| |
| Icicle
Client Feedback... |
 |
|
| Whilst
there is nothing more embarassing than blowing
your own trumpet, some clients ask to see
the type of feedback that others have given
our courses, and so we have set up this page
to provide exactly that. All the comments
below have been provided by former clients
on the feedback questionnaire given to them
at the end of their course. We also believe
that pictures often speak louder than words,
so if you would like to see some of the photos
that previous clients have sent us of their
course, click on this link: client
photo gallery. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Testimonials |
|
Feedback |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
I
am just e-mailing to thank
you very much again for
the wonderful week I had
on the Intro Ice and Alpine
course. It was one of
the most exciting(if not
the most exciting) weeks
of my life and one that
I will never forget. I
have a little photograph
of the Cosmique Tourette
in my office at work to
remind me. I would love
one day to come back to
Chamonix and do some more
climbing, maybe go up
Mont Blanc, but lots of
training first! Take care,
Paul
Paul
Walker, Intro Ice &
Alpine, 08
|
|
|
|
Just
a quick sign off from
last week, to say how
much we enjoyed ourselves
(with hindsight!!) and
how impressed we were
with the way you 'managed'
us.
Steve
R, Mont Blanc course,
Sept 08
|
|
|
|
I
just wanted to write a
wee note to thank you
for arranging such an
enjoyable week. I'm still
gutted that we didn't
top out but ce la vie
I suppose. None the less
it was really worthwhile
and both Jean Luc and
Stefano were - in very
different ways - excellent
guides. I also just wanted
to say that the evening
lectures were a really
great add on and very
useful, so thanks for
that as well
Matthew,
Mont Blanc 2008
|
|
|
|
That
was an absolutely splendid
holiday, running through
the full range of emotions.
It was a pleasure to meet
you all and thank you
for making it such fun.
Dan
N, Autonomy course, Sept
08
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Icicle
in a nutshell |
|
Pre-course
"Icicle take all the pain in the
neck bits out of the 'holiday'"
Janette, Classics
"Advantage being Chamonix based,
with a great local network"
Lucy, Swiss 4000
"Thanks for your patience with
my endless questions & concerns"
Louise, Rock |
Company
"Good website & communication
via e-mail" Greg,
Achievements
"Friendly head office, quick responses
to queries" Anja,
Mont Blanc
"Very well organised, with a 'can
do' approach" Nick,
Swiss 4000
"Perfect professionalism and personal
contact" Mark
B, Winter Intro |
Guides
"Nice course reps and guides. Versatile
with no beards!"
Morag, Intro
"Guides were very good. I was impressed
with their English"
Will, Intro
"Very proactive with teaching andunderstanding
of beginners"
John, Achievements
"They have a good sense of humour,
& explain things very well"
Nilesh, Matterhorn
"Worked very hard to give everyone
great mountain experiences"
John, Classics
"Perceptive of my skills and capabilities,
a very personalised service"
Pete, Intro |
Instruction
"Team in Chamonix is very experienced
and professional"
Jon R, Achievements
"Good on instruction, without the
didactic tone of a school master!"
Rupert Intro
"Helpful, friendly staff, and the
reps explained everything clearly"
Ewan G, Intro
"Relaxed style. Good connections
in Cham. Learnt a hell of a lot"
David, Mt Blanc
"Well planned and professional.
Reps very helpful and enthusiastic"
Dan, Intro |
Net
Effect
"Every effort was made to make
participants self efficient" Richard
R, Mont Blanc
"Great! Nice to be looked after
by a small, friendly company" Ronnie,
Intro
"Flexible to allow for different
ability levels, excellent value for
money" Huw, Intro
"The course stretched my physical
& mental boundaries" Sina,
Winter Ice & Alpine
"Definitely the best activity holiday
I've had in a very long time" Jim,
Mont Blanc |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Photo:
on the Arete des Cosmiques, Mont Blanc Summits course
|
|
|
| Summer
courses client feedback |
|
|
Tim
D
|
The
course was a week of hard work and blisters -
brilliant!!! (Achievements Course)
|
|
Gerard
C
|
Course
was very well put together to accommodate difficult
weather variables. Acclimatisation appeared to
work successfully. Varied and interesting activities.
