Participants must be strong skiers, PSIA level 8, able to perform dynamic parallel turns with ski randonne equipment while carrying a pack in all snow conditions: powder, hard packed and crud. I strongly recommend alpine randonne equipment for a trip in Europe. My past experience tells me that even an expert telemark skier will struggle and have difficulty skiing with a backpack and dealing with the always-changing snow conditions. The telemark skier is usually slower in downhill skiing, takes more falls and therefore gets tired more quickly. I highly recommend doing a level I avalanche class with AIARE (American institute for Avalanche Research and Education) to have some basic Avalanche knowledge, transceiver skills as well as touring experiences. Advanced uphill skiing techniques, experience with ski crampons as well as basic Euro-uphill kicks turn in all conditions are a necessity. Basic mountaineering skills are helpful; we may use a rope, ice axe and crampons. Bring only gear you are used to (brand new, unknown gear not ideal), broken-in in ski randonne boots, and the correct full skins. If you have any concerns about your level of skiing, mountaineering skills, please feel free to contact Swiss Guides. All of the above skills have to be solid and will be applied on the trip. Reading for route description and guide book: Alpine Ski Mountaineering: Volume 1 or 2 Western Alps by Cicerone Guide.