St Anton Off-piste Options?

Hi, I'm new to the site, the forums looks great and I was wondering if I might trouble you all for some advice.

I will be in St Anton from the 15th of January and am going to be there alone until friends join me five days later. I'm an experienced skier and enjoy off-piste skiing while the friends I'm meeting later are not quite up for the same level of skiing.

The price of a guide for one, is way beyond what I can afford and I feel you really shouldn't go into the backcountry alone, even though there is much less isolation in Europe.

Does anyone know of alternatives? Are there places you can meet with other skiers who are interested in going out off-piste? What are the best sites for avalanche danger info (in english)?

try piste to powder,an english run off piste guiding school.you join a group up to 7 pax,all day equipment supplied all for 85 euros

Thanks bluebird, it looks like a good set-up.

:D hi,two good routes are take the drag up the Gampen section half way up there is a gap in the netting go through this and there is a wonderfull off piste route which takes you all the way back to the eastern end of St.Anton(mind you have not been to St.Anton for a few years so access on the Gampen section may have changed since).Another well documented off piste route is to take the second stage cable car up the Valluga (can only be used with a qualified guide)and ski off the back down to Zurs,some say this is one of the best off piste itineres in the alps,although it is stated that the top section is serious and a fall is not an option.
As with all off piste make sure you have the right kit with you and know how to use it,avalanche reciever,probe,shovel etc,and if attempting anything you are unsure about make sure you have the services of a qualified guide. :D,having said all that dont forget to enjoy yourselves.
many regards
jonG.

bluebird wrote:try piste to powder,an english run off piste guiding school.you join a group up to 7 pax,all day equipment supplied all for 85 euros

never used them but I've heard many good things.

Hi Epic, My friends and I have booked two days with Piste to Powder in Jan the 14th and 15th. Only done two proper days off piste before a few years back at Verbier so hope its as good as it sounds. Lets hope for a dump of new snow. :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

waist deep snow in st anton at the moment,best seasons start in 30 years.
which must be saying something with their snow record.

the route to zurs from the valluga is a serious decent,which would only be tackled if you were in group 3 or 4 ability range,they have 4 levels 1 to 4.

when i went with piste to powder in 2006 i started in level 1 because my girlfriend was a little nervy.for me it wasnt challenging enough,next time i`l try level 2,still had a good time though.

it is good for meeting new friends,after the days skiing all the groups meet up at a bar just below the moorswirt,where the beers and shots keep flowing,then on to the village centre,where the apres is in full flow by then.
the piccadilly was our fav,loads of others to choose from.

Thanks for all the input guys. Very excited to hear about the powder, especially given I'm currently working the air-conditioner over-time and running out of sunscreen.

If I could add a further query, does anyone know how or where to get a quality topographical map of the area (St Anton and surrounds), for those of us who don't carry around a GPS on our wrists?