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UK
+44 845 058 98 78
FRA +33 67 55 621 55
inspirational mountain
adventures |
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welcome
to www.chamonixzermatt.com
Have
you ever dreamed of walking or ski touring the Classic
Haute Route from Chamonix to Zermatt?
All
our trips are led by IFMGA Guides on skis in Winter,
& UIMLA Leaders for trekking the route in Summer.
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The
Haute Route route between the two historic mountain
centres of Chamonix and Zermatt stretches for
114 miles and there is between 13,000m to 14,000m
of ascent and descent taking you through some
of the most famous landscapes in the Alps. Throughout
the week you are surrounded by stunning 4000m
peaks, and the ski tour or trek provides a challenge
that many people repeat several times during their
lives. It will appeal to those wishing to escape
the hustle of the Alpine valleys.
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SKI:
Haute Route to Zermatt
2010
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Photo
of arriving at the amazingly positioned Bertol
hut after the ascent from Arolla
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As
this tour is continuous, it is quite physically
demanding and requires a good level of fitness.
Good stamina will make the route easier and
more enjoyable as it involves five days of
skiing at altitude with a pack. |
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The
accommodation in the mountain huts is half-board
throughout, with plentiful three course cooked
evening meals and breakfasts each morning.
This level of comfort is important, as you
will need a good cooked meal after the efforts
of each day, and by staying half-board you
avoid having to carry stoves or pans. |
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Support
and assistance from the Icicle Chamonix hosts
is included throughout the week for logistics,
valley travel, equipment fitting, and briefings.
They will store any luggage that you do not
want to take on the route, and transport you
to the cable cars at the start of the week. |
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Dates: 14
- 20 March 2010, 21
- 27 March 2010, 28
Mar - 3 April 2010, 4
- 10 April 2010, 11
- 17 April 2010, 18
- 24 April 2010.
For current availability on this course click
here. |
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The
course at a glance... |
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7
days, running from Sunday to Saturday.
Price £849pp, includes accommodation. |
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Classic ski tour from Chamonix to Zermatt,
for those with
some touring experience |
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Top tip... book an Intro
Ski Tour weekend
just before the Haute Route |
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You could
also consider... Paradiso
Tour or
Ski
Mont Blanc |
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Brief
Course Itinerary
Starting
in Chamonix, France, you traverse by ski the spectacular
high mountain route to Zermatt, Switzerland. By
staying each night in comfortable mountain refuges,
set high in the mountains, this course will appeal
to those who want to spend a week in amazing mountain
scenery. Note that the Haute Route has many variations,
and that it is often essential to alter itineraries
often to cater for weather, conditions, fitness,
hut spaces and ski ability.
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| 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
pre-dinner drinks.
Night in Chamonix. |
| Mon |
Day
1 ski tour, 1:6 Guiding: From Chamonix valley,
you ascend the steep Col du Chardonnet, either
on skins or crampons. Often this involves
an abseil to descend to the Trient glacier.
An alternative route to the hut is either
by the Col du Passon or from Le Tour, in case
of icy conditions. Night in the Trient Hut. |
| Tue |
Day
2 ski tour, 1:6 Guiding: An early start from
the Trient Hut for the exhilierating ski down
to Champex. Transfer by road to Verbier, then
ascend the Verbier cable cars to ski to the
hut. Night
in Prafleuri Hut. If
you reached Trient from the longer Passon
route, you may stay the night in the Montfort
Hut instead. |
| Wed |
Day
3 ski tour, 1:6 Guiding: Praflueri Hut via
the Lac de Dix and the Pas de Chevre to descend
to Arolla, Switzerland. Night in Arolla hotel.
If you started from Montfort you might go
to the Dix Hut instead, and in this case would
ski down to Arolla the following morning before
starting the Thursday itinerary. |
| Thu |
Day
4 ski tour, 1:6 Guiding: A day of ski touring
through amazing scenery as you ascend from
the Arolla valley up to Bertol Hut on skins.
This is a big height gain, but the day is
not especially long, and you should not be
too tired so as to enjoy the skiing on the
last day. Night in Bertol Hut. |
| Fri |
Day
5 ski tour, 1:6 Guiding: An early start for
the ascent of Tete Blanche from the Bertol
Hut, then descend to Zermatt past the Matterhorn.
This is a big day of skiing, but fortunately
most of it is downhill, which will be a welcome
relief. Return transfer to Chamonix. Celebratory
dinner and night in Chamonix.
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| Sat |
Breakfast,
then course debrief, with feedback and questions
and answers session. Depart for home. |
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| 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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This
is a slideshow of one of our Haute Route
ski tours, so
that you can get a really good impression
of what it is like,
and the type of skiing and landscapes that
you will see.
