TRAVERSE A high level ski traverse on the Black Forest Fern-Ski- Wanderweg in Germany A ski touring holiday through forested valleys and high ridges Ski the highest peak in the Black Forest - Feldberg at 1425m Apres ski in comfortable hotels & traditional guest houses Ski touring with traditional Black Forest culture and cuisine HOLIDAY CODE SBF Switzerland, Germany, Winter, 7 Days 6 nights hotel, 6 breakfasts, 6 dinners, max group size: 8, 5 days crosscountry skiing, max altitude 1425m
PAGE 2 VIEW DATES, PRICES & BOOK YOUR HOLIDAY HERE Introduction The German Black Forest is a cross-country skiers' paradise with an extensive network of prepared ski trails throughout the winter. Following a series of linked cross-country ski trails developed in the 1970s and known as the Fern-Ski-Wanderweg, we make a classic north to south ski traverse of the Black Forest covering 115km as we head toward the German - Swiss border. Skiing through a diverse landscape of deep, forested valleys, plateaus and through farming communities steeped in tradition, we stay each night in a comfortable hotel or guest house and on some nights have the luxury of a sauna or pool to relax in! Cross country skiing just doesn't get better than this! Ski Hire Available Cross country skiing equipment, which includes, fishscale classic skis, Salomon (or similar) boots and bindings and poles, can be hired locally through KE at a cost of approximately 130 Euros for the week. Explore International. This holiday is part of our Explore International range. Participants on these trips can book through KE or through one of our international partners. This helps us to gather together sufficient numbers of like-minded adventurers to get your holiday up and running quickly. Led by an English-speaking guide, the cosmopolitan nature of these groups can be an important part of the experience! Is this holiday for you? This traverse is not excessively demanding but it is also not for novices. At 115kms, this is a long, sustained journey across undulating and hilly terrain and is only suitable for those who have previous cross-country ski or nordic ski touring experience. Distances covered will vary from 15 to 28kms per day, on mainly groomed trails. Skiers should have good knowledge of cross-country techniques (they must have fully mastered the snow plough) and be of good fitness. Technique coaching will be included, but you should be able to ski for 4 to 6 hours each day. Note that your guide will try to fulfill the itinerary, but this is dependent on weather/snow and track conditions. We run this tour at the time of year when snow is most reliable and the tracks are well-maintained. In the event of bad weather or poor snow conditions, alternative skiing will be arranged visiting the highest Nordic ski areas locally, offering comparative distances each day. Holiday Itinerary Day 1: Meet at the group hotel in Triberg in the Schwarzwald. Meet at the group hotel in the traditional Black Forest village of Triberg in the the Schwarzwald. In the early evening our guide will brief us on the week ahead and can also help and advise with any ski-hire. KE Land Only package services begin with the overnight stay at the hotel. ACCOMMODATION HOTEL MEALS D Day 2: From Schonach ascend to the Plateau of Wittenbach (1000m) and on to Brend.
PAGE 3 Starting directly from Schonach, we make a steady ascent through woodland to the plateau of Wittenbach at around 1000m, before descending to the valley of Schwarzenbach (940m). After a section of dense forest we then cross typical Nordic-ski open rolling terrain with occasional steeper descents to the villages of Schonwald where there is an Olympic ski jump. From here we climb once more to Martinskapelle, where we can stop for refreshments at the inn. The source of the Danube is close by here. We make a final short climb up to Brend (1149m) where we check into our hotel and enjoy some traditional Schwarzwald hospitality. ACCOMMODATION HOTEL DESCENT 30M ASCENT 550M TIME 7 HRS SKIING HOURS DISTANCE 20KM MEALS BD Day 3: To Waldau, via Neueck (980m) and the inn at Kalter Herberge (1020m). We start with an easy downhill passing traditional Black Forest farm houses. A section of gently undulating terrain leads to Neueck (980m) where we enter woods and make a gradual climb to the Inn at Kalte Herberge (1020m). After lunch here we finish the day skiing to the quiet and pretty village of Waldau where where the first Black Forest clock was made in 1664. After checking in at our hotel there may be the opportunity for further exploration in the area or we can enjoy the hotel sauna before dinner. ACCOMMODATION HOTEL DESCENT 600M ASCENT 400M TIME 8 HRS SKIING HOURS DISTANCE 23KM MEALS BD Day 4: Across the Weisstannenhohe (1190m) to Hinterzarten (880m). We ski for 7km on a fairly level trail to Thurner and then climb to our high point for the day at Weisstannenhohe (1190m), where we have a view ahead to the Feldberg summit. This is the half way point of our journey and afterwards we enjoy a ski down through pine forests interspersed with open meadows and traditional farms, to the charming village of Hinterzarten (880m) known as the 'Pearl of the Black Forest'. ACCOMMODATION HOTEL DESCENT 490M ASCENT 400M TIME 8 HRS SKIING HOURS DISTANCE 25KM MEALS BD Day 5: Ski to the Feldberg summit (1425m) then down to Notschrei (1120m) This is the longest day of our traverse and today we reach its highest point. Leaving Hinterzarten we ski for 10km to Rinken (1195m) where we stop for refreshments before making the final climb through the forest. There are sections here where we may carry our skis on our packs as we climb up onto the Feldberg summit 1425m - the highest point of the Black Forest. Weather permitting we will have a spectacular 360 view of the Alps to the south and the Vosges in the north. From the top we have a fast descent as far as the Todtnauer Hut (1321m) and then more gently down through the forest to Notschrei at 1120m. We then transfer by bus to Todtanuberg for the night. A simply superb day of nordic skiing.
