Alpine Introduction & Gran Paradiso

Your first steps on a rewarding alpine climbing career. This Chamonix based course teaches the skills necessary for safe ascents of lower grade peaks, the course is designed for walkers and mountaineers seeking high-quality instruction for their first season in the Alps. Snow, ice and rock techniques are the focus and as always you will be in safe hands with our own team of IFMGA guides.

The format used is entirely practical, very much ‘learn as you climb’. Every day will provide a new mountain experience and with it a large array of new and interesting techniques. The course emphasis is on building a firm foundation of skills, enabling participants to operate independently or progress to other courses or expeditions. The highlight of the week’s climbing is the ascent of ‘Gran Paradiso’, at 4061m the highest peak entirely within Italy.

This course is suitable for hill walkers and indoor wall climbers wishing to expand their horizons and discover the magic of alpine mountaineering. General fitness and enthusiasm are the most important prerequisites. To ensure that you enjoy your climbing holiday, we always use good quality services and accommodation, with an excellent reputation for food.

This week long trip offers variety, fun and action in the heart of the Alps and a firm stepping stone for your future ambitions.

Skills Taught on this course

• Movement on rock, ice and snow
• Knots, belays and abseiling
• Equipment selection
• Use of crampons and ice axe
• Glacier travel techniques and crevasse rescue
• Understanding the Alps, including route finding, maps and guidebooks

Why Chamonix?

The course is based in Chamonix, the world climbing capital. Chamonix hosts some of the most famous routes in the Alps, and is a must visit for any aspiring mountaineer. The mountain environment is very accessible with several cable cars giving access to high ground, this maximises climbing time and minimises walking. The Chamonix valley allows the course to offer 6 full climbing days with a client/mountain guide ratio of 1:4 or less with 2/3 nights spent in high mountain refuges.

What is the standard of accommodation in the huts?

The huts are run by full time staff that looks after us on a half-board basis. The surroundings are basic but smart and clean with plentiful home cooking. Water, beer, wine and a picnic lunch is available at extra cost. The sleeping quarters are communal.

Mont Blanc Extension

For those who aspire to climb Mont Blanc we can offer this as a 2 or 3 day extension to this Alpine Introduction course. Contact us for further details

Goals:

• Identify and avoid hazards in the alpine environment.
• Be a competent user of mountaineering equipment with special focus on the boot crampons and ice axe
• Be an effective team member of a roped group travelling across a glacier.
• Contribute to decision-making and route finding
• Move together as a roped team in a variety of terrain.
• Place good snow, ice and rock belays.
• Organise a crevasse rescue scenario
• Rock climbing, abseiling and belaying
• Climb great routes graded Alpine F to PD

The price includes all guiding fees & expenses, half board hotel accommodation in the valley (twin-room), half board accommodation in mountain huts, local transfers and uplift costs
The price does not include lunches, beverages, equipment hire and travel to and from the Alps
Single-room occupancy in valley hotels is subject to availability and will incur an additional cost.

The Mont Blanc extension costs £795 per person based on 2 people sharing a guide which includes the guide fees and accommodation (2 hotel nights and 1 hut night).

This list contains our recommended clothing and equipment for our Intro to Alpine Mountaineering course in Chamonix.

In the summer months, the days generally start very cold and warm up during the morning to become hot in the afternoon. It is therefore essential that you have 2-3 thin layers that you are able to put on/take off as the conditions change. Thin layers also allow better movement as opposed to one layer of bulky clothing.

If you are uncertain about kit to pack or need further information, please contact us.

• Alpine Mountaineering - Clothing
  • Base Layer Top and Bottoms – a few base layer tops, usually long-sleeved is best, wool base layers form Ortovox are good as they offer good wicking properties and dry quickly. For your legs, a couple of pairs of long or ¾ length bottoms are best.

  • Mid-layer fleece tops – a couple of fleece type jacket or tops that can be worn between your base layer and outer layers. The “Layering” approach offers the best heat retention and flexibility in warm and cold weather.

  • Insulation Layer - a down or Primaloft jacket is a good item to have ready to wear in the event of cold weather, it can live in your rucksack as a spare layer and can come in very handy for sudden changes in the weather.

