- Further your skills to become a better climber
- Our intermediate course
- Make a series of ascents on this course based from Chamonix
The intention of this exciting course is to set you up with the appropriate skills and techniques that will enable you to progress towards leading your own ascents of alpine peaks. At the completion of this course, participants will be able to embark onto peaks with some technical sections that require the use of a rope and protection on snow and ice and rock. You will develop sound glacier travel techniques and sufficient decision making skills to tackle easy to moderate peaks with an equally qualified partner. This course also delivers the skills that will enable you to confidently partake in guided ascents such as Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn.
On our Chamonix Alpine Climbing Course you will remain in small groups to ensure continuity in your skill development and you will learn whilst actually climbing mountains as you go. You can be assured of receiving careful and supportive guidance through the techniques by your guide who is there to ensure your safety and enjoyment along the climbing pathway.
Dates: Summer 2013
CACC 1: June 23 - 29
CACC 2: July 21 - 27
CACC 3: August 18 - 24
Price: EUR1,490.00 per person
Departure: ex Chamonix, France
Duration: 7 days overall with 2 travel days and 5 days instruction
Ratio : 1 guide to 3 climbers, minimum 2 participants
Please click here to view the Chamonix Alpine Climbing Course notes online or download a pdf:
 | Chamonix Alpine Climbing Course Notes 2013 Adobe Acrobat Document: 661 KB, 97 seconds @ 56kbps |
Course Programme
Day 1. Arrival day - Sunday
The team meets at 6:30pm in our hotel for a briefing. Your guide will go over the activities for the week and answer last minute questions before dinner. Hotel night.
Day 2. Monday
After organising any remaining kit hire, we take the funicular to Montenevers, where we descend the exposed ladders to Mer de Glace where we can revise our crampon technique and practice steep ice climbing, building safe anchors and covering the principles of crevasse rescue. Today we sort out minor problems with equipment or technique before venturing out.
We descend to the valley for a short debrief and if there is time, a slide presentation by the guide followed by dinner in town. Hotel night.
Day 3. Tuesday
After breakfast we drive to les Contamines, the starting point for the trek in to the remote Conscrits hut, stopping at the Refuge de la Trelatet en route, and finishing up the Glacier de Trelatete. This is an interesting trek, passing from forests through an ancient glacial gorge, to the retreating snout of the glacier, and up to the modern hut, one of the finest in the alps. Hut night.
Day 4. Wednesday
After an early breakfast we cross the Trelatet Glacier and climb the Northern slopes of the Glacier du Mont Tondu to the Pain du Sucre and traverse the exposed ridge to Mont Tondu (3196m, PD-) returning by the same route to the hut. Hut night.
Day 5. Thursday
Making an Alpine start again, we have a long and scenic journey up the Glacier de Trelatete to Col des Domes. Our objectives today are the two summits either side of the col. The Domes 3633m and 3673m (PD). which involve classic Alpine snow-ice ridges. We return to the hut in time to work on skills before supper. Hut night.
Day 6. Friday
Today we make an early start for the traverse of the Aiguille de la Beranger 3425m (PD) which we will traverse to the Armancette Glacier, followed by descent to les Contamines, and back to Chamonix. Hotel night.
Day 7: Saturday
Breakfast, a chance to exchange photographs and departure
Please note: itinerary may change if conditions are more suitable in another region or factors such as weather to lift service precludes access into this region.
Course Cost includes:
• Guide
• Lifts
• Mountain huts
• 3 nights hotel B&B on twin share basis including first night and last night of course
• Transport during course dates as per schedule
• Ropes and group technical equipment
• B,L,D during mountain component of course
Course Cost does not include:
• Any lifts, huts, hotel B&B, transport costs that are additional to the program due to changes to program due to weather or organisational changes. Any changes will generally be due to weather/lift failure (etc) and actioned after you have been consulted by your guide.
• Personal equipment and clothing
• Evening meals during hotel nights in Chamonix
• Extra additional meals or snacks/drinks purchased from huts/hotel
• Insurance
• Transport to and from Chamonix (although we can arrange it for you)
• Gratuity
Extras: Add on a 3 day ascent of Mont Blanc after the course to make the most of your acclimatisation and newly acquired skills.