Overall excellent with supremely capable people
who were very responsive and sensitive to individual
needs. (Mont Blanc Summits course)
|
|
Amanda
D
|
Guide
was a mountain Yoda! I learnt loads and course
gave me good skills to take away with me. It gave
me a huge amount of confidence. (Summer Intro
Course)
|
|
Tina
G
|
A
huge learning curve! Challenging, demanding, a
great sense of achievement. Thank you. (Intermediate
course)
|
|
Jemma
L
|
Icicle
were excellent, and I would happily recommend
them to anyone else. (Alpine Rock course)
|
|
Kevin
N
|
The
week was a bonding experience. (Mont Blanc Summits
course)
|
|
Laura
P
|
A
very serious organisation, that I will certainly
go back to. Great people, great Guides, but course
was a bit short (I needed two weeks time to digest
all the instruction)!!! No need to improve anything.
(Intermediate course)
|
|
Helen
P
|
Course
was quite hard except for the rock day, but excellent
value for money. If it had been easy I would have
been disappointed. I came here to train outside
my confort zone, and this course put me outside
my confort galaxy. Thank you guys! (Intro 4000m
Summits & Skills course)
|
|
Simon
T
|
The
course was challenging but fun. I wanted a challenge
and focus (Mont Blanc) with some instruction.
Icicle are very professional and safe. Very committed
to the sport. (Mont Blanc Summits course)
|
|
David
C
|
Icicle
- you undersell yourselves. A very high standard
of input, advice, and guiding, which should be
leveraged more. An excellent course. I achieved
exactly what I wanted. (Mont Blanc Summits course)
|
|
Steve
M
|
Enjoyed
the course, very intensive, and a lot to take
in. Guide had good rapport with clients. (Achievements
Course)
|
|
Alastair
B
|
Good
course - I think what you put in is what you get
out. (Intro 4000m summits & skills course)
|
|
Will
S
|
Guide
made me feel safe at the same time as being fun
and entering into the team spirit. (Mont Blanc
Summits course)
|
|
Matt
M
|
Icicle
were well organised and flexible to allow for
the Mont Blanc ascent. Course was very good fun,
and enjoyed all aspects but especially the skills
and mixed climbing. (Mont Blanc Summits course)
|
|
Mark
V
|
The
preparation routes were well selected to push
us and develop our skills, so that we were ready
for the Matterhorn, and it did not phase us. We
were well acclimatised and quick at moving over
steep mixed ground. The Guiding team was first
rate, disciplined, organised, and professional.
(Matterhorn course)
|
|
Wayne
D
|
Great
routes. I had a really excellent week. The Dent
du Geant was class. (Classics course)
|
|
Julie
N
|
Watching
Touching the Void inspired me to book on the course.
I learnt so much, I think I could do with meeting
Joe (Simpson) to teach him a thing or two about
prussics... (Glacier safety course)
|
|
Jon
R
|
Icicle
offer a fair deal. Team in Chamonix is very experienced
and professional. Kingsley in particular is an
excellent instructor and has a way of putting
things across clearly and practically. Excellent,
thank you! (Mont Blanc Achievements course)
|
|
Greg
|
A
good website and communication skills through
e-mail, feedback / info. Stretched my knowledge,
and the quality of safety with the Guides was
excellent. (Mont Blanc Achievements course)
|
|
Anita
|
Icicle
were good - well organised, competant. Course
was excellent - great mix of skills learnt. (Intro
4000m Summits & Skills course)
|
|
Rupert
|
Got
the itinerary right exactly. Kingsley was very
good on instruction, without the didactic tone
of a school master! (Intro 4000m Summits &
Skills course)
|
|
Louise
|
I
just wanted to write to say thank you so much
for all of your help and hard work to make my
climbing month really, really great. I think I
had maybe the best time I have ever had in my
young (haha) life, and the memories of the gorgeous
routes I climbed will stay with me and carry me
through the grim urban autumn here in London....I
know it required lots of work to make it all go
smoothly for me, so thanks for that and for your
patience with my endless questions and concerns...you
are wonderful and I can't thank you enough for
organising everything! (Bespoke Alpine Rock course)
|
|
John
Mc D
|
I
want to thank you very warmly for the climbing
holiday I had with you this summer. In particular
I want to say my thanks for being able to work
with such excellent guides. I am glad for the
opportunity to climb with real expertise because
I learned so much. But also I had an chance to
fulfill an ambition because of the weather knowledge
that gave us a small, perfect window of opportunity.
To fulfill a dream in such rare sunny, still and
uncrowded conditions is a priviledge and for that
I am eternally grateful. (Mont Blanc Summits course)
|
|
Morag
|
Icicle
were very good. Definately recommend. Friendly,
professional and relaxed. Nice reps and guides.
