This is a good Course for the fit mountain walker/scrambler who wants to develop the skills to travel beyond the British mountains. You will be given instruction by our professional guides on the use of crampons and ice axe, glacial movement and crevasse rescue, rope work and the use of Alpine mountain huts. You will tackle a number of stunning Alpine summits such as the Tête Blanche (3429m), Aiguille du Crochues, Aiguille du Tour (3554m),
Mont Blanc Extension
This 4 day extension to the highest peak in Western Europe may be added on to any of our Alpine Introductory or Swiss 4000m courses. These previous courses are essential to gain the acclimatisation required to climb Mt Blanc. To add this extension go to the Dates and Prices Tab and select the extension.
Previous Experience & Fitness
You should have a good level of fitness as Alpine Mountaineering can be very tiring. Normally we would expect you to be able to enjoy consecutive 7-8 hours days in the British mountains with a medium pack. You should also have previous experience with crampons and ice axe and a basic understanding of glacial travel and crevasse rescue. Our Alpine Intro courses provide sufficient training to meet this prerequisite. Please note this is a suggested itinerary and the actual programme may change as a result of weather, conditions on the mountain, availability of mountain huts and individual levels of fitness. If due to any of these reasons a summit attempt is not possible then we usually switch are attentions to the Gran Paradiso or another similar objective. If any extra costs for accommodation, transport or food are incurred beyond the suggested itinerary then you will need to pay these directly.
Saturday: Arrive in Chamonix and check into your hotel. Evening meeting with your Guide. (H, B)
Sunday: Go up to Cosmiques (3613m) or Goutier Hut using a variety of cable cars and trains
Monday: Ascent of Mont Blanc (4810m) and return to the hut or valley hotel
Tuesday: Reserve summit day or Cosmiques Arête etc
Wednesday: Breakfast and departure
David – :
Excellent course despite less than perfect weather conditions. The guide was fantastic.
Alan – :
The guides love of the mountains was obvious, he was an easy to like persona, and his ability to communicate when it is necessary to concentrate one hundred percent was superb.
I tackled things that I thought would be beyond me, because of the confidence he installed in me. My expectation changed during the course, my skills improved and I felt I would be able to summit, however fresh snow increased the risk of an avalanch. Nico spent many minutes explaining the decision not to attempt Summit, which we accepted.
I am less than 1% disappointed, I have had a fantastic experience that I will never forget. After all Mont Blanc will be still there next year, and the year after that for that matter.
John – :
I found the course very good. Chris, who replaced Robin was an excellent instructor. He is very knowledgeable but most importantly explained why he trained the way he did. Chris was very supportive, but also challenged us to learnt, succeed and grow.
The safety and risk assessment was always exceptional. I never felt unsafe even when doing new activities that required my trust in Chris and the equipment.
The training give me a good foundation, it also pushed me outside my comfort sphere which was easy to do working with Chris. The training exceeded my expectations and expanded my boundaries.
Hannah – :
The course exceeded my expectations, the technical aspects were enjoyed much more than anticipated.
The guide tailored the itinerary to all participants requirements. I am encouraged to proceed with my plan for further trips.
Gill – :
The course was well run by your guide who is very friendly and enthusiastic. It wasn’t made clear that there would be as much rock climbing as there was but I really enjoyed that part of the course. The Monte Rosa range was a good substitute for Mont Blanc.