Snowshoe and Winter Safety Course | Four elements

Snowshoe and Winter Safety Course in English

Over the course of three snowshoe day - tours you will learn the necessary techniques to hike in deep snow and steeper terrain with greater confidence and efficiency. Additionally, you will learn the essentials about tour planning, equipment for winter adventures, and basic avalanche awareness.

Our base is the cosy Schwarzwasserhütte, set at 1620m, in the winter wonderland below the Hohe Ifen mountain – accessible only by foot in winter.

Tour Highlights

Three snowshoe day tours through alpine winter wonderland of Kleinwalsertal led by certified International Mountain Leader
Learning about tour-planning, equipment and basic avalanche awareness
Learning and practice of avalanche rescue technique
Idyllic and comfortable base

Activity level

This is an easy- medium difficulty tour. We mostly travel along gentle slopes (20°) with some steeper (30°) slopes. The tour is suitable for beginner snowshoe hikers and winter walkers with previous experience. You should have hiking experience and a good level of fitness for 4-6 hours of hiking with the snowshoes and be able to comfortably hike 800m in ascent and descent. With a good head for heights and sure-footedness, you can hike steeper terrain with ease.

Included

3 days guided snowshoe hikes and course with German and English speaking International Mountain Leader
2 nights lodging in 4 bed- rooms
2 days half board (2x 3- course dinner, 2 x breakfast, 1l hot water for tea each day)
Snowshoe, pole hire (if needed)
Pre-tour information package (including local information, equipment & travel guide)
Tour photo album

Not included

Lunches (can be purchased at the hut)
Drinks
Available for hire: Avalanche safety equipment (Beacon, Shovel & Probe)
Personal insurance (travel insurance and personal accident insurance)
Tips

Accommodation

The location of the Schwarzwasserhütte at 1620m in the heart of the Kleinwalsertal valley, is therefore a popular stomping ground for ski tourers and snowshoe hikers alike.

We are quartered in 4-bed rooms with access to shared washroom & WC. There is a shower available for an extra fee.

Region

Kleinwalsertal

The Kleinwalsertal valley is an enclave of Vorarlberg, Austria. Its wild and iconic peaks make it a magical setting for winter explorations. From fairy-tale forests to wide open meadows and many easily reachable peaks and passes, there are a variety of tour possibilities.

Insurance

When booking a tour with 4elements it is vital that you have adequate valid travel insurance covering the activities included. It is your responsibility to arrange appropriate insurances and ensure you have read and understood the full terms and conditions of your insurance policy to ensure that you are covered for all activities you intend to undertake whilst on the trip, including all optional activities. We also recommend Travel Cancellation Insurance (Reiserücktrittversicherung) in the case that you have to cancel a trip for any reason.

Your Insurance Policy must fully cover you for medical expenses and emergency repatriation to your country of residence. Please ensure your policy includes medical emergency helicopter repatriation in the event of illness or injury –and covers the entire duration of your holiday. For this tour it is vital that you are covered for mountain search and rescue. One of the best offers for this is included in annual membership of the German Alpine Club Deutscher Alpenverein

If you are looking for insurance to cover a single hiking/ mountain tours (Wander- und Bergsportversicherung) or further insurances such as Travel Cancellation Insurance (Reiserücktrittversicherung), then we recommend the following provider for residents in Germany: Travel Secure