Versatile with no beards!!!! (Intro 4000m Summits
& Skills course)
|
|
Bill
W
|
Icicle
were very competant and well organised. Reps very
experienced and good at passing on skills and
information. Learned new skills each day. Course
was very good - no negative aspects. (Intro 4000m
Summits & Skills course)
|
|
Ewan
G
|
Helpfull
and friendly staff, and the reps explained everything
clearly. (Intro 4000m Summits & Skills course)
|
|
Will
|
I
had a really good week, learnt lots! Really enjoyed
everything, covered useful stuff, well taught.
Guides were very good. I was impressed with their
English. (Intro 4000m Summits & Skills course)
|
|
Richard
R
|
Every
effort made to make participants self efficient.
Good course. New skills learnt. (Mont Blanc course)
|
|
John
|
Icicle
were good. Would recommend it to friends and family.
Guides were very proactive with teaching and understanding
of beginners. Course was good. Covered a wide
range of stuff - variety, interesting, fun, useful,
etc. (Mont Blanc Achievements course)
|
|
Anja
|
Very
friendly head office, good quick responses to
questions, good itinerary. (Mont Blanc Achievements
course)
|
|
Patrick
|
Very
friendly and good atmosphere. Very good course.
(Mont Blanc Summits course)
|
|
David
C
|
Great
experience. Relaxed style. Good connections in
Chamonix. Learnt a hell of a lot! (Mont Blanc
Summits course)
|
|
Gavin
B
|
Icicle
were very relaxed, helpful, and informative. The
course was well structured, progressive - very
good. (Intermediate course)
|
|
Fred
L
|
Good
contact with local Guides, and focused on climbers.
Achieved goal and learned some skills. (Mont Blanc
Summits course)
|
|
Nick
|
Icicle
are well organised, with a 'can do' approach.
(Swiss 4000m course)
|
|
Lucy
|
Excellent
service. A real advantage being based in Chamonix,
with a great network. Was able to meet the challenge
and in the next 12 months want to return for more
of the same. (Swiss 4000m course)
|
|
Dave
|
Icicle
were very good - excellent advice and information
throughout. Flexible to meet my needs! (1:1 Advanced
course)
|
|
Nilesh
|
Guides
have good sense of humour, and explain things
very well. (Matterhorn course)
|
|
Ryan
|
Good
organisation. Plenty of info and skills learnt
from Reps. Felt confident of suggestions / recommendations
of routes. Very useful course for learning autonomy
in the Alps. Gained lots of skills useful for
climbing in a small unguided team. (Intermediate
course)
|
|
Janette
|
Very
good - organised, knowledgable, helpfull. Take
the pain in the neck bits out of the 'holiday'.
Course was more challenging than expected but
within capabilities, but this is good. I am definately
more confident. (Classics course)
|
|
Chris
S
|
Good,
well organised company with good connections.
Guide was excellent. (Intermediate course)
|
|
Ronnie
|
Great,
well run and nice to be looked after by a small,
friendly company. Perfect intro to Alpinism. (Intro
4000m Summits & Skills course)
|
|
Huw
|
Well
organised. Flexible enough to allow for different
levels of ability - very good. Excellent value
for money - packed itinerary. K & S's knowledge
is excellent and gave good advice for additional
climbing. (Intro 4000m Summits & Skills course)
|
|
Simon
|
A
great company, with a quality product. (Mont Blanc
Achievements course)
|
|
Jonathan
|
Very
professional Guides, valuable course content.
Lecture sessions useful, although made days intense.
(Intro 4000m Summits & Skills course)
|
|
Dan
|
Excellent.
All days extremely well planned and professional.
Reps very helpfull and enthusiastic. Very happy
with course, and will see if the next course is
as good - hopefully! (Intro 4000m Summits &
Skills course)
|
|
Jim
|
This
was definately the best activity holiday I've
had in a very long time. I achieved everything
I had hoped to, and more besides. I will never
forget the feeling of excitement I felt when,
seeing a team a few hundred meters ahead of us
come to a halt, having reached the summit of Mont
Blanc, I realised that I too would make it, and
not fail due to fitness or altitude - Great fun!!
(Mont Blanc Summits course)
|
|
Louise
|
Since
I'm gone, I am sure it is now eerily quiet there
in Chamonix, so thought I'd intrude into your
peaceful idyl with a note of thanks! I had a terrific
time and you both made it wonderful for me and
am already planning my next trip out there as
soon as I can! Give me a shout the next time you
are in London - I'll update you on the recent
overhangs ... thanks again! (Technical
Classics course)
|
|
John
|
Organisation
and guides worked hard to give everyone great
mountain experiences whatever the weather. The
flexibility was excellent. (Summer Ice course)
|
|
Robin
|
Thank
you very much for looking after me in Chamonix,
even after I was technically not your client for
the majority of the time. Hope to hear from you
soon. (Intro
4000m Summits & Skills course)
|
|
Chad
|
An
awesome course. Cheers! (Mont Blanc Summits course)
|
|
Chris
|
Climbing
the Matterhorn in winter conditions in the middle
of the summer was a suprise and delight! The guide
was brilliant and so experienced that I always
felt secure. (Matterhorn
course)
|
|
Ander
|
A
note of thanks for the time that we had with you.
