To make the most of your climbing experience we encourage you to work on your fitness prior to the trip. For general mountain fitness you will find that training on hills with a 10kg + pack on is the best preparation for the mountains, with the aim of building your endurance. Ice climbing does require an amount of upper body fitness so time at the rock gym will help get you honed for the ice. Your guide will be attuned to your fitness levels and will select appropriate routes for your ability. See our Fitness Training Programs for information on how we can help you prepare for your trip.
Our Chamonix base for winter ice climbing spoils us with a variety of incredible ice climbing venues.
The duration is designed to enable you to develop good basic skills from which to launch your ice climbing obsession, should you so wish! We take you to climb some of the best ice in France and Italy where you can elect to climb anything from short one-pitch routes through to multi-pitch adventures.
The Chamonix Ice Courses are ideal for climbers who want to progress their ice climbing and enjoy the variety of routes on offer. We start off in Chamonix then travel through to Italy’s ice mecca, Cogne, for its abundance of ice climbing opportunities. This certainly is the most civilised way to climb some incredible routes.
Based from local hotels with short hikes to the start of the routes each day, you have the option to climb the plumb lines in several of the best regions or stick to one region and climb as many routes as possible in your timeframe.
You can come with a friend for 1:2 climbing with a guide, or by yourself for 1:1 climbing and decide whether to utilise the time for learning and developing your skills or you may simply want to get some routes under your belt. You’ll be surprised at how well you progress.
- Hotel based ice climbing
- The fast track to improving your ice climbing skills
- Learn from and be guided by the professionals
Climbing Ability
Climbing Ability
Any
Elevation
Elevation
1,534m/5,033ft
Duration
Duration
5 days
Location
Location
Italy
CICW CURRICULUM
DAY 0
| Arrive into Chamonix. Hotel night |
DAY 1
| The team meets at 8:00am at the hotel for a briefing. Your guide will go over the activities for the week and answer any last minute questions. After organising any gear you need to hire, we drive drive through the Mont Blanc Tunnel to Italy to the Cogne Valley. We will find one of the many venues in the region to practice ice climbing techniques and get warmed up for the week. Overnight in Cogne Hotel |
DAY 2
Although there are some very hard mixed climbs in the region such as the' X Files’; one of the first M10s climbed in 1997 by the eccentric Stevie Haston, there is also an abundance of climbs ranging from the easy training routes through to the desperates! Perhaps today you may attempt Lillaz Gully, a 200m Grade 4. Overnight in Cogne Hotel
DAY 3
Walk half an hour to attempt one of the many routes close to the hotel. There are several routes that are longer but of an easier grade, which help you to consolidate your skills without straining the body too much. Overnight in Cogne Hotel
DAY 4
Perhaps today you may tackle a route such as Patri Classica, a divine 4 pitch route that flows up a series of walls culminating in a stunning last pitch. The trail to the base follows the Valnontey Valley for just over an hour to the base, so you are well warmed up when you arrive. Overnight in Cogne Hotel
DAY 5
Today you will enjoy our last climbs in Cogne Valley before driving back to Chamonix late in the afternoon. Perhaps you will be leading something you have had your eye on to finish the week off on! Perhaps you may decide to climb Cold Couloir, one of the most famous long routes (400m, Grade 4+). Finally it is time to pack up the kit and return to Chamonix. Chamonix hotel night and time to celebrate a great week on the ice
DAY 6
Breakfast and a chance to exchange photos, before departing for home
NOTE
The programme may be subject to change if conditions are more suitable in another region or factors such as weather to lift service precludes access into this region. If this option was to incur additional costs your guide will discuss the options with you prior to any commitment being made
