Private Mountaineering Course, 7 Days, Alpine Climbing Course, The Alps

Private Alpine Climbing Course

The European Alps offers a diverse range of climbing opportunities across a wide range of climbing styles. The peaks are very accessible and supported by a superb lift and hut system that enable you fast access to superb climb the Alps venues.

Our Private Alpine Climbing Course is the most flexible mountaineering program available. You can outline the type of skills you would like to achieve in line with your future climbing objectives.

Join as an individual for 1:1 personalised instruction, or put your own group of like-minded companions together. A maximum 1:4 guide to climber ratio applies.

Climb The Alps

This Alpine Climbing Course can be structured to prepare you for ascents of Europe’s classic peaks through to joining one of our high altitude climbing expeditions. No matter what level you are at now, our Mountaineering courses will provide you with the most current and essential mountaineering skills that will enhance your ability levels and enable you to take your climbing to the next level.

The Alps offers a diverse range of climbing opportunities across a wide range of climbing styles. The peaks are very accessible and supported by a superb lift and hut system that enable you fast access to superb climbing venues. Our Private Instruction Alpine Climbing Courses are the most flexible mountaineering programme available. You choose the course duration and dates which suit you best. You can outline the type of skills you would like to achieve in line with your future climbing objectives. These Alpine Climbing courses are not just for those new to climbing, for the seasoned climber these courses offer the facility to up-skill yourself in your chosen field from one of our specialist professional guides.

A note about training on lower altitude peaks – if your focus is on joining one of our expeditions in the future, we recommend training in lower altitude mountain ranges such as the European Alps where there are many peaks of around only 3,000-4,000m in height. This allows you to concentrate on the technical skills required for successful alpine climbing. We find that without the hassles of altitude slowing you down you are able to progress your 3 skills so much more quickly and you can concentrate on your altitude training further down the line.

Alpine Climbing Course Objective

Our objective is to pass on the skills, which have made us successful in our own international climbing careers. The most important attributes being:

• A solid climbing standard and mountain awareness
• Sound judgement of your own ability
• Good planning and preparation skills
• Good decision-making

Skills Covered in The Alpine Climbing Course

You tell us what you want to do on the course! With our private Alpine Training Course, the choice is yours. You may deem that the course focuses primarily on an aspect of climbing that you most want to gain instruction so you can increase your skill set in that area. Alternatively, you can follow a standard training curriculum as would be covered in the Introductory, Intermediate or Advanced courses.

On the Private Alpine Climbing Course, you can select the skills you want to focus upon, such as those below.

• Snow-craft and ice-craft
• Mountain first aid and health
• Rope skills applicable to alpine climbing
• Rescue techniques & Emergency shelters
• Camp Management
• Glacier travel and self-rescue skills
• Route finding and navigation
• Weather analysis
• Rock climbing
• Ice climbing
• Alpine rock climbing skills
• Preparation for high altitude expedition climbing

How the Alpine Climbing Course Operates

We spend as much time as possible actually climbing whilst developing skills. Initially, you will develop and reinforce your skills in a contained environment and move on to more challenging routes and terrain during the course.

Experiential learning is a major factor in becoming a competent mountaineer. The emphasis of the course is on safe application of skill development. We will introduce skills through actually climbing peaks and increase the intensity of the programme at your pace.

Alpine climbing can involve long days with early starts in order to gain a summit with descent before nightfall. There are times when the weather may be rough and there can be periods of discomfort. We manage this through consultation with the group members and our objectives are dictated by the strength and motivation of the group as a whole.

You may have the opportunity to develop additional skills before the course commences. Rope skills can be learned through local alpine clubs or climbing gyms. Previous rock or alpine climbing experience will allow you to gain even more from the course.

Alpine Climbing Course Venue

We operate our Alpine Climbing Course in the Mont Blanc, Monte Rosa or the Gran Paradiso mountain regions depending on your preference. We can extend our courses to focus on specific skills such as winter ice climbing, in which case we may base ourselves in the Cogne or La Grave regions that are world famous for their ice routes. We may move venues 5 throughout the course to ensure the best conditions are encountered at the time. For rock specific courses our guides are also able to travel with you to a preferred venue or one where the weather is best.

Alpine Climbing Course Season

We guide the high peaks all year as conditions allow although our main climbing season is from June through to end of September. In June and early July we can expect more snow and ice cover on the glaciers making for easier access and better conditions on snow routes. As temperatures warm up into the full summer months of mid-July to mid-August and into September the conditions are optimum for the majority of guided climbs on the major peaks although some mountains become cut off due to access difficulties from early August. Late summer is generally better for attempting major rock routes.

We do specialise in ice climbing through the winter months. Ice climbing conditions are especially good through February and March.

Our guides are also qualified and experienced ski guides so enquire about combining ski touring with your course. Ski one day, climb the next!

Europe has a continental climate which in general encourages more stable weather. However, the weather in the high mountains can be changeable and at times very severe. It is possible that weather conditions may thwart our usual mountaineering the Alps program. However, due to the length of the course and our focus on the forecasts, we can often change our itinerary slightly to work around frontal systems.

Accommodation

Accommodation is provided on a twin share B&B basis in hotels whilst in Chamonix and huts in the mountains. 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 hotel nights during the course. Please enquire about costs at the time of booking.

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 program this 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 program. 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.

If you have any special dietary requirements, please advise us at the time of registration. If your dietary requirements are especially strict, you are advised to bring a sufficient supply of your required food types with you to ensure you are provided for.

Travel to Chamonix

We commence our Private Instruction Course from Chamonix in France. The closest international airport is in Geneva, just over the border in Switzerland. Regular shuttles operate through 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.