Both Kevin and myself were very taken by the friendly
way that you managed the course, and felt that
the assistance that you offered went far beyond
that required of merely administering to our original
expectations. (Tailor Made course)
|
|
Pete
|
It
was a really good idea to use two different guides
or different nationalities to learn the different
(Engligh and French) ways of mountaineering. The
guides were very perceptive of my skills and capabilities
and the reps gavea very good personal service.
(Intro
4000m Summits & Skills course)
|
|
Gill
|
The
course was well planned and provided an excellent
introduction to alpine mountaineering. Well done
to all the staff for being so friendly and helpful
throughout the course. I think you have the right
balance and have interesting and sufficiently
rewarding courses. (Intro 4000m Summits &
Skills course)
|
|
James
|
The
Guides were very good, even taking me out into
the rain to teach abseiling techniques at the
Argentiere hut! (Mont
Blanc Summits course)
|
|
Tim
|
Excellent.
I was pushed way beyond where I thought my limits
were, especially on the Tour Noir traverse. (Mont
Blanc Achievements course)
|
|
Steve
|
One
of the best courses I have ever been on. (Intro
4000m Summits & Skills course)
|
|
Ryan
|
Still
not quite sunk in that I have climbed Mont Blanc.
It really is a big achievement. Good variety of
activities and locations. (Mont Blanc Summits
course)
|
|
Derek
|
Climbing
Mont Blanc by the Trois route was a wonderful
experience at the age of 59, especially climbing
it with my son. Couldn't have done it without
Icicle. (Mont
Blanc Summits course)
|
|
Jason
|
All
staff, both in the UK and Chamonix were very helpful,
both before and during the course. (Intro 4000m
Summits & Skills course)
|
|
Damian
|
Sincere
thanks for a superb course. (Intro
4000m Summits & Skills course)
|
|
Ray
|
Top
staff, excellent company in the evenings. Nothing
was too much trouble. (Classics course)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Winter
courses client feedback |
|
|
Peter
A
|
Please
pass on my grateful thanks to Jacques for a wonderful
few days. No picture can capture what the experience
meant to me. Thanks to you and all the team. I
had a wonderful time, one that I will cherish
for a long time to come. (Ice
Weekend)
|
|
Richard
M
|
An
interesting and worthwhile mountain experience.
(Winter Intro Ice & Alpine course) |
|
George
L
|
Course
was well thought out with safety first. Well planned.
(Waterfall Ice course) |
|
Becky
T
|
Course
was very enjoyable, physically and mentally challenging,
and very tiring! Really good Guides, who gave clear
instructions and were very friendly. (Winter Intro
Ice & Alpine course) |
|
Paul
C
|
Icicle
was good, efficient and helpful. (Christmas Intro
course) |
|
Mike
T
|
Guide
was very good, knowledgeable, and with excellent
people skills. A great holiday. (Gran Paradiso ski
tour course) |
|
Sally
O
|
Icicle
were professional, very informative, disciplined,
and I would highly recommend them. I felt the Guide
was fully aware of what I could do, and my abilities,
and he adjusted the pace and difficulty accordingly.
(Winter Intro Ice & Alpine course) |
|
Ander
M
|
Icicle
are a good company, well run and well organised.
Course was very enjoyable. (Ice Weekend course)
|
|
Hillary
B
|
I
wanted to do more ice climbing, and Icicle were
well organised and flexible. The Guide was very
patient and suited me very well. An excellent course.
(Winter Intro Ice & Alpine course) |
|
Bob
B
|
Icicle
are thorough and well organised. The course was
what it said on the tin. Flexible, adjusted to personal
strenghts and weaknesses. Guide was patient, very
safe, and helpful. (Winter Intro Ice & Alpine
course) |
|
Kris
H
|
Guide
was excellent, talkative, and attentive. All the
instruction was good, especially the snow skills.
(Intro Ski Tour Weekend) |
|
David
C
|
I
wanted to improve skills, and gain experience in
ice climbing. Guides were good and enthusiastic.
I really enjoyed it. (Waterfall Ice course) |
|
Yadin
R
|
Top
notch performance. Amazing level of professionalism.
