climb@icicleUK.com
UK +44 845 058 98 78
FRA +33 67 55 621 55 inspirational mountain adventures
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about Icicle Mountaineering, Ski & Adventure...
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International
Clientele
As
you can see from this image, our clients
come from all over the world.
Key
facts about Icicle
Established in 2000, with a UK office,
and Chamonix Mont Blanc base too.
All courses guaranteed to be led by
qualified IFMGA guides and UIMLA leaders,
who are recognised as top professionals
in their field. Read
about our guiding team.
Great levels of returning clients. In
2008 it was 46%.
Highly flexible courses, with low guiding
ratios on many days to offer greater
number of summit windows.
Our
constant evolution marks us out in
the climbing world, and this year
new courses feature leashless dry
tooling, artificial climbs, as well
as trips to the Atlas.
2009
Brochure Download
Click
on the image above to
download the 2009 brochure
Missions
and Aims
Our
Mission... To have the best safety
and peak summiting records of any
mountaineering company in the whole
world.
Our
Aim... To exceed the expectations
of each client, to realise their ambitions,
and to provide the best quality experiences
possible.
Our
Environment... We aim to minimise
our environmental impact, and to preserve,
improve & promote the responsible
use of the Mont Blanc massif.
Our
Ethos... We
know that every single client has
individual needs, strengths, aims,
weaknesses, ambitions, and goals.
We care about each one.
Your
Money... We
have taken every step to protect you
both on the mountain, and in your
pocket. All funds paid to Icicle are
held in trust until you return home.
Read
more about this here.
What is Icicle?
Icicle is a British registered mountain
guiding company offering a wide range of
courses in the Alps. These specialise in
climbing, skiing, and trekking.
Who are we?
In 2000 a group of keen climbers and
skiers set up Icicle. In its first years
Icicle won several new business awards
but these are as nothing compared to
the pride we have in our team
of 40 IFMGA guides & UIMLA leaders.
We are honored to work
with these top professionals. All our
guiding team have been chosen by us
for their attitude, ability and personality.
Now the company is approaching its tenth
anniversary and Icicle has firmly established
itself as one of the leading Alpine
guiding operators. The aim of Icicle
is the same as it always has been 'to
offer great trips that we would dream
of going on ourselves'. We hope to see
you soon in the Alps.
Photo:
On summit of Mont Blanc du Tacul,
Sarah who
runs the Chamonix Office, and
Kingsley our head UIMLA guide.
Our personalised
approach and the Icicle ethos?
We have a highly personalised, flexible and
friendly, approach
to our courses. When
you contact us, your calls and queries are
answered by fellow climbers and skiers. We
are a small specialist company who has a very
personal approach. Once you have booked, you
dont need to quote reference numbers,
as we will know who you are. Our ethos is
simple: you matter to us, and we care.
What is your
price guarantee?
We don't spend lots of time and (your) money
shouting about how good we are, and we havent
got the glossiest brochure, or a flashy website,
as we believe in keeping costs low, and passing
on the savings to you. Our price guarantee
states that if you can find a cheaper like-for-like
course, then we will beat the price. We offer
value without sacrificing our standards.
What
makes Icicle different?
What we offer far better than any competitor,
is a highly specialist approach to the
Alps. We don't offer the likes of Everest,
and see the Alps as playing second fiddle.
We focus on the Alps, and our local
knowledge is second to none. Our
base in Chamonix is for you, and the
full time staff ensure that the itinerary
can be flexed to account for changing
weather and conditions, to give you
the best summiting chances. This is
impossible from an office in the UK,
as it requires local contacts and staff
to 'make it happen' for you. We know
the Alps, and we specialise in the Alps.
Demand absolutely nothing less.
Photo:
Learning to lead routes on the
north face triangle of the Petite
Aiguille Verte.
Why
choose Icicle?
Two things that really set us apart are our
instruction sessions where the aim is to make
you more autonomous, and itinerary flexibility
that is essential to develop your skills and
maximise your summiting chances. We are the
only British company to have a full time logistics
office and course host team in Chamonix, to
support you whilst abroad. This is essential
for day-to-day advice and support.
What
is included?
We make every effort to include all the required
elements of each course, but where some costs
are possible avoidable (or could be lower),
we tend not to include that element. This
is to save you every penny possible. Each
course has a detailed list of inclusions and
exclusions next to the price.
Recent
Testimonials
What
about you?
Thanks
for an absolutely brilliant
Alpine Intro Course -I hope
to back next year for a crack
at Mont Blanc ! All the best
for the rest of the season -give
Max a big hug from me
Julie,
Alpine Intro, July 2008
Just
a quick mail to say thanks for
a great week. The variety of
climbing from ice to alpine
and then rock exceeded my expectations
and made an interesting and
enjoyable week. Please pass
on my appreciation to the guides
Neil S,
Mont Blanc, June 2008
Having
just returned from a Mont Blanc
course, I would like to thank
you all for providing such an
opportunity. I think I speak
for myself and Mark by saying
that we were ever so impressed
with the quality of our guides,
each very different but each
quite exceptional. Whilst Mark
was effectively stretchered
off right from the start and
I didn't quite make the summit
we both feel we have learnt
a great deal and so benefited
from time in your care Robin
S, Mont
Blanc, July
2008
Great
Trip, thanks for the organisation.
Franks and my climbing
abilities were perfectly matched
which helped us both get the
most out of the week and take
on some really awe-inspiring
and challenging climbs in terrain
that otherwise wed never
have been able to access. Gilles
was great too so professional
and quite tough with us which
he needed to be on occasion Freddie
C, Alpine Rock course, July
2008
I
did an off-piste course with
you in March it was totally
brilliant! Id love to
do another off-piste session
next year, but Im not
sure if I can afford it
my wife mentioned that it would
cost a divorce. Anyway its
something to weigh up.... Ian
C, Off Piste Performance, March
2008
We
may suit you, but will you suit
our style? Before looking at
the courses ask yourself the
following questions... 1) Do
you wish to learn skills as
well as climbing peaks? 2) Do
you enjoy listening and sharing
experiences with others? 3)
Do you care which route you
take to a summit? If
you answered Yes
to ALL of the questions above,
we believe you will enjoy a
course with us, as we run by
climbers for climbers. If you
answered "No" to any
of the questions, we probably
aren't the kind of company that
would suit you, but don't worry
as for lower standard guided
access into the jagged world,
there are internationally
many schools of mountaineering.
At Icicle our aim is to help
you achieve your goals, be it
a first season in the Alps,
or an attempt on Mont Blanc,
the Matterhorn or an Extreme
level course.
Giving
something back...
Each
year we help sponsor the Wasdale
Mountain Rescue Team in the Lake
District by donating a major prize
to the annual
Kern Knotts Fund Raising Auction.
This sponsorship
helps equip this busy team whose
area covers the highest peak in
England, Scafell Pike.
We
also support the Porter Protection
schemes in all the local regions
where we run specialist treks
and expeditions to. >
Read more here
Latest
news from our team in Chamonix
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