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Dry
Tooling & Mixed Climbs 2012
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| Course
overview |
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Course
dates & availability |
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If
you are a highly competant ice climber seeking the
next challenge, dry tooling and mixed routes are
next. This course is run over a week, with 1:1 guiding
throughout. |
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From
its beginnings as a way of accessing ice by crossing
sections of rock to reach the next icicle, it has
developed as a sport in its own right, requiring
good balance, co-ordination and flexibility. |
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Those with a good level of technical rock climbing
may find the style of movement similar, as you use
small cracks, holds and ledges for support. Technical
ice axes and crampons are essential, and there are
usually the skills of torquing and axe stein pulls
involved. |
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Apart
from valley routes you can also try this style of
climbing on altitude Alpine routes, such as the
Goulotte Cosmiques or the Contamine routes on the
North Face of Mont Blanc du Tacul. |
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This
course is led by one of our most talented dry tooling
Guides who can climb M9 minimum, so you are guaranteed
to be pushed to the very limits of your capability. |
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On
demand: if
no scheduled course dates are showing in the column
on the right, we can still operate a course on demand
for just one person booking, on any dates that suit
from January through until the end of April, arriving
Sunday and departing Saturday. |
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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. |
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Brief
Course Itinerary
The
itinerary is flexible to cater for your previous experience,
and aspirations. The itinerary below is a guideline for the
week long dry tooling / mixed course, and gives examples of
what you could also achieve. |
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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 to answer any queries.
Night in Chamonix. |
| Mon |
Refresh
your ice climbing skills on valley waterfall ice, with
mixed sections, such as Cremerie icefalls. Also practice
placement of ice screws, runners & screamers, building
anchors and leading. Night in Chamonix. |
| Tue
& Wed & Thu |
For
these three days you can learn to to push your climbing
grade on mixed and dry sections. These climbs can either
be valley based, or can be climbs accessed by the altitude
cable cars. There is also the opportunity to climb in
nearby Val de Cogne, Italy (one hour drive). Small guiding
ratios at a maximum of 1:2 give you the opportunity
to climb technical routes at the highest grade you can
find, whilst developing your technique on different
types of mixed or ice columns.
Popular climbs in Chamonix valley include: The gorge
d'Arveyron, Chatelard, & Argentiere Icefalls
Popular climbs in Val
de Cogne include: Repentance (V+), Cold
Couloir, Lau Bij, Ice Files, etc
On Thursday evening you return to Chamonix to allow
you an early start on Friday for another route.
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| Fri |
A
day to use your increased
confidence and technique for a more difficult mixed or
ice route in the Chamonix valley, such as Grade
VI Icelander or Megeve. Night
spent in Chamonix. |
| Sat |
Breakfast
then the accommodation check out is by 10:00. Most arrange
their transfers for around this time for a flight from
Geneva about midday. |
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
Prices |
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1:1
ratio course
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5
full days IFMGA guiding, 1:1 max ratio
7 days holiday in total, Sunday-Saturday |
£1799 |
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Live
availability
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Click
on the planner logo to the right to
see the real time live course availability
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Secure
online booking system |
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Course Inclusions: 1) IFMGA Mountain Guide
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) Chamonix Free 36 page technical Course Instruction
Booklet, 8) Road transport in Chamonix valley, 9) Chamonix
office support. |
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| Exclusions:
1) Travel to and from Chamonix, 2) Cable Cars (approx
£30), 3) 3) Equipment hire, 4) Personal laundry,
telephone calls, lunches, evening meals, & any purchases
in mountain huts / hotels / restaurants, 5) Sunday pre-dinner
drinks & Friday celebratory meal & drinks, 6)
Activities insurance, & excess baggage charges. |
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| Notes:
The
loan of all avalanche safety kit is included (avalanche
tranceiver, avalanche probe and shovel). |
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| Upgrade
options |
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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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