  • Lightweight softshell type trousers - you want to wear a lightweight softshell or similar material on your legs, these types of trouser offer good protection from snow/ice as well as abrasion on rock and are comfortable to move in.

  • Walking shorts or a pair of trousers with zip-off legs. Useful for walk-ins to huts on hot days.

  • Gore-Tex Jacket - Gore-Tex or other waterproof breathable jackets. Best to have a lightweight jacket that can be worn in the event of wet or windy weather but is packable enough to fit in your rucksack. Your insulated ski jacket will be overkill and too hot and bulky.

  • Gore-Tex Pants - Gore-Tex or other waterproof breathable trousers. Lightweight is important plus side zips for putting on over your boots and crampons. Used in cold, wet and windy weather.

  • Sun hat and warm hat – bring a wide-brimmed sun hat or baseball cap plus a warm beanie style hat.

  • Light, thin gloves – a thin pair of fleece or softshell gloves for warm weather are a must.

  • Insulated gloves - You need to have a pair of waterproof warm gloves to wear on cold days.

  • Gaiters – these are useful to wear to keep snow out of your boots.

  • Socks - 3-4 pairs of medium weight socks usually mid-calf length is good.

• Alpine Mountaineering - Boots

  There are 2 grades of boots for alpine trekking and mountaineering: B1 and B2

  • B1 boots are usually lightweight boots offering more flexibility when walking and are usually suitable only for trekking, easy glacier walking and Via Ferrata trips.

  • B2 boots are semi-rigid boots that are the best option for summer alpine mountaineering trips. There are leather and plastic/composite options. Leather boots tend to be more comfortable and breathable whereas plastic/composite boots are warmer and more waterproof.

  B2 boots are compatible with C1 and C2 crampons.

  Key features of a good alpine boot include Vibram soles, a reversed leather upper (which protect the best side of the leather from scuffing and abrasion and improves durability and water resistance) and ankle flex and a higher cut which give control, mobility and support.

  Boots can be hired in resort but to avoid discomfort we do strongly recommend that you have your own pair which needs to be well worn-in prior to your trip.

  Alpine huts supply hut slippers so that you don't need to take any other footwear apart from your boots. Boots are not allowed in the dining room or dormitories and must be left in the foyer.

• Alpine Mountaineering - Miscellaneous

  • Rucksack - A simple and lightweight pack with a capacity of between 35-45 liters is recommended. You need to have one loop for carrying an ice axe on your rucksack.

  • Lightweight sleeping bag liner – a silk or cotton sleeping bag liner is now compulsory in all mountain huts.

  • Water bottle or Thermos – a water bottle or hydration system is needed.

  • Head torch with spare batteries

  • Penknife

  • Personal first Aid Kit - Should contain:

  Plasters – of various sizes and possibly some adhesive wound dressings.

  Pain Killers – aspirin or Paracetamol/Nurofen

  Antiseptic cream or wipes

  Blister kit – compeed and elastic tape to hold it in place (essential)!

  (Note: Guides will have comprehensive first aid kits and are qualified in mountain first aid)

  • Whistle

  • Sun Glasses - minimum category 3.

  • Ski Goggles – these can be very useful if you encounter strong winds and poor weather.

  • Sunscreen and Lip Protection

  • Ear Plugs - For noisy huts!!

  • Camera

  • Hold-all bag - for gear not required on trek. Will be left at first hotel and collected on return.

  • Passport

  • Money - You will need some cash for food and drinks. There are some ATMs and most hotels, shops and restaurants will accept credit cards, but most huts still accept cash only. You should allow about 30-40 Swiss Francs or 25-35 Euros per day for lunch and drinks (amount approximate and depends on consumption).

  • Toiletries – Should contain:

  Toothbrush and paste - a mini one is ideal

  Soap

  Anti-bacterial hand cleaner

  Wet wipes – essential to try to maintain hygiene

  Tissues and toilet roll

  Small light quick dry towel e.g. a Lifeventure Soft fiber towel

  (Any other essentials you need but remember there are no shower facilities and generally no running water in the huts and you have to carry everything with you!)

