Alpine Climbing Course, 5 Days, Chamonix Mountaineering Course

Chamonix Mountain Climbing Course

This challenging Chamonix Mountaineering course is an instructional and coaching course. Set in the wonderfully remote Western Mont Blanc Massif, this Alpine climbing course will take you beyond elementary alpine skills.

This Chamonix mountaineering course will deliver instruction and training relevant to the region and transferable to any mountain range on earth. We limit the time where you are merely being taught skills in isolation; instead we combine instruction with ascents of peaks at an ever-increasing tempo throughout the Chamonix mountaineering course.

The Chamonix Mountaineering course is designed for those who have some basic grounding in alpine climbing and would like to broaden and deepen their skills on the different alpine terrain – snow and ice faces, exposed crests, rock and mixed ground. You should be happy seconding rock to Alpine grade III with boots and rucksack.

This course is also a good preparatory course for our Advanced Course and our Mont Blanc Guided Ascent. You will be climbing and leading on climbs up to grade PD.This is a varied week of coaching and climbing under the supervision of our excellent mountain guides with the specific objective of raising your knowledge and climbing standard whilst building your skills and confidence. We aim to introduce you to new areas and mountains and will change the venue if necessary to ensure the best conditions and weather for the course. The typical course outlined below is an example of what we can achieve in this area of the Mont Blanc Massif.

Skills Covered

• Technical mountaineering skills
• Refresh rope work, anchors and safety systems
• Leading on steeper ground
• Gear and protection on steeper ground
• Risk assessment
• Navigation and route selection

Have your own group? We can schedule an Alpine Climbing Course for your group at a time that suits you. Enquire for more details.

A minimum number of 2 applies.

Typical Course Programme

Day 0. Sunday
Arrive Chamonix, hotel night.

Day 1. Monday
Arrange last minute rental and/or equipment purchases in Chamonix, before driving to Entreves,
Italy. From here we catch the Funivie Monte Bianco lift and tackle the excellent alpine training climb
of Aiguilles Marbrées (3,535m/11,601ft). Descend and return to Chamonix for a hotel night.

Day 2. Tuesday
After breakfast, drive from Chamonix to your starting point for the day at Staffal (Gressoney). Take
the cable car to Punta Indren (3,300m/10,827ft) before undertaking a 1-hour hike to the newly
renovated Mantova Hut (3,498m/11,476ft) for rope work skills, knot practice and crevasse rescue.
Overnight at Mantova Hut.

Day 3. Wednesday
An early start from Mantova Hut for a big day of climbing on the border of Italy and Switzerland,
including ascents of the Vincent Pyramid (4,213m/13,822ft), Balmenhorn (4,161m/13,652ft),
Ludwigshöhe (4,342m/14,245ft) and Corno Nero (4,322m/14,180ft) before returning for a second
night at Mantova Hut.

Day 4. Thursday
Another alpine start to consolidate and build upon the skills learned thus far on the course. Today
will include an ascent of Zumsteinspitze (4,564m/14,974ft) and Signalkuppe (4,554m/14,941ft – also
known as Punta Gnifetti). Return to the Mantova Hut for a final night up high.

Day 5. Friday
Today we will have a more leisurely start after some hard climbing days and go over some final skills
to consolidate what we have learnt before descending back to the cable car and return to Chamonix
for dinner and a well-earned hotel night.

Day 6. Saturday
Breakfast, a chance to exchange photographs, and depart for home.

Access to the Mountain

On the initial training day, we catch a train to the Mer de Glace from Chamonix and return the same way. We then drive from Chamonix to Les Contamines to trek to Conscrits Hut. We descend on foot back to Les Contamines. All lifts on the programme are included in the course cost. If a change in programme forces us to use other or additional lifts due to weather or other logistical reason, your guide will first consult the group members before committing to the change. In some cases, this may be an additional expense to you.

Accommodation

Accommodation is provided on a twin share B&B basis from Sunday evening through to the following Saturday morning after breakfast. Accommodation in the mountains is in alpine huts in shared bunk rooms or dormitory rooms. Blankets are provided and no sleeping bag will be required. There is no single supplement (or private rooms) available in the mountain huts but we can arrange this for you in Chamonix.

A single supplement is available at additional cost for the three hotel nights during the course. Please enquire about costs at the time of booking. We also have upgrade options to four star and five-star hotels.

Food

You will be provided with breakfasts and lunches for the duration of the course and evening meals on the hut nights while the trip is running. Should the group decide to take a restaurant lunch that is not in the programme that will be at your own expense. You will be responsible for your own evening meals on the non-mountain nights in Chamonix. This allows you to experience the exciting culinary options available in Chamonix as there are many restaurants and bars within close walking distance that provide a variety of foods to suit your tastes. Any additional food, beverages or meals you purchase that are not mentioned in the inclusions will be at your own expense.

We provide nutritious meals and a supply of snack food throughout the trip according to the programme. It is a good idea to bring a small selection of your favourite snack food and hydration drinks with you to ensure you are fuelled by your preferred brands. Actual amounts depend on your consumption but 2 per day in addition to the lunches we provide would seem reasonable.

Travel to Chamonix

We commence our Chamonix Alpine Climbing Course from Chamonix in France. The closest international airport is in Geneva, just over the border in Switzerland. Regular shuttles operate up to Chamonix and the trip takes about 1.5 hours. Your shuttle driver will drop you at your accommodation. At the completion of the course, the shuttle can take you back to the airport. The shuttle transfers are at your own cost but we can help arrange this for you.