These photos are from two of the winter
2009 courses.
Click
here to visit the full
Icicle photo gallery page.
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| Scheduled
Course Dates Prices |
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Standard
course
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5
days guiding, 7 days holiday in total |
£849 |
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Premium
course
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7
days guiding, 8 days holiday in total
(Standard course plus Intro
Tour weekend)
LINK |
£1048 |
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Secure
online booking system |
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| Standard
Course Inclusions: 1) IFMGA Mountain
Guides for five days, 2) Chamonix course hosts for
logistics & briefings, 3) Pre course information
booklet, 4) Equipment discount voucher for UK shops,
5) Two nights B&B accommodation in Chamonix
(inc. bedding & towels), 6) Four nights half
board accommodation in mountain huts including three
course cooked evening meals. 8)
Free 36 page technical Course Instruction Booklet,
9) Road transport in Chamonix valley, 10) Chamonix
office support and free Wi-Fi internet access. |
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| Exclusions:
1) Travel to and from Chamonix, 2) Cable Cars (approx
40€pp), 3) Ski hire, 4) Personal laundry, telephone
calls, lunches, & any purchases in mountain
huts / hotels / restaurants, 5) Return transport
from Zermatt to Chamonix (approx 60€pp based
on six), and road transport outside Chamonix valley
(Champex-Verbier approx 15€pp based on six),
6) Activities insurance, & excess baggage charges. |
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| Notes:
The
loan of all technical climbing equipment for each
client is included* in the course price as required:
ice axe, 12 point crampons, helmet, harness, ropes,
ice screws, avalanche tranceiver, avalanche probe
and shovel. |
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| Upgrade
options |
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Intro
Ski Tour Weekend
£199
(throughout the season) |
This
weekend course is run on every weekend before
a Haute Route ski tour, and you get your ski
legs back and to work on ski touring techniques,
details. |
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Acclimatisation
Weekend
£99
(throughout the season) |
To
get the most out your course, acclimatisation
is essential so that you minimise the chances
of AMS (altitude sickness) later on during
your course,
details. |
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Avalanche
Skills Day
£49
(throughout the season) |
To
learn avalanche prediction, reutschblocks
and use of avalanche tranceivers. Course is
available on any day during the week (includes
ARVA),
details. |
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Want
a private group?
The
course price for our scheduled course dates
is just £849 per person, and all the
dates are guaranteed to run. There's no difference
to the scheduled dates course price whether
you are booking on your own, or as a small
group. However, if you have a group and would
like to form a private group, |
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Number
of people
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Cost
per person
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1
person in group
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£2099
per person
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2
people
in group
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£1299
per person
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3
people
in group
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£1049
per person
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4
people
in group
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£899
per person
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5
people
in group
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£849
per person
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6
people
in group
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£799
per person
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| whether
you have a group of six people or are on your own,
we can run a Haute Route for you on any week of
the winter season. The table above shows the group
rates for any group size. If there are more than
six of you, you will require multiple guides, but
can work out the costs based on the table. The prices
for the private groups have exactly the same inclusions
and exclusions as the scheduled courses, as detailed
above. |
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TREK:
Walkers Haute Route 2010
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FEEDBACK:
"I wasn't prepared
for how contrasting all the valleys were on this
amazing route.
It was a great holiday for us"
Steve & Briony,
York, 2007
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| Course
Overview |
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In
the summer months the famous Haute Route,
from Chamonix to Zermatt, can be made on foot
as most of the deep winter snows have melted.
The traverse requires no mountaineering experience,
as all the skills required are taught to you
by the leader during the week, and they are
always on hand to assist you on the more technical
sections. The summer Haute Route is essentially
a high mountain trek between Chamonix and
Zermatt, but you should be an experienced
trekker, and fit to undertake this route. |
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Most
nights are spent in mountain refuges on a
half board basis, this course will really
appeal to a hillwalker or a climber who likes
to get away from it all, and you can pick
up a lot of navigation and GPS tips from the
guide. At each end of the week, there is a
night spent in Chamonix. |
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This
is quite a physically demanding route that
requires a good level of fitness as the trek
is continuous, with six days of trekking at
altitude with a pack. Although you do not
need to be super fit, good stamina will make
it easier for you. The fitter you are the
more breath you will have to enjoy the stunning
scenery along the route. |
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You
will travel with the same leader throughout
the week, allowing them to know your strengths
and adapt the itinerary to best suit your
skills and previous experience: such as, if
the group members are strong, there may be
the opportunity to ascend some small peaks
along the way as part of the route. |
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When
staying in huts you are on a half board basis.