  • Alpine club card - If you're a member.

  • Book, pack of cards and or Ipod/MP3 player – It’s nice to have something to read or listen to when you are in the huts or to challenge your fellow travelers to a game of card. These items are not essential but if you have space you might appreciate them.

• Alpine Mountaineering - Technical

  These items are essential for all alpine mountaineering courses

  All items can be hired from Mountain Tracks or from sport shops in the Alps.

  • Climbing helmet
  • Ice Axe - General mountaineering / alpine pick 55-70cms long depending on your height.
  • Boot crampons - with anti-balling plates.
  • Climbing Harness – adjustable leg loops are useful for easy of putting on over your boots.
  • Adjustable trekking pole(s)

• Alpine Mountaineering - Hiring

  It is possible to hire boots and the technical items needed for the Mont Blanc Climber week in Chamonix and guideline prices for 6 days hire are:

  Mountaineering boots €55
  Ice Axe €30
  Boot crampons €35
  Harness €15
  Helmet €15
  
  If you wish to hire any technical kit please contact us in advance with your requirements.

• Insurance

  It is a condition of booking that you are insured for your chosen activity and the cover must include medical expenses, personal accident, personal liability, third party risks and rescue (including helicopter rescue). You are strongly advised also to take out cover against cancellation and curtailment.

  For UK residents Ski Club Travel Insurance may be a suitable option.

  For more details and to purchase a policy online visit http://www.skiclubinsurance.co.uk/
  If you need assistance arranging your personal insurance please let us know.
   

• Travel to Chamonix

  You should arrange to arrive in Chamonix by late afternoon on the first day. 

  The most convenient airport is Geneva and from here the transfer time up to Chamonix by road is just 1 hr 15mins.  To travel between the airport and Chamonix we recommend you reserve a seat on one of the many commercial shuttle buses. Mountain Tracks can book this for you and the usual prices are from £40 per person one-way. Please supply your full flight details to us so we can make the reservation.

  Want to take the train to the resort?  No problem – it’s possible to get to Chamonix by train from the UK using the Eurostar from London St. Pancras to Paris, then the TGV to Bellegarde and a regional train to Chamonix.  The journey can be done in 1 day. However, please note to arrive in Chamonix by 5pm you should be departing Paris between 9am and 10am, there is a small selection of options ranging from 5hr to 7hrs of travel. If you need to arrive late in the evening for any of our trips please discuss with us as soon as possible. 

  The London to Paris Eurostar timetable here 

• Alpine Mountaineering - Guides

  All our mountaineering trips are run by our team of IFMGA Mountain Guides. 

• Group Size

  Maximum group size is 8 with 2 guides.

• Uplift Costs

  On our Alpine Introduction courses the cost of the uplift is included in the price of the holiday.

• Accommodation Information

  Our usual hotel in Chamonix is the Hotel Les Lanchers located in Les Praz, this is a comfortable 3* hotel with modern light and airy rooms, a great restaurant and a comfortable bar and lounge area; as well as outside seating to enjoy the sunshine and views of the mountains.  We offer accommodation on a twin share basis in their standard rooms, all with en-suite showers.  Their restaurant "Rendezvous" serves local and international cuisine and offers a set menu during the summer months.

  Their chef can cater for any dietary requirements our guests may have.  They serve a hearty breakfast and offer packed lunches for guests to purchase for their climbing days.  You can view more details on the hotel here http://www.hotel-lanchers-chamonix.com/en/home 

  2 nights are spent in high mountain huts which have dormitory style accommodation with rooms ranging from 4 to 20 beds.  All accommodation is mixed sex sharing and washing facilities are usually limited, some huts have some cold running water but typically its basic living.  Toilets are septic tank type (non-flushing) in general and again mixed sex. 

• Alpine Climate

  The Alps generally have a very pleasant climate throughout the spring, summer and autumn with warm days and cool nights, with daytime temperatures in the valley around 25 - 30°C. At high altitude the temperature often goes down below -10 and can feel even colder with wind chill.