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| Intro
4000m 'Summits & Skills' 2008 | |
| | | | | |  | PHOTO:
View from the summit of Gran Paradiso 4061m at groups ascending the upper slopes. |
| |
| FEEDBACK:
"I
must admit that I was a bit scared about my first trip to the Alps, but the
Icicle hosts
and Guides really looked after us, and we were supported loads,
especially during our ascent
of our first 4000m Alpine peak" Lara
A, Glossop, 2006 | |
|
| Course
Overview |
 | You
need no previous experience of climbing or mountaineering. This course is suitable
for keen hill walkers, indoor wall climbers, or ramblers, to introduce you to
the key technical aspects necessary for mountaineering. |
| The
Introduction course focuses on the skills that you will require on Alpine rock,
ice and snow; including ropework, glacier travel, navigation,
crampon & ice axe use, avalanche prediction, and equipment selection. |
| Even
if you have had no previous contact with ropes, or any experience of ice or rock
climbing, by the end of the week you will have climbed vertical pitches of ice,
led a rock route and climbed an Alpine 4000m mountain. |
| A
principal feature of this course are the evening theory sessions, where you learn
the background theory, so that the daylight hours are optimised for your climbing
time. | | You
will also stay in a mountain hut and and
should gain your National Navigation Award Scheme (NNAS, www.nnas.org.uk) Bronze
or Silver level award through learning advanced use of the map and compass, as
well as altimeters and GPS. | |
|
Dates: 15-21 June 2008, 29 June - 5 July 2008, 13-19 July 2008, 20-26 July 2008,
3-9 August 2008, 17-23 August 2008, 31 August - 6 Sept 2008, 14-20 Sept 2008.
For current availability on this course click
here. | |  |  |  |  |  | | | |  | | The
course at a glance... | | | •
Week long course, run during summer. Price £749pp, includes accommodation.
| | | •
The focus of the week is to introduce you to rock, ice and snow climbing in the
Alps. | | | •
Top tip... consider this course if you want to learn and have no climbing experience. | | | •
You could also consider week long... Alpine
Autonomy
or
Mont
Blanc Summit. | |  | | | | |  |
|
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Course
Photo Gallery
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Brief Course Itinerary |
| Sun | Travel
to Chamonix to arrive for the 18:00 check-in followed by and course safety and
itinerary briefings. There is time for kit checks or rental of equipment. Briefings
are over by 20:00 and the Chamonix hosts accompany the group to dinner. Night
in Chamonix. |
| Mon | Alpine
skills, navigation, route planning and snow techniques day.
Climb an Alpine summit via a steep ridge,
practice hazard awareness, use of
GPS and altimeters.
Guiding ratio 1:6 (max). Night in Chamonix. |
| Tue | Day
to learn using crampons and ice axes on the Mer de Glace glacier (2000m). You
also climb vertical ice, create ice anchors, and learn glacier travel skills.
Guiding ratio 1:6 (max). Night in Chamonix. |
| Wed | A
day of glacier travel skills, practicing building snow anchors, crevasse rescue,
and probing for crevasses, spent on a journey across the massive Argentiere glacier
basin. Guiding ratio 1:6 (max). Night in Chamonix. |
| Thu | A
morning of rock climbing skills, to learn / practice belaying safely and how to
lead / set up safe anchors on rock climbs.
After lunch you go to the hut for Paradiso. Guiding
ratio 1:3 (max). Night in mountain hut. |
| Fri | Summit
Gran Paradiso 4061m from an Alpine start from the high hut, then descend and return
drive to Chamonix. Celebrations
in Chamonix in the evening. Guiding ratio 1:3 (max). Night in Chamonix. |
| Sat | Breakfast,
then course debrief, with feedback and questions and answers session.
Depart for home. | |
| ITINERARY
NOTES: Where possible we follow itineraries. Mountain adventures are weather and
conditions dependant, so occasionaly we are forced to alter the plans. If this
is the case, suitable alternatives are offered. Please use this outline itinerary
as a guide to the types of route / activity that you will attempt. |
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Course
Photo Gallery
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Course Prices
| | | | Standard
course | £749 | Book
online | | Inclusions:
1) IFMGA Mountain Guide or UIMLA Leader for five days, 2) Chamonix course hosts
for logistics & briefings, 3) Pre course information booklet, 4) Equipment
discount voucher for UK shops, 5) Six nights B&B accommodation in Chamonix
(inc. bedding & towels), 6) Free 36 page technical Course Instruction Booklet,
7) Road transport in Chamonix valley including tunnel ticket and road transport
to / from Gran Paradiso, 8) Cable cars & uplift as specified in detailed itinerary
(Monday to Friday), 9) Up to one night in a mountain hut (half board), 10) Chamonix
office support and free Wi-Fi internet access. | | Exclusions:
1) Travel to and from Chamonix, 2) Equipment hire, 3) Personal laundry, telephone
calls, lunches, evening meals, & any purchases in mountain huts / hotels /
restaurants, 4) Certificate for NNAS navigation award (c.£3), 5) Activities
insurance, & excess baggage charges. | | | | Upgrade
options | | | Acclimatisation
Weekend £99 | To
get the most out your course, acclimatisation is essential so that you minimise
the chances of AMS later on during your course,
details. | | Full
Board upgrade £99 | This
is to upgrade so that all your meals (breakfast, packed lunch, and evening meal)
are included from Sunday evening through to Saturday morning. |
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