This level of comfort is important, as you
really need a good cooked meal after the efforts
of each day of trekking, and with half-board
you avoid having to carry heavy stoves, pans
and food for evening meals. The hut guardian
provides blankets and pillows, a cooked three
course meal, and a simple healthy breakfast.
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If
you have any questions, or would like and
further information, please contact our Chamonix
Office team directly, as you can speak to
an International Mountain Leader who can answer
any query that you have about the itinerary
or area. You can e-mail them on reps@icicleUK.com
or call 00 33 67 55 621 55. |
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Dates: 26
June - 3 July 2010, 31
Jul - 7 August 2010, 14
- 21 August 2010
(8 days, with 6 days trekking). Extra dates
can
be run on demand from June through to September
for groups of four or more people. For current
availability on this course click
here. |
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Course
Photo Gallery
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Your
guarantee of the highest standards
On this course you
are led by a International Mountain Leader
(IML). This is the highest qualification
for leading trekking groups in the Alps
(where it is a legal requirement) and worldwide.
To become an IML, it takes several years
to train. During the treks their focus is
on your comfort, enjoyment, education and
safety, all of which are equally important.
Being
led by an IML to take you on a trek, you
are hiring far more than someone to show
you the way. You will learn about the environment,
flora, fauna, glaciology, geology, and geography
of the region. The leader will have a vast
local knowledge. In terms of safety an IML
can guide you
on steep ground, on fixed equipment (ladders,
chains, etc), and over snow patches.
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Daily
Course Itinerary |
| Sat |
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. |
| Sun |
Les
Ruinettes - Louvie. This section ascends
to the remote Louvie hut. |
Why
is our Haute Route starting near Verbier?
So many of our clients have already
completed the Tour du Mont Blanc or
the Tour du Grand Combin, that the first
couple of days would be repeated. Rather
than insist on this, we offer the section
of the Haute Route that will be new
to you, and the effect of this is that
you can complete this classic trek in
one week, rather than it taking up a
second week of your precious holiday
time. We can arrange two extra days
guiding for those who would like to
undertake the first section from Chamonix
to Verbier. |
| Mon |
Louvie
- Praz Fleury. The days involves crossing
several high passes. |
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Praz
Fleury - Les Haudères. Then it
is the beautiful Arolla valley system. |
| Wed |
Les
Haudères - St Jean. Here you
cross into the Val d'Anniviers in the
Valais. |
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St
Jean - Grüben. Today the aim is
to cross into the Turtman valley area. |
| Fri |
Grüben
- Zermatt valley. Here the route descends
into the Zermatt valley, and you can
opt to look around Zermatt before returning
to Chamonix for celebrations!
Guiding ratio 1:8 (max).
Night in Chamonix. |
| Sat |
Breakfast,
then course debrief, with feedback and
questions and answers session. Depart
for home. |
| N.B. |
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 |
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Standard
course
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6
days guiding, 8 days holiday in total |
£899 |
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Premium
course
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8
days guiding, 9 days holiday in total
(Standard course plus Acclimatisation
weekend)
LINK |
£998 |
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Secure
online booking system |
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| Standard
Course Inclusions: 1) UIMLA Guide for
six days, 2) Chamonix course hosts for logistics
& briefings, 3) Two nights B&B accommodation
in Chamonix (inc. beddings & towels), 4) Up
to five nights half board in mountain huts (inc.
costs for guides), 5) Pre course information booklet,
6) Equipment discount voucher for UK shops, 7) Free
36 page technical Course Instruction Booklet, 8)
Evening technical instruction when in Chamonix. |
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| 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 mountain
uplift (not normally required), 5) Transport from
Chamonix to La Ruinettes, and from Zermatt to Chamonix,
5) Activities insurance, & excess baggage charges. |
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| Upgrade
options |
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Acclimatisation
Weekend
£99
(throughout the season) |
To
get the most out your course, acclimatisation
is essential so that you minimise the chances
of AMS later on during your course,
details. |
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Mont
Blanc Extension
from £449
(two days guiding) |
Two
days of extra guiding to attempt Mont Blanc,
with the same guide who you have climbed with
on this course. Ascent via the Gouter route,
details. |
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Private
Room Upgrade
£120
(7-27 June & 6-26 Sept)
£150 (28 June - 5 Sept) |
The
course accommodation is usually in rooms of
two sharing. Two people booking / sending
forms together are guaranteed a room of two
sharing. This upgrade guarantees you a private
room on
your own for your course. |
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www.icicleUK.com
l UK
0845 058 98 78 I FRA
+33 67 55 621 55 l
© IcicleUK.com 2010
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