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Acclimatisation
Weekends 2010
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Course
overview
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This
is a course over two days that can either be done
in its own right as a weekend, or before a course
to enhance acclimatisation. It is perfect for those
booked on the one week Mont Blanc Summits or Matterhorn
courses, or for anyone concerned about getting enough
acclimatisation during their week.
We
run these Acclimatisation Weekends both in SUMMER
(early June to late September), and also in the
WINTER (early December to early May), on every week
of the season before a scheduled course.
Whilst
the key focus is on getting you acclimatised, we
also want to teach you about the area, so you will
be guided by a qualified UIMLA guide (IML) with
a vast local knowledge.
It
made all the difference to me for coping
with the altitude on Mont Blanc, and gave
me seven days guiding! Stephen
H , Acclimatisation 2009
Can
I just take this opportunity to say thank
you so much for the weekend guiding. I got
my bearings, learnt about the region, and
gave me strong hill legs for the rest of
the week. Thanks. John
H-A , Acclimatisation
2009
SUMMER:
Arrive on Saturday morning, and then trek up to a mountain
hut for the night. The next morning you set off to reach
a high summit or pass whose altitude is around 2500 -
3000 metres. You reach Chamonix by 17:00, and can get
straight into your accommodation to freshen up for the
18:00 main course briefing.
WINTER:
Arrive on the Saturday morning, and do an afternoon acclimatisation
trek to around 2000m, then descend to Chamonix for the
night. The next morning you set off to reach a high summit
or pass whose altitude is around 2500 metres. You return
to Chamonix by 17:00, then freshen up for the 18:00 course
briefing.
The
weekend will also test and develop your balance and ability
to move quickly and efficiently over broken mountain terrain,
which is as useful for an Introduction course, as it is
a Matterhorn course.
Dates:
this course is run every Saturday and Sunday from the
start of June to the end of September. For those attempting
one of the big Alpine peaks (such as Mont Blanc, Eiger
or Matterhorn) we cannot recommend the importance of this
acclimatisation weekend. For current availability on this
course please e-mail us.
The
course at a glance...
•
Weekend course, run during summer and winter. £99pp,
plus budget for hut / meals.
•
The focus of the weekend is to improve your acclimatisation
for the weeklong courses.
•
Top tip... extend to a week of trekking before a course:
Chamonix
trekking is only
£499.
Your
guarantee of the highest standards
On this course you are led by
a UIMLA guide. This is the highest qualification, and
a legal requirement, for leading trekking and snowshoeing
groups in the Alps. It takes several years to train
to become an International Mountain Leader, and during
any trek they view your comfort, enjoyment, education
and safety, all as of equal importantance.
You will learn about the environment, flora, fauna,
glaciology and geology of the region. The leader will
have a vast local knowledge, and have lived and worked
in the Alps for years.
Why
is acclimatisation so important?
Just
the fact that you are reading this page is an
indication that you are already aware that acclimatisation
is essential in the mountains. It takes an average
person about 10 days to get 80% acclimatised,
and five weeks to increase this to 95%. In other
words you will never be fully acclimatised for
a week long Alpine course, but every day building
up your acclimatisation counts. This weekend enables
you ascend to around 3000m, which is almost three
times the altitude of the highest point in the
UK, and to develop stimulation of the red blood
cell production (the blood cells that carry oxygen
around your body). We abide by the rule of climb
high and sleep (relatively) low, but don't expect
to get a great nights sleep at your first night
at altitude. Some people even notice that they
sleep lightly the first night they are in Chamonix,
which is the same height as Snowdon. By gaining
height slowly and carefully you are maximising
your chances of acclimatising further during your
stay in the Alps, to make a safe and realistic
attempt on one of the larger summits.
Top
tips for the acclimatisation weekends
1) Take your normal well worn
in
waterproof walking boots, to avoid getting any blisters.
2) A silk sleeping bag liner can be carried for use
in huts (summer), for comfort & hygiene.
3) Please take trekking poles to give you better balance,
and to look after your knees.
4) Don't carry too much extra in your rucksack, as it
will fatigue you and slow you down.
5) Ensure you take some earplugs, so you are guaranteed
to sleep at night in the hut.
6) Carry some zinc oxide tape and Compeed to pad your
feet in case of hot spots.
Summer
Course Photos & Films
Here
are collections of photos from ascents of Mont Buet
3099m, via Vallon Berard and Moede Anterne valleys.
The focus is on altitude trekking with the ascent
of a high trekking peak in the region.
Winter
Course Photos & Films
Here
are collections of photos from ascents of various
snowshoeing summits in the Mont Blanc massif. The
focus is on altitude snowshoeing so as to be accessible
to skiers and non-skiers too.
Summer
Weekend Course Itinerary
We
try to vary the destination of our acclimatisation
weekends each week, but below are a couple of ideas.
ITINERARY
1: Set of at midday and catch the cable car to Brevent,
then descend the steep track to Pont Arleve and
ascend to reach the Refuge d'Anterne nestled under
the cliffs of the Fiz massif. The next day set off
early to ascend to the Col du Salenton, and reach
the summit of Mont Buet. Descend by the Berard route
to Le Buet and catch the train back to Chamonix.
ITINERARY
2: Set off at midday and catch the train up the
Chamonix valley towards the Swiss border. Ascend
to the Pierre à Berard hut for the night.
The next day you set off early to ascend past Col
de Salenton to reach the summit of Mont Buet, then
return by the same route to the hut, where you can
collect any gear you left behind, then you get the
train to Chamonix.
Winter
Weekend Course Itinerary
We
try to vary the destination of our acclimatisation
weekends each week, but below are a couple of ideas.
ITINERARY
1:
