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Alpine Technical Rock 2024
Week of Chamonix rock routes in the Mont Blanc massif
Course overview
How many times have you travelled to a UK rock climb to find three pitches of wet, slimy, or loose rock with dodgy protection? This course will show you the best and most exciting rock climbing in the Chamonix region, climbing on amazing red granite.
To experience the best routes you should be capable of seconding a UK Hard Very Severe (HVS) or US Grade 5.10 on rock. All of these classic routes are around the Alpine D+ grade meaning exposure and excitement!

Examples of some routes are: Frisson Roche (D), Papillons Arete (D), Dent du Geant (AD), Chapelle de la Gliere (AD+), Charmoz or Grepon (D), La Floria (AD+), L'Index (D), or the Rebuffat route on Aiguille du Midi (D).

By using the many cable cars in Chamonix you will have access to these fantastic routes and minimise your length of time spent travelling or walking into the routes. If you have climbed in Chamonix before, there are over 4000 routes so you are guaranteed not to repeat anything.
Whatever your previous rock experience, the aim of this course is also to teach you more skills and style points useful in your own climbing, developing your balance, grades and techniques on different altitude rock routes.
Note that some of the higher rock routes, may require the use of ice axe and crampons to access them, such as the Rebuffat route on the Midi, or many of the climbs above the Envers des Aiguilles hut.
This course can be used as progression from the Technical Ice & Classics course, as it is focused on rock rather than ice & snow, and is less demanding of stamina than the Saas Classics course.
Dates: these are listed in the column on the right, and they show the live availability from our secure online booking system. When you book online, you receive immediate confirmation, your Alpine Information Booklet, course specific kit list and invoice.


Brief Course Itinerary
Sun Travel to Chamonix to arrive for the 17:00 check-in followed by and course safety and itinerary briefings. There is time for kit checks or rental of equipment. Briefings are over by 19:00 and the Chamonix hosts accompany the group to pre-dinner drinks to answer any queries. Night in Chamonix.
Mon Climbing on the sunny side of the valley: the Aiguilles Rouges. Popular routes include the Chapelle de la Gliere with its knife edge traverse or the L'Index. Guiding ratio 1:2 (max). Night in Chamonix.
Tue Exposed altitude climbing in the higher Aiguilles du Chamonix, on routes such as the NNE Arete of the Aiguille de l'M, Petite Charmoz or the Arete des Papillons. Guiding ratio 1:2 (max). Night in Chamonix.
Wed Rock climbing at high altitude, usually involving slabs and cracks with great views. Example routes are Dalles des Envers or the Frisson Roche on Brevent. Guiding ratio 1:2 (max). Night in Chamonix.
Thu

A technical day route, e.g. Aiguillette d'Argentiere or a shorter route followed by a night in a mountain hut, e.g. Pyramid du Tacul. Guiding ratio 1:2 (max). Night in mountain hut or Chamonix.

Fri A day on the fantastic granite that Chamonix is famous for, such as the south pillar of Aiguille du Midi, or the Dent du Geant (if you stayed in a hut last night). Guiding ratio 1:2 (max). Night in Chamonix.
Sat Breakfast then the accommodation check out is by 10:00. Most arrange their airport transfers to leave around this time, to catch a flight from Geneva about midday. 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.

Climbing on the Envers des Aiguilles slabs
Course Prices
Standard course
5 days guiding, 7 days holiday in total £1399
Live availability
Click on the planner logo to the right to
see the real time live course availability
Latest Availability
Secure online booking system
Standard Course Inclusions: 1) IFMGA Mountain Guide for five days, 2) Chamonix course hosts for logistics & briefings, 3) Self-catered accommodation in Chamonix (inc. beddings & towels), 4) Pre course information booklet, 5) Equipment discount voucher for UK shops, 6) Free 36 page technical Course Instruction Booklet, 7) Road transport in Chamonix valley, 8) Evening technical instruction on nights in Chamonix.
Exclusions: 1) Travel to and from Chamonix, 2) Equipment hire, 3) Personal laundry, telephone calls, lunches, evening meals in valley, & any purchases in mountain huts / hotels / restaurants, 4) Cable cars and uplift for you and your guide (many guides have Chamonix cable car pass), 5) Transport / tunnel ticket outside the Chamonix valley, 6) Costs of any optional nights in mountain huts on half board basis for you and your guide, 7) Sunday pre-dinner drinks & Friday celebratory meal & drinks, 8) Activities insurance, & excess baggage charges.
Course upgrade options
Many clients on this trip consider upgrading with one or more of the following course additions...
 
Private
room
Big 5 Alpine
extensions
Technical
kit rental
Acclimatise
weekend
  Upgrade to single from
£300-£500 in addition to
standard course price,
depending on week.
Extend by 2 days after
to ascend one of the
Big 5 Alpine peaks as
an extra summit.
Rent all technical kit
for a week. Full Alpine
Bundle costs you just
£100 for the week.
Saturday night spent in
Chamonix, with choice
of self-guided or guided
on Sunday. From £70.
  Click for details Click for details Click for details Click for details
 
Standard course accommodation - normally clients are based in self-catered flats (details), so take a look, and decide if it's for you. For more luxury, contact us for quotes in higher standard apartments, or hotels of any standard required. If you have / source your own course accommodation, or we cannot provide an upgrade, the standard course price has a £100pp reduction applied on your invoice.
Climbing in the Aiguilles Rouges above Chamonix Mont Blanc
Current course availability

Course Dates
Alpine Tech Rock
  • [ 2 ] 30 Jun - 6 Jul 2024
  • [ 2 ] 28 Jul - 3 Aug 2024
  • [ 2 ] 1 - 7 Sep 2024
NOTE: This trip has scheduled
dates, but if there are two who
are booking together, it can be
operated on any date you wish
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Price: £1399 Book online

Alternative courses
Monte Rosa 4000m peaks
Techical Ice & Classics

Alps Autonomy Techniques
Winter Mount Toubkal

Client feedback


My fingers and hands look like I had a bad time, but I'm still buzzing from the amazing fun I had each day and the beautiful rock routes we climbed

Lou D , Alpine Technical Rock


Great choice of routes each day, but my highlight was the Rebuffat on the Aiguille du Midi - superb week

Nina R , Alpine Technical Rock


Awesome... Challenging... Scary... And I got a fantastic tan! See you all again for more next year

Alan T , Alpine Technical Rock

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Location data for this trip
The trips are based in the Chamonix valley in the French Alps, at the foot of Mont Blanc. It is easily accessed via a 90 minute transfer from Geneva airport.
Time Difference
GMT +1hr
Local Currency
€ Euros
Travel from UK
1hr flight
Pro top tips - geeks corner!
Suggested reading and kit
View full course equipment list, with examples of kit, click here
Why choose our trips?
See our Alpine blog, by clicking on the Word-press logo to the right.
Icicle Blog
Itinerary flexibility to allow you to take full advantage of the weather windows on any day, to maximise your summit chances.
Our prices are fixed in £ Sterling, to protect you from euro fluctuations, so you can budget accurately.
There is a choice of routes to opt for, depending on the weather, conditions, and your experience.
Any further questions?
A key part of choosing a company is being able to come and talk about your plans with an experienced course advisor face to face. In an increasingly virtual world, we know our clients value speaking to real people, getting open and honest advice. The vast majority of our clients are British, and our office and outdoor store is based in Windermere in the English Lake District.



Get in contact to arrange a meeting, and come in for a coffee to discuss your course in person with a trip advisor.


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