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Nordic touring ski is a (re-)emerging snowsport that is well-suited to the rolling forested Jura mountains.
The CERN ski club / cross-country section proposes single-day introductory sessions in small groups.
- interested club members should should sign up to the activity « nordic touring/randonnée nordique interest group » to be notified when an outing is planned
- the equipment (Ski/Boots/Poles) will be rented locally
- transport is via car-sharing.
- outings will be scheduled with a few day’s notice (depending on weather conditions)
- sign-up is first-come first-serve, no extra costs beyond rental/car-sharing
- usually take place in the nearby Jura (Lajoux, Lamoura, Les Rousses, …)
There are no particular requirements for participants (be at ease on skis; have a solid snowplough, “fit” enough for a day hike). Falls may occur but should be at low speed and (hopefully) soft snow.
Gear to bring along:
- cross-country clothing incl gloves, hat
- small daypack
- picnic and water (min 1l)
- depending on the weather: sunscreen, windbreaker or puffy jacket (for pauses)
- optional: seat pad, map+compass, “Montagnes de Jura” ski pass (we stay mostly off-piste, but might use a groomed track to go faster from A to B)
What are the differences?
Modern cross-country skiing is often performance-oriented, with skinny (but fragile) skis on carefully prepared tracks. Nordic touring is going back to the original roots of skiing – travel over pristine snow-covered landscape, sometimes over long distances (arctic expeditions or hunters have continued to use these skis).
Compared to “normal” cross-country, the nordic touring equipement is somewhat sturdier – wider skis (that float on soft snow), with steel edges (for the occasonal icy patch), with waxless fishscale patterns to easily climb moderate hills. The bindings are cross-country/telemark-style “free heel” and correspondingly solid (NNN-BC, 75mm 3-pin telemark, or the new Rotefella Xplore system), as are the boots (warm, waterproof, comfy leather or textile – these also allow to walk for a bit to get to the next patch of snow).
The overall result is usually lighter and more comfortable that alpine touring equipment (although with less control downhill). There also is no need to put on/remove ski “skins” all the time (although these are an option for longer/steeper climbs).
Snowshoes offer similar all-terrain access – but of course are less fun on the way down.
