 35°. Steep Short steeper passages1. and/or slope traverses and/or rock steps. Glacier	Avalanche danger Danger of falling. Crevasse danger. Alpine dangers	Good knowledge in assessing the avalanche situation. Good alpinistic knowledge. Safe walking	Piz Kesch Piz Buin Sustenhorn Wildstrubel Wandflueh Äbeni Flue Strahlhorn Pigne d’Arolla Basodino
WT6 Demanding alpine snowshoe tour	> 35°. Very steep Demanding passages and/or slope traverses and/or rock steps. Crevasse-rich glacier	Avalanche danger Danger of falling. Crevasse danger. Alpine dangers	Good knowledge in assessing the avalanche situation. Very good alpinistic knowledge. Safe walking on rock, firn and ice	Piz Palü Tödi Galenstock Wetterhorn Jungfrau Mont Vélan Pizzo Campo Tencia

WT = Winter Trekking

1. Steeper than the generally specified steepness [1].

SimplyTourIt is not responsible for this information.

References

[1] SAC-Schwierigkeitsbewertung von Schneeschuhtouren. September 2012

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