In reply to pec:
> I've used Snowcard for mountaineering related insurance for many years as have many on here.
> Ski touring comes under one level whilst ski mountaineering needs the next level up (how do you know when one touring becomes mountaineering is a good question).
Such a good question that it's literally the first one in their FAQs!
Q. What is the difference between ski touring and ski mountaineering?
Off piste skiing is any skiing or snowboarding activity away from marked and controlled slopes. However, ski touring is a ski journey that includes the use of skins, sometimes ropes or crampons for safety but ascents of peaks that are walking ascents that do not include technical mountaineering in the climbing or alpinism style of ascent. Often the terms 'ski touring' and 'ski mountaineering' are used interchangeably but from the insurance perspective, we differentiate 'touring' from 'mountaineering' because technical alpine ascents that combine climbing with ski touring approaches present higher underwriting risks. The ski mountaineering option should therefore be used if you are engaged in alpinism, technical alpine ascents, in winter conditions where you are using traditional ski touring travel to approach your climbs.
Note: snowboarding and split boarding are included within these definitions if accessing back country areas outside of normal resort boundaries.
https://www.snowcard.co.uk/faq
It's not terribly well expressed but seems fairly clear if you wade through it.
I couldn't see a chat option on their web site. I have found them reassuringly responsive to e-mail queries in the past, very often same day.