Back pack ski trip through the alps

So I've bought a round trip ticket to Zurich, arrive early morning of 12-18 leave morning of 12-24.

I have this idea that I can stash my crap somewhere in zermatt, interlaken etc and ski (actually snowboard) from town to town for 5 days, ending back where I stashed my crap, pack up and head back to zurich...basically a snowboarding backing combo.

However...I have NO IDEA where to begin on this one. I would welcome any advice, or even a complete itinerary.

Thanks all

mggsnbdr wrote:So I've bought a round trip ticket to Zurich, arrive early morning of 12-18 leave morning of 12-24.

I have this idea that I can stash my crap somewhere in zermatt, interlaken etc and ski (actually snowboard) from town to town for 5 days, ending back where I stashed my crap, pack up and head back to zurich...basically a snowboarding backing combo.

However...I have NO IDEA where to begin on this one. I would welcome any advice, or even a complete itinerary.

Thanks all

I think no is the short answer. It's common to tour between ski stations but it requires some experience which I'm assuming you've not got so far. There's a problem with a board doing this anyway, you'll some fairly specialised kit to do it as you need to make ascents. Some bits on my blog http://snowslider.net/category/outdoors/ski-touring/ might give you an idea what touring's about.

You can do some day tours out of Zermatt and rent what you need and see how you go. You'll want to get a few day tours under your belt before tackling something major over days though. In terms of fitness you need to be looking at climbing 1000m per day carrying 10-15 kg in the sack and around 8kg on the feet.

and of course, it's not really something you should do alone without extensive mountain experience

Thanks Ise, appreciate the help. What you're describing is something I would aspire to but not something I'm going to try at this moment.

Just to be sure I got my question across clearly however - I was under the impression that in the Alps (not necessarily limited to Switzerland) you could take a lift (or a couple lifts) up the mountain come down the other side and be in a different town. You're saying no, not without a material amount of skinning, trekking etc and probably a guide?

So assuming no one disagrees with that, for a very good snowboarder, how would 5 days in & around Verbier be in mid-dec? Should I hire a guide or just mess around btwn the "4 valleys" area etc? I'd like to go "off piste" as they say, but prefer not to end up at the wrong end of a 500ft cliff/crevasse.

Thanks in advance all-

There are ski areas that have several distinct village centres, like the Jungfrau with Grindelwald/Wengen/Murren for example. You could spend a night in each but I'm not sure I see the appeal, you can get between each in a short time so it's contrived as a journey.

Some guides do ski safaris which are soft touring trips, for example

http://www.andypmountainguide.com/index.php/eng/Ski-Touring/Ski-Touring-Itineraries/Ski-Safaris

The obvious area would the Portes du Soleil which has loads of different villages but it would be a real pain booking accommodation I suspect.

Verbier should be fun for you, you only need a guide if you're planning some major off-piste which can be good in that area.

mggsnbdr wrote:how would 5 days in & around Verbier be in mid-dec?

That would be ace IMHO... 8) ...and sounds like it would give you close to what you're after. Verbier has an extensive ski area for a confident slider - and a number of quite different villages joined into the circuit.

Of particular interest for you, I think, will be the famous "itineraries" - off-piste runs (so not pisted/groomed or patrolled) that are marked so you can follow them and be confident you're not going to get taken over a cliff. There's also lots of accessible "between the piste" skiing but you need to be aware that such areas are NOT patrolled or avalanche-controlled - so you need to take the usual precautions.

It's probably worth your taking a guide for one or two days out of your five to take you off the most beaten tracks and to places like the Stairway to Heaven and the back of Mont Fort (steep - and not a place you want to be alone or lost!).

Verbier has (like most Swiss ski areas) had some big early snows so mid-December should be good (usual caveats apply).

HTH, but Ise may have some other suggestions if you're looking to do more of a road-trip/safari...
[cross-posted - Ise beat me to it!]

Verbier? Yes, do it.