PAGE 4 ACCOMMODATION HOTEL ASCENT 750M DISTANCE 28KM MEALS BD DESCENT 500M TIME 7 HRS SKIING HOURS Day 6: Finish the Black Forest Ski Traverse at Belchen. Return to Schonau. We transfer back to the trail head to commence our final day of our Black Forest Traverse. The final stage is relatively easy, following a gently undulating trail for 9km to Wiedener Eck (1034m), and then on to the small ski resort of Multen/Belchen. To make transfers simpler for the following day tonight we will stay in the town of Schonau. We end with a final celebratory meal together. ACCOMMODATION HOTEL DESCENT 490M ASCENT 350M TIME 5 HRS SKIING HOURS DISTANCE 16KM MEALS BD Day 7: Departure day. There is public bus from the hotel to the railway station at Zell. KE package services end after breakfast. There is a bus that will take us from the hotel to the railway station at Zell form where we can connect with the trains to Basel and other airports. MEALS B Holiday Information What's Included Nordic Ski Instructor who is also an International Mountain Leader with the relevant qualifications required for that country Hotel accommodation as described in the trip dossier Baggage transfers every day Meals according to the Meal Plan What's Not Included Travel insurance Airport transfers Some meals according to the Meal Plan Lunches & Hillfood snacks Equipment hire Miscellaneous personal expenses - drinks and souvenirs etc. Meal Plan All meals except lunches are included in the trip price. You will need to purchase lunch and snacks for each day. These can easily be bought locally. We recommend an allowance of 10 to 15 per day for lunches, snack food and soft drinks. Tap water in Germany is drinkable.
PAGE 5 Food Continental breakfasts are provided - cereals, fruit juice, tea and coffee, bread and a variety of spreads including jam, honey and Nutella, for example. Lunches will normally be picnics bought from our overnight accommodation, bakeries or local cafes. Please feel free to bring additional hill snacks from home. At each of the overnight stops, a full 3-course dinner will be served, usually a soup dish, followed by some wholesome local speciality and a dessert. Joining Arrangements & Transfers You must join the group at the group hotel in the village of Triberg in the evening of Day 1 of the trip itinerary. The most convenient airport to reach Triberg is Basel (Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg Airport). There are shuttle buses which operate a regular service to Basel rail station where it is possible to take a train (2 hours 45 minutes) to Triberg. Tickets can be booked in advance online at www.sbb.ch or bought at the station. Triberg is approximately 2km from Shonach, the official start of the tour, and bus 7270 operates a regular service between Triberg rail station and the village. If travelling from the UK by train it is possible to book a return journey to Basel on Eurostar. A train departing from London St Pancras at 9.22 will reach Basel at 17.26. You will need to change trains and stations at Paris with a metro journey between the two. At the end of the holiday there is a bus that takes you from the hotel to the rail station to connect with the train to Basel. You will be issued with a 'Black Forest Guest Card' at your final overnight accommodation which will entitle you to free travel on part of this return journey (only the sections within the Black Forest area). Accommodation The accommodation on this holiday varies from 3 star hotels to small and simple hotels/guesthouses. All accommodation is based on twin share. If you are travelling alone you will be paired with another individual traveller of the same sex. It may be possble to arrange single rooms at some of the places we stay but this depends on availability at the time of booking and a supplement will be charged. Please call the KE office if you wish to enquire about a single room. Group Leader & Support Staff The group will be led by a Nordic Ski Instructor who is also an International Mountain Leader with the relevant qualifications required for that country. Altitude This holiday does not involve any significant ascent to altitude and we would not expect any altitude issues with this trip. Spending Money 250 to 300 should be sufficient to cover your miscellaneous expenses including lunches, drinks and any other personal outgoings. In addition, you will need to set aside 130 for equipment if you intend to hire skis, boots and poles. There are several ATMs en route. Free KE Gift We give you a free gift as a way to thank all our clients who book a KE holiday. Choose from KE T-shirts, buffs, KE trek bags* (where applicable) plus many more. Alternatively you can choose to make a 10 donation to the Juniper Trust Charity. You can make your selection in your My KE account after booking.