Departures and Pricing
Note: Dates are subject to change due to many factors out of our control
| Start/End | Departing from | Quantity | Pricing | Notes | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Dec - 4 Jan 2025 | Chamonix, France | 1:1 guide to climber ratio | €4,610 EUR $ | Book Now | |
| 29 Dec - 4 Jan 2025 | Chamonix, France | 1:2 guide to climber ratio | €2,520 EUR $ | Book Now | |
| 5 Jan - 11 Jan 2025 | Chamonix, France | 1:1 guide to climber ratio | €4,610 EUR $ | Book Now | |
| 5 Jan - 11 Jan 2025 | Chamonix, France | 1:2 guide to climber ratio | €2,520 EUR $ | Book Now | |
| 12 Jan - 18 Jan 2025 | Chamonix, France | 1:1 guide to climber ratio | €4,610 EUR $ | Book Now | |
| 12 Jan - 18 Jan 2025 | Chamonix, France | 1:2 guide to climber ratio | €2,520 EUR $ | Book Now | |
| 19 Jan - 25 Jan 2025 | Chamonix, France | 1:1 guide to climber ratio | €4,610 EUR $ | Book Now | |
| 19 Jan - 25 Jan 2025 | Chamonix, France | 1:2 guide to climber ratio | €2,520 EUR $ | Book Now | |
| 26 Jan - 1 Feb 2025 | Chamonix, France | 1:1 guide to climber ratio | €4,610 EUR $ | Book Now | |
| 26 Jan - 1 Feb 2025 | Chamonix, France | 1:2 guide to climber ratio | €2,520 EUR $ | Book Now | |
| 2 Feb - 8 Feb 2025 | Chamonix, France | 1:1 guide to climber ratio | €4,610 EUR $ | Book Now | |
| 2 Feb - 8 Feb 2025 | Chamonix, France | 1:2 guide to climber ratio | €2,520 EUR $ | Book Now | |
| 9 Feb - 15 Feb 2025 | Chamonix, France | 1:1 guide to climber ratio | €4,610 EUR $ | Book Now | |
| 9 Feb - 15 Feb 2025 | Chamonix, France | 1:2 guide to climber ratio | €2,520 EUR $ | Book Now | |
| 16 Feb - 22 Feb 2025 | Chamonix, France | 1:1 guide to climber ratio | €4,620 EUR $ | Book Now | |
| 16 Feb - 22 Feb 2025 | Chamonix, France | 1:2 guide to climber ratio | €2,520 EUR $ | Book Now |
Prefer a shorter trip? Book our Cogne Ice Climbing Weekend
PREPARE
Fitness
Technical Experience
The 5 day course is designed for people who are new to ice climbing and always wanted to give it a try. The duration of the course is designed to enable you to develop good basic skills from which to launch your ice climbing obsession, should you so wish!
Why Adventure Consultants?
We offer focused guide attention to ensure consistency across the program. Whilst other operators combine you with large groups on training days we know your safety will be better protected and the learning progressions will be enhanced with the attentive care of your guide and smaller guide to climber ratios.
Adventure Consultants guides are BMG/NZMGA and / or IFMGA-UIAGM qualified mountain guides. They are professional mountaineers and operate to the highest industry standards. Being a technically proficient climber alone is not enough to work with us; our standards demand that trip leaders are great guides as well. You will find your guide friendly, approachable and focused on providing a safe and enjoyable trip in line with your objectives and comfort level.
Success with the highest margin of care is always a hallmark of our approach; promoting the realisation that even extreme pursuits such as high altitude mountaineering can be undertaken safely.
Adventure Consultants only employs IFMGA qualified guides for European ascents and courses and this is the only certification that is recognised in the French Alps. In order to gain these qualifications guides must undergo rigorous training and assessment on climbing skills, instructional skills, avalanche training and assessment, wilderness first aid, rescue training and much more. The qualification takes many years to attain and ensures you are getting a world class professional service.
Inclusions
The price of your trip includes the following:
- Qualified mountain guide
- Group technical equipment
- Hotel accommodation on a B&B basis in Chamonix and on a half board basis in Cogne
- Local ground transport as per the scheduled itinerary
- Breakfasts during the course
- Evening meals during hotel nights in Cogne.
Our Guides
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