Polar Expedition Training in the Swiss Alps

Things to know

• Why should I book with 57hours?

  With us, it’s all play and no work for you! 57hours is an open platform that connects you with trained and certified outdoor adventure professionals all over the world. Using our tech-savvy, we make it super easy to find and book adventures worth tackling, with guides worth booking, all gathered from the first-hand experiences of the locals who adventure in these amazing locations.

• What’s included?

  What you get in this adventure:

  • A certified IPGA Polar Guide with extensive knowledge of the area
  • 8-hours per day of guided ski and pulka touring mixed with practical instruction
  • All the logistical gear you need
  • Twin room at the Salina Maris hotel for night one
• What equipment is provided?

  All of the logistical equipment and some of the personal technical equipment will be provided by your guiding service, including:  

  • GPS & location beacon
  • Pulkas with a large storage bag
  • Draw harness 
  • Ski poles 
  • Tents 
  • Tent brush 
  • Snow pegs 
  • Insulating mattress 
  • Self-inflating mattress 
  • Pool sleeping bag 
  • Snow shovels 
  • Rope 
  • Carabiners 
  • Ice axe
  • General parts and repair kit 
  • Ski mask 
  • Fur collar
  • Cooking fire & fuel
  • Eating utensils

  If you have your own equipment, feel free to bring it. 

• What do I need to bring?

  Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:

  Personal equipment:

  • Day pack large enough to carry all the items listed (around a 35L bag)
  • Solid waterproof bag or backpack (60-70L)
  • Glacier glasses/Goggles
  • Sunscreen
  • Water bottle
  • Toiletries
  • Food you can eat on-the-go
  • Camera — optional

  Clothing list:

  • Waterproof jacket like Gore-Tex®
  • Thick fleece jacket
  • Face mask (neoprene works best)
  • Sweatshirt or thinner micro-fleece jacket
  • Waterproof over-trousers like Gore-Tex®
  • Long sleeve thermal t-shirts
  • Thermal tights
  • Pairs of warm socks (avoid cotton which can create blisters)
  • Thermal balaclava
  • Fur-lined mittens
  • Over-gloves
  • 2 beanies or fur-lined caps (one for the wind and another for the cold)
  • Mountaineering boots

  This list will be finalized and clarified while preparing it finely with Dixie Dansercoer.

• What's the itinerary?

  Day 1:

  • In the morning, Dixie will take you through the agenda for the next three days
  • You’ll go over the gear, essentials, packing and take a detailed look into the caloric intake required to survive in a polar environment
  • In the early afternoon, you’ll explore the Chäserstatt plateau for about 3 hours
  • Back in the hotel, you’ll have a dinner and discuss what’s up next

  Day 2: 

  • After you walk the Goms suspension bridge, you’ll put on our snowshoes, don your harnesses and set out to pull your light pulkas
  • When you reach your bivouac spot, you’ll set up the tents and start discussing tent organization according to weather conditions, terrain and number of people
  • 7 hours of activities later, you’ll learn how to cook with limited facilities, right by your tents where you’ll spend the night

  Day 3: 

  • On your last day, breakfast is prepared and you’ll head out on the heights of Chäserstatt plateau
  • Dixie will go over the technical details of each item you’ll use on your polar expedition, covering how to recognize different types of ice, the risks of long exposure to cold, how to deal with possible dangers such as polar bear encounters, and much more.
  • As you part ways in the afternoon, you’ll get Dixie’s handbook to remember your lessons or to serve as a refresher for your own polar adventure!
• What is the level of difficulty?

  This course is introductory and crafted for adventurers who are looking to explore their first polar region, or have a project in mind. You don’t need to have prior knowledge of what it takes to venture on a polar expedition. Consider this to be a hands-on field seminar.

• How fit do I need to be?

  To be able to complete your polar expedition training in the Alps, you’ll need to have a good fitness level. Some routes may be short, but they’re all challenging. You can expect to spend anywhere from five to seven hours trekking or skiing at high altitude, on physically and psychologically testing terrain, with many instructions to keep in mind. That said, your safety is Dixie’s number one priority and he’ll make sure you tackle the Alps successfully.

• What about group sizes and pricing?
  • Rates for Polar Expedition Training in the Swiss Alps are $860 per person (€750)
  • Group sizes are usually between 6-10 people per guide
• What about bad weather?

  An important skill needed for enjoying polar regions is flexibility, especially when dealing with weather and ice conditions. Preparation is key and your guide will make sure you’re properly equipped prior to the expedition. Rest assured you’re in good hands. Your guide has extensive knowledge of the area and climate, they’ll know just what to do if the weather takes a turn for the worse.

• Do I need an insurance policy?

  It’s highly recommended that you cover all your bases with travel and medical insurance. Serious accidents can happen in alpine terrain and we recommend insurance to avoid paying out of pocket for costly medical expenses. And as we’ve recently seen, travel plans can be abruptly halted, so it’s a good idea to have cancellation insurance that also covers lost baggage. It’s tried and tested and it works.

  If you have not taken out insurance with Expeditions Unlimited, specify your registration, the name of your insurance company, policy number and the telephone number. Expeditions Unlimited offers insurance with the European Insurance Contract n°304243. Details are available upon request or downloadable from www.tamera.fr.

  The percentages include the full cost of travel, including airline taxes. In summary, Expeditions Unlimited offer three additional insurance formulas:

  • Sherpa Insurance (1,7% of the cost of the journey): for medical expenses, research, repatriation and trip interruption;
  • Zen Insurance (4,0% of the cost of the journey): insurance in case of theft and loss of luggage;
  • Zen CB Insurance (2,8% of the cost of the journey): for clients paying for their trip with a credit card and already offering insurance coverage even restricted.
• Getting there and meeting location

  You’ll meet your guide at the Salina Maris Hotel in Mörel.

• Cancelation policy

  All policies regarding cancellation, rescheduling and trip insurance will be clearly laid out by your guide prior to booking your adventure. Contact us if you’d like more information on a specific adventure.