PAGE 6 * A trek bag is not required for this holiday. You can however purchase a KE trek bag for 24.95. Delivery outside of the UK will be charged. Baggage Allowance For this holiday you should take one piece of luggage and a daypack. For international flights please check your baggage allowance with your airline. You will only need to carry a daysack on the ski days and your main baggage will be transferred every day between accommodation points. Luggage will be mainly transported in cars and small vans so we would ask that you keep both size and weight of luggage to a respectable limit of around 12 kg (and only one bag per person). It is worth noting that you will be required to carry your own bag up and down from your accommodation every day; luggage with wheels can be useful for this holiday. Group Size & Holiday Status For each holiday there is a minimum number of participants required to enable it to go ahead. Once the minimum number is reached, the trip status will change from 'Available' to 'Guaranteed to run'. You can check the trip status for each departure in Dates and Prices table. Other than in exceptional circumstances, we will not cancel a trip once it has achieved this guaranteed to run status and so you are free to proceed with your international flight booking and other travel arrangements. Recommended Outdoor Retailers Many of the Equipment items listed above are available from Cotswold Outdoor - our 'Official Recommended Outdoor Retailer'. When you book a holiday with KE you will receive 15% discount voucher from Cotswold Outdoor and other retailers. >> Find out more General Information Passport & Visas A passport with 6 months remaining validity at the end of your stay is generally required for visits to countries outside the EU. The information that we provide is for UK passport holders. Please check the relevant embassy or consulate for other nationalities. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct travel documents and visas for your holiday. Visa requirements and charges are subject to change without notice. If you are travelling outside the EU you should have at least 2 blank pages in your passport for each country that you visit. Visa Europe UK and USA passport holders do not require a visa.
PAGE 7 Health & Vaccinations You should contact your doctor or travel clinic to check whether you require any specific vaccinations. UK residents should obtain a free European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). This entitles you to state provided medical treatment, but is not a substitute for medical travel insurance which is still vital when travelling overseas. Currency The unit of currency in Europe is the Euro. The unit of currency in Switzerland is the Swiss Franc. Electricity Supply & Plug We recommend you check if you require an adaptor for your electrical items at: http://www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/plugs-and-sockets/ Preparing For Your Holiday It makes a lot of sense to spend some time before coming on a cross-country ski trip getting some additional exercise. The fitter you are, after all, the more enjoyable you will find the experience. We would suggest that you adopt a weekly exercise regime in the 6 to 8 week period leading up to your trip. Running, cycling, indoor rowing machines and swimming are excellent cross training methods for developing endurance. Nordic walking or the cross trainer machine are also excellent ways to imitate the arm action needed for cross-country skiing and help to build up arm and shoulder strength. Cross-country skiing is excellent cross training for other sports and as a lowimpact exercise is a great way to improve your fitness. Travel Aware As a reputable tour operator, KE supports the British Foreign & Commonwealth Offices' Travel Aware campaign to enable British citizens to prepare for their journeys overseas. The 'Travel Aware' website provides a single, authoritative source of advice for all kinds of travellers and we recommend that prior to travel, all KE clients visit the official UK Government website at travelaware.campaign.gov.uk and read the FCO Travel Advice for their chosen destination. North Americans can also check out the U.S. Department of State website: www.travel.state.gov for essential travel advice and tips. KE treat the safety and security of all clients as the most important aspect of any trip we organise. We would not run any trip that we did not consider reasonably safe. Should the FCO advise against travel for any reason, we will contact everyone booked to travel to discuss the situation. We receive regular updates direct from the FCO and are in constant touch with our contacts on the ground. If you have any questions about government travel advice, please call our office. Books Munich, Bavaria & the Black Forest: Lonely Planet Guides Cross-Country Skiing: Ned Gillette & John Dostal
