Chamonix Introductory Mountaineering Course
- Learn to climb properly and safely
- Introduction Course based from Chamonix
This is a purpose-built course specifically for those who are new to mountaineering. It is operated in a format that gives easy-to-understand progressions through the techniques required to get you climbing your first mountains. The Chamonix Introductory Mountaineering Course will provide you with the appropriate foundation skills for your future mountaineering.
It doesn’t matter that you may not have climbed before, by the end of the week you would have climbed mountains over 3500m, climbed steep rock and ice faces and have a whole raft of incredible new skills and experiences to share!
The higher ratio of participants to guides (1:4) means you get to meet other like- minded people who also have a strong desire to gain skills. You have the benefit of sharing new experiences with your course mates and you will relish the newfound technical skills that give you the confidence to travel safely through mountain terrain.
You will be instructed by some of the best guides in the business who will ensure your safety and allow you to work within your comfort levels as you develop your abilities. Even though you will be learning so many new skills you will be surprised at how capable you become over the duration of the course - and how many mountains you may now embark upon towards a developing climbing resume!
Dates:
CIMC 1: June 16 - 22, 2013
CIMC 2: July 14 - 20, 2013
CIMC 3: August, 11 - 17, 2013
Departure: ex Chamonix, France
Duration: 7 days - 2 travel days, 5 days instruction
Ratio : 1 guide to 4 climbers, minimum 3 participants
Price: EUR1,650 per person
Please note: If you get together as a group of 4, you can book a Chamonix Introductory Mountaineering Course for your group at the advertised price on dates that best suit you. Please contact us for pricing for smaller or larger groups. Courses for groups can be run on your preferred dates during the summer climbing season (June to September) depending on guide availability.
You can view the course notes for the Chamonix Introductory Mountaineering Course, with more information on gear, local conditions, booking and cancellation conditions and more online or download a pdf using the below links:
 | Chamonix Introductory Mountaineering Course Notes 2013 Adobe Acrobat Document: 663 KB, 97 seconds @ 56kbps |
Course Programme
Day 1. 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 last minute kit hire, we take the funicular to Montenevers, where we descend the exposed ladders to the Mer de Glace. There we will work on our crampon technique and try some steep ice climbing, practice placing ice screws and abalakovs and look at the principles of crevasse rescue. This is also a good time and place to sort out minor problems with equipment or technique before venturing into the larger mountain setting.
We descend to the valley for a short debrief and perhaps a slide presentation by the guide followed by dinner in town. Hotel night.
Day 3. Tuesday
We drive round to Champex in Switzerland (1 hr) on the west edge of the Mont Blanc Massif, where we take the short Breya lift and trek up to the Orny Hut, stopping for lunch en route. This is a pretty walk, passing from high alpine scenery to the rugged granite peaks. Behind the hut are short rock climbs where we will work on climbing technique and rope work before turning in for a typical Swiss mountain hut dinner. Hut night.
Day 4. Wednesday
After an early breakfast we climb up the Orny Glacier to the Col des Pline and ascending the simple peak Le Portalet (good in early season) by it's West Flank (F+) or Northwest Ridge (PD), which will provide a chance to put into practice your new skills in the big world. Le Portalet is a magnificent view point. Returning via the Col des Plines we cross the Col d'Orny to the Trient hut. A classic high mountain hut run by the friendly mountain guide Thierry Amaudruz. Hut night.
Day 5. Thursday
Making an Alpine start again, the team will cross the Plateau du Trient, practicing correct glacier rope work all the way, to the justly popular Aiguille du Tour (3529m, magnificent panorama) which we climb by the East Face (F+) before returning to the Trient hut for a snow craft session including self arrest and crevasse rescue practice. Hut night.
Day 6. Friday
Another Alpine start and traverse of the Trient Plateau to the Tete Blanche which we climb via the snow-ice slope of the Col Blanche (often corniced). From here we navigate our way back down the Orny Glacier and Champex before returning to Chamonix for a much needed shower and a well deserved beer and a debriefing from your guide. Hotel night.
Day 7. Departure day. Saturday
Breakfast, a chance to exchange photographs and departure.
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
• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner during mountain component of 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.
