Basic course alpine snowshoe tours - Furkapass
Alpine snowshoe technique with avalanche training (CH) | 3 days
Did a beginner's tour inspire you and would you like to gain more experience, tackle alpine snowshoe tours and be able to better judge the avalanche issue? This course offers you a well-founded introduction to the high alpine mountain world, summit successes included!

- Introduction to route planning
- Choice of track/cautious behaviour when ascending or descending
- Hazard interpretation of the avalanche bulletin and application of the information on planned tours
- Handling the emergency equipment (avalanche transceiver, avalanche shovel, avalanche probe and avalanche airbag backpack)
- Basic knot and walking roped up
- Handling of ice axes and safety equipment
You are able to plan easy snowshoe tours independently and to carry them out when conditions are favourable. Depending on your personal condition you can participate in medium-difficulty guided alpine snowshoe tours, e.g. Wildhorn, Allalinhorn and Alphubel
Alpine technique: no prior knowledge needed; Terrain: mostly moderately steep, short steeper sections and traverses
Duration from 4 to 6 hours, up to approx.1,000 vertical meters, approx. 250 vertical meters per hour
3-8 participants per mountain guide
9.45 a.m. Mammut Store Andermatt / Imholz Sport, Furkastrasse 2, 6490 Andermatt (train arrival 9.22 a.m. Andermatt).
Hotel Tiefenbach, Furkapass
The offer is held in German. Therefore, a basic understanding of German is important. Our mountain guides have a basic knowledge of English and can provide the necessary information in English. Often there are other guests on the tours and courses who are happy to help with the translation.
The Hotel Tiefenbach can only be reached on snowshoes, there is no luggage transport available. You need to fit all belongings into your backpack for the 3 days.
We recommend that you take out cancellation and repatriation insurance, e.g. with ERV.
- Guidance and supervision provided by a mountain guide
- Accommodation with half board: 1 x hut (base camp)
- Glacier equipment (climbing harness, ice axe)
- Mammut Safety Equipement (Avalanche Safety Equipment and Avalanche Airbag worth CHF 89.-)
- "Caution Avalanches" course materials
- Eiger Extreme Hardshell Jacket
- Swisstopo Map Urseren 1231 (worth CHF 14.-)
- 15% discount on mammut.com
- Travel to the course
- Snacks and drinks
- Hut tax CHF 12 per night if not a SAC/Alpine Club member
- Snowshoes CHF 55 (incl. poles)
- Optional: Avalanche Certificate Swiss Mountain Training CHF 30 (level 1)
- Contribution to the Travel Guarantee Fund (0.25% on total amount)
Day 1After the welcome at the meeting point you will receive the ordered rental material. Of course, the mountain guide is also available with tips and tricks regarding backpack packing. Once everything is packed, after a short introduction to the specific tour material, you will start your tour. You climb up to the Hotel Tiefenbach and learn about the first course contents. (distance: 4.5 km, walking time: 2 h, ascent: 600 vertical meters).Day 2-3You take training tours in the area, which you plan together with the group the evening before and discuss continuously in the field. The tour destinations are chosen according to weather and conditions. Possible summits are: Schafberg 2591 m, Chli Bielenhorn 2904 m, Klein Furkahorn 3026 m and others. (Distance: 5-7 km, walking time: 5-7 h, ascent: 1200 vertical meters).
Our mountain guide will bring the ordered rental equipment to the meeting place. The following equipment can be rented:
- Barryvox (Avalanche Transceiver)
- Avalanche Probe
- Avalanche Shovel
- Avalanche-Airbag-Backpack
- MSR Snowshoes
- (telescopinc) Ski poles
- Climbing harness with 2 screwgate carabiners and 1 prusik
- Ice axe
- Barryvox (Avalanche Transceiver)
- Avalanche Probe
- Avalanche Shovel
- Touring backpack (approx. 30l)
- Snowshoes
- (telescopic) Ski poles
- Climbing harness with 2 screwgate carabiners and 1 prusik
- Ice axe
- 1x ski jacket and 1x ski pants (Gore-Tex or similar material)
- 1x Soft shell and/or fleece jacket
- 1x Short/long functional underwear
- 1x Beanie and 1x headband
- 2 pairs of gloves (1 thin pair, 1 warm, windproof and waterproof pair)
- 1x Functional socks and 1x spare socks
- Warm, robust winter shoes, must be laceable and have solid soles or mountain boots
- Own toiletries, ear plugs if required
- Clothes to wear in the hut (Minimum)
- Slipper socks are at the hut
- Sleeping bag liner made of silk or cotton (for hygienic reasons)
- SAC/Alpine Club member card (if avalaible)
- Breakfast and dinner at the hut
- Tea an lunch must be brought or can be bought at the hut
- Snacks (e.g. energy bars, dried fruit, dried meat)
- Sunglasses and ski goggles
- Sun cream and lip cream (SPF 30 or higher)
- Camera and binoculars (optional)
- Half fare travelcard (if existing)
- Thermos flask made from break-proof material
- Headlamp with new batteries
- Small medicinal supplies for personal requirements

Our team is available by phone from Monday to Friday from 09.00 to 12.00 and from 14.00 to 17.00.