PAGE 8 Maps Fernskiwanderweg Map A local Fernskiwanderweg Map is available at the start of the trail for 5 euros from the Tourist Office. Flight Information Flight Inclusive Or Land Only? On our website we display a UK Flight inclusive package price and Land only package price for the majority of our holidays. Land Only Notes We sell this holiday on a Land Only basis and recommend that you book your flights to Basel in Switzerland. The nearest rail station to Schonach is Triberg. Please refer to the 'Joining arrangements & transfers' for further details. Flights SHOULD NOT be booked until you have received your booking confirmation and the departure is showing 'Guaranteed to Run' or 'Limited'. If flying from the UK, there are direct flights to Basel-Mulhouse-Feiburg Airport with Easyjet from London Gatwick and from Edinburgh. Other airlines and airports may be available. If you would prefer to book a 'flight inclusive package' using scheduled airlines from the UK please contact our flights department for a quote. Whilst flight prices are likely to be more expensive you will benefit from full financial protection. Why Choose KE Adventure Travel? Why Choose KE Adventure Travel? Experience KE has 34 years experience of adventure travel worldwide. All of our holidays are accompanied by an experienced leader, some of whom have worked with KE groups for many years. Many are professional guides and instructors with an unrivalled knowledge of the areas in which they work. In many parts of the world, we recruit local guides with appropriate training and experience. In addition to having the technical skills to ensure your safety, KE expects its leaders to be active members of the group. A leader should be fun to travel with and ready to share with you their enthusiasm for adventure travel and their knowledge of the area. Alongside the group leader, there will be a local support crew, which could be just a driver, or a complete team of guides, drivers, porters, muleherders and cooks. The hard work of our support crews, along with the fascinating insight they can offer into their local culture, is integral to providing you with the very best adventure travel experience. The team of KE office staff is amongst the most experienced in the business, with the proven ability to set up and operate a worldwide programme of adventures. Every one has adventure travel at heart and joins at least one trip a year. It is this depth of experience that makes KE stand out from other adventure travel operators. When you contact KE, by phone or e-mail, or visit our office, you will find the help and advice you need, from someone who has actually done the trip and can give you the benefit of their first-hand experience.
PAGE 9 KE can guarantee the very best in trek support, excellent food, a good standard of hotel and camp accommodation, plus the back up of one of the most respected companies in the business. Client satisfaction is at the top of our agenda and almost 50% of our bookings each year come from repeat business. If you are looking for adventure then look no further than KE. RESPONSIBLE TOURISM AND AWARDS Responsible Tourism has always fitted naturally with KEs travel ethic. It is important to us that our clients are not the only beneficiaries of the travel experience, but that we share a two-way relationship with the areas that we visit. We make sure that our local staff are well treated and well paid, we respect indigenous cultures, take care to protect the environment and make the most of every opportunity to make a positive contribution wherever we travel. In addition to holding an AITO 5-star Sustainable Tourism rating, we are recipients of AITO s Achievement in Sustainable Tourism Award in recognition of the work carried out over the past 20 years, giving back to the communities and areas we visit. We have been awarded Highly Commended status in the Best Tour Operator category of the Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards, and were named Best Trekking Operator on Earth by National Geographic Magazine, whose criteria included commitment to responsible tourism. We continue to travel responsibly, and more information on our policy, practice, and specific projects can be found at www.keadventure.com, and on the website of our partner charity the Juniper Trust: www.junipertrust.co.uk. KEs Mountain Code is issued to our staff, trek leaders and overseas agents, and we recommend it to our clients, too! Your Complete Financial Protection KE Adventure Travel is a fully licensed and bonded tour operator. We are a member of the Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO), bonded with the CAA (ATOL 2808) and ABTA licensed (W4341). You can book your trip with KE Adventure Travel in complete confidence that all monies you pay for a trip are fully protected. BOOKING YOUR HOLIDAY Making a Booking The easiest way to make your booking is online. You will need to pay a deposit at the time of booking. This is normally 200 but for some holidays with special permit fees or internal flights, this may be more. The amount of deposit required for an individual holiday is given on the dates and prices page of the holiday. Late bookings will require full payment. We cannot confirm any booking until we receive your fully completed booking form. Adventure Travel Insurance IMPORTANT - It is a condition of joining any of our trips that you are insured against medical and personal accident risks (to include repatriation costs, air ambulance and helicopter rescue services). We also strongly recommend that you take out holiday cancellation insurance, as all deposits paid are non-refundable. Please ensure that your insurer is aware of your KE Adventure itinerary and can agree to cover the activities being undertaken. You will then need to advise us of your policy details and complete an Insurance Declaration Form. CAMPBELL IRVINE DIRECT travel insurance is available to EU residents and will cover the majority of KE Adventure holidays. It has been designed to provide cover for activities normally excluded by other insurers such as trekking, mountain biking and climbing. Please note that certain activities may attract a higher premium. In addition Campbell Irvine Direct cannot provide cover for KE climbing trips above 6000m. Cover for these can be obtained through either the British Mountaineering Council (BMC) or Snowcard.