Great company with great people, had a great time.
(New Year Ice course) |
|
Kim
L
|
Guides
are so enthusiastic - its very encouraging and inspiring.
Fantastic! (Waterfall Ice course) |
|
Peter
L
|
You
warned me that it would be the toughest thing I
had ever done, and you sure did not undersell it.
Very, very, very hard, but so rewarding. Until the
last day I did not think I could make it, but the
Guide was so self assured (not arrogant, but confident),
that he constantly encouraged and inspired me. (Winter
Matterhorn course) |
|
Jeremy
R
|
Thank
you for organising this trip for our group. We had
perfect conditions, and the Guides selected brilliant
routes. We all felt finished at the end of the week!
Just what was needed. (Norwegian Ice course) |
|
Richard
W
|
Stunning
scenary, excellent weather, brilliant Guide. Fresh
tracks each day. Great back up support from Chamonix
team, and a fun group. Cannot wait to meet up again
for a beer! (Haute Route course) |
|
Martyn
|
I
never thought that I really could enjoy getting
myself out of a crevasse, but your Glacier Travel
and Crevasse Rescue day taught me not to worry so
much any more as I know I now really can save the
day. Soon I will walk up glaciers wearing Goretex
superman pants - then again - that's not safe for
all the others! Thanks again. (Winter Skills course)
|
|
Sina
|
A
huge cheers to you, Sarah and Gilles for a corking
time in Chamonix. The course stretched both my physical
and mental boundaries to levels I never before thought
possible. (Winter Intro Ice & Alpine course)
|
|
John
|
Giles,
Just a quick email to ask you to pass on my thanks
and regards to Kingsley and Sarah. I learnt a lot
on the course I was on last week and also enjoyed
it. A great combination. (Winter Intro Ice &
Alpine course) |
|
Daryl
|
I
have just returned from a splendid trip to Chamoinx
which I enjoyed enormously. (Winter Intro Ice &
Alpine course) |
|
Mark
B
|
Thanks
again for a great week. I found the activities (particularly
the ice climbing) exciting and rewarding, and appreciated
your knowledge, experience and commitment. I have
also learnt a lot, which was not really an issue
for me personally in booking the course, but am
immensely glad to have done so. Your company provides
the perfect combination of professionalism and personal
contact, which is ideally suited to both the serious
aspects of mountaineering, and the enjoyment of
a leisure pursuit. (Winter Intro Ice &
Alpine course) |
|
Mark
R
|
Somewhat
belated I know, but many thanks for all your help
the other weekon the ice improvers course. The climbing
was superb, Gilles is a great, and patient, teacher
and it was good of you to spare the time to shepherd
us around Chamonix for food and stuff. (Ice
Improvers course) |
|
Colin
|
Bottoms
up to the Chamonix crew. A totally sorted week with
stonking ice, gnarly guides, and massive routes.
Wow. (Waterfall Ice course) |
|
Helen
|
A
huge thanks to everyone who made this happen. A
dream realised. (Winter
Matterhorn course) |
|
Carl
|
P.D.B.
(Pure Dead Brilliant) - thanks to everyone at Icicle
who made this dream happen. We were the only ones
on the mountain, and it was just perfect. (Winter
Matterhorn course) |
|
Kim
|
hello
Kingsley and Sarah! two weeks back in blighty and
I'm dreaming of the spires of the AIGUILLE DU MIDI...oops
slipped onto caps lock...not too good at this yet.I'm
working on my fitness, for Peru this summer but
really looking to the long term...next winter/spring
in Chamonix.Perhaps I could try one of those other
threatened routes?...N. face of the Tour Ronde?...which
were scuppered by the weather.Whilst it doesn't
seem likely now,when I think of what your guides
have managed to get me to climb...I wouldn't have
believed it a year ago.Wow! Oh and it is really,unbelievably
beautiful up there.I'm addicted...I have to go back!!!
Well,returning for a second visit after five weeks
says it all really...you do a brilliant job.Thanks!
Kim (Winter
Intro Ice & Alpine course) |
|
Lisa
|
The
greater the vaction is, the more difficult you go
back to the 'normal' world, I think that's what
they say. But, I'm already looking forward to experience
the ice-feeling again, hopefully next year. (Waterfall
Ice course) |
|
Luci
|
Hi
Kingsley and Sarah. Just writing to say THANKS so
much for a fantastic week in Chamonix. I had such
a good time and really enjoyed your company. Thanks
also for all your help, it was really appreciated
and you always made us feel that it was never an
effort or bother which I am sure was not the case!
(Winter
Intro Ice & Alpine course) |
|
|
| |
