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For the 2011/12 season Hakuba Alpine Guides is operating as a private service via referral or for return customers.

Unfortunately for some, this means that we are not taking bookings from the general public.

If you have an existing relationship with Damian, or have completed his AST Level 1 course, or are an experienced and fully equipped backcountry skier looking for some local guiding in new terrain and snowpack, please get in touch.

For AST avalanche courses, please visit me at The Avalanche School

- Damian

p.s. Before booking with any new guiding businesses in Hakuba I recommend that you check very carefully what avalanche training they have had, and what professional guide work experience they can combine with that training. Be very careful and doubt what you are told. You are free to contact me if you have questions regarding what constitutes adequate training and experience.

Customised Itineraries for Private Groups

Book one day and we will block three days for you and move your booking to best suit conditions. Book two days and we will block the entire week just for you. There is no need to be locked into one fixed date.

Our services are limited, with a focus on quality not quantity - we do not guide everyday for the purpose of maximising our turnover and profits. We only take a small number bookings each week, giving us spare days that can be used to move your date to best suit the conditions whilst you are here. A one day booking results in us blocking 3 days for you.

We do not group our guests into mixed 'courses' with other guests. Our private client service offers you the chance to tell us what you would like to experience in Hakuba's backcountry, rather than slotting you into a pre-determined itinerary that usually fails to meet anyones expectations on the day. Our service is best suited to groups of friends or families who would like personal attention and a day that aims to meet all of their expectations where possible.

Feel free to contact us for a chat however keep in mind that the more specific your expectations, the less likely it is that we will be able to meet them perfectly. We encourage all our clients to book us with an open mind and willingness to enjoy the best and safest on offer in the backcountry on the day subject to their skill, fitness and equipment.

Please be aware of Hakuba's rather restrictive 'Local Rules'. As responsible professionally-minded local guides we will not take clients anywhere that is closed according to these rules. Additionally, we will only exit resorts via the sanctioned 'backcountry gates'. Please be aware that this rules out a lot of suitable easy access terrain that you might have thought (hoped) that we would take you to.

Please also be away that it is not uncommon for the famous easy-access big Hakuba terrain to be unsuitable on many days in winter due to poor weather, high avalanche risk, or poor snow quality as a result of sun or wind. This means that we will often be required to hike into the backcountry further than some people would like to access less famous terrain than they might have hoped for. With this in mind, please do not book us if you are unwilling to hike for much more than you will ski/snowboard. We specialise in backcountry guiding, and that requires walking. Of course, if you want to ski near to resort, and conditions are good, we will do so in permitted areas. But please be prepared to hike if conditions require it.

Included
If you book us for a custom tour, here is what you get:

  • Personalised consultation and itinerary planning.
  • Transportation.
  • Lunch.
  • As much help as we can manage getting your rentals arranged and delivered (if required).



Weather and Snow Stability

At all times we operate with a wide risk buffer, and this is fixed. Avalanche hazard and weather conditions dictate everything we do in the backcountry, and they are constantly changing. These variables may lead to changed itinerary plans or cancellation of a tour. In the event of cancellation we will try our hardest to re-schedule as soon as conditions permit, otherwise a full refund is available on request.



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