PAGE 10 TRAVELEX is a USA based insurer offering travel insurance, which can be used by US citizens and US residents only. KE recommends the "Travelex Select" package for our holidays. If your holiday involves using mountaineering equipment (ropes, harness or crampons), for climbing or glacial travel, you should consider the "Adventure Plus Pak" optional upgrade on the Travelex Select Plan. Please refer to the 'Description of Coverage' for a summary of the terms, conditions, exclusions and limitations of the applicable Protection Plan. This policy will also cover KE climbing trips above 6000m. We hope that this trip notes has answered most of your questions. Please feel free to contact us and speak to one of our experts.
PAGE 11 Equipment List The following checklist should help you with your packing. As a general rule, you should always try to keep the weight of your equipment to a minimum. Note: winter cycling clothing is excellent apparel for cross-country skiing. You Should Bring The Following Items: Approach shoes / Snow boots or walking shoes Rucksack 25 to 30 litres maximum** Waterproof jacket Waterproof overtrousers. Sallopettes are not needed. Thermal baselayer - leggings Thermal top long sleeved Thin fleece top long sleeved Thermal gloves Warm and waterproof gloves Warm hat Sunhat Scarf or buff for neck Warm socks (like walking socks but not too thick or long like alpine ski socks Gaiters Comfortable underwear/sports bras for ladies (not wired) Water container (1 litre) NB. Drinks tubes and bottles stowed on the outside of your rucksack usually freeze in winter Toilet paper and small pack of hand wipes Waterproof bag for documents Head-torch and spare batteries Basic First Aid Kit - Our professional tour leaders hold first-aid qualifications and will carry a basic medical kit. You should bring your own personal first aid kit consisting of the following: throat lozenges, painkillers (antiinflammatory), antiseptic cream/spray, plasters, blister treatment/tape, and re-hydration salts (Dioralite). Glucose tablets are a good idea. Sun protection (including total bloc for lips, nose etc.) Slippers for your overnight accommodation Spare clothing for use in hotels/chalets, 2 sets should be sufficient Ear plugs Lightweight pack towel
PAGE 12 Swimming costume for sauna available in some accommodation Cross Country Ski Equipment Cross-country ski boots* Cross-country skis* Ski poles* The Following Items Are Optional: Extra pair of warm mittens Head/ear band Gilet fleece or wind stopper Small flask and contents (tea bags/drink sachets etc) Camera Repair kit (eg. needle, thread, duct tape) NOTES **On this tour you will only need to carry a daysack whilst skiing. Ideally this should be large enough to stow any warm and bulky clothing which you may want to shed as you warm up. It must also have ski loops or ties with an extra couple of bungee cords or a ski tie/strap to enable you to strap your skis to your daysack in case you need to walk for periods of time. Skis And Ski Boots The ideal skis to use for this trip are track skinny skis, classic/fishscale style for cross-country (Nordic) skiing. We will not be waxing or using skins. The majority of the skiing will be on prepared trails. Ski boots should be comfortable, warm classic style to match your bindings. Boots with a high ankle are more comfortable for this trip than a racing-style boot. Classic length ski poles (which should sit comfortably under your arm pit once stood on your skis) are also required. * Hire of cross country skiing equipment, which includes fishscale classic skis (not skates or waxables), Saloman (or similar) boots and bindings, and poles, can be hired locally at the start of the traverse. The approximate cost of equipment hire is 130 for the week (this includes the cost of returning the equipment to the hire shop at the end of the trek). You will make your payment direct to the hire shop or in the event of a late arrival, to the guide (cash only). All equipment hire must be arranged in advance, as it will be necessary to pre-order correct sizes. Please contact our office if you wish to arrange equipment hire. We will need to know your height, weight, normal shoe size (you must give us your everyday shoe size and not your personal adjustment for wearing boots) and the measurement of your height up to your armpits (for ski pole hire). Please note: This document was downloaded on 14 Jun 2018, and the trip is subject to change.