Ride a Snooc, Le Grand Bornand, France
Hiking off into the wilderness and finding peace away from the pistes is one of the most rewarding things to do in the mountains. But learning how to ski in backcountry takes years, and can involve a lot of swearing and slapstick mishap. Now, thanks to a new invention called the Snooc, even those who can’t ski or snowboard can go snow-touring off the beaten track. It functions as a pair of easy-to-use skis for walking uphill, then when it’s time to head down, it quickly transforms into a toboggan for riding safely and enjoyably back to the resort, perhaps even with a few powder turns along the way. Le Grand Bornand is one of the first resorts to offer Snooc rental.
• snooc.ski, two-hour lesson £26
Book it: Peak Retreats has a week in a four-star self-catering apartment, based on five sharing, including Eurotunnel crossing, for £214pp
