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| Course
instruction sessions |
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When
you book on an Icicle course we are looking to provide
you with more than guiding you in the mountains. It
should be summit success balanced with learning skills
and techniques. In order to achieve this balance perhaps
our strongest selling point is the provision of instruction
sessions in the evenings in Chamonix after guiding for
all those on climbing, trekking and ski courses. Our
aim is to make you more autonomous, so that you learn
skills on the course that you can take away to use for
your own time in the mountains, be it in the UK or greater
ranges.
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When
you are on a course, you spend several evenings
in Chamonix, and on several of these evenings there
are Evening Theory Sessions run in the office. The
talks are designed to compliment some of the guiding
instruction you have received during the course.
These evening theory sessions are a really invaluable
addition to your learning and development on a course.
Icicle is the only course provider to offer our
clients these theory / instruction sessions. |
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entice you down from the hills you are offered tea
& coffee and cake or biscuits for during the
evening instruction sessions. These extra calories
will keep you going through to dinner time! The
general interest talks are run on demand for those
who are down early, and please note that the course
instruction sessions are totally optional, but are
attended by the vast majority of clients on courses. |
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| All
course clients are provided with a copy of the Icicle
Course Instruction Booklet as a FREE download once
you have booked (see cover on the left). In the
client login section of the website, which you get
access to upon booking, you can print off this Booklet
before you start your course to learn the basics.
The FREE Course Instruction Booklet compliments
your instruction sessions by providing detailed
notes, and diagrams. It is a great reference manual
to refer to when you return home too. |
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The
Syllabus
The actual sessions given on your
course will depend on the level of the course, and your
existing knowledge and skills base. Below is a sample
week talk and instruction schedule. For those on a two
week course, the instruction is different on each of the
nights on the second week, so you won't be repeating anything.
Obviously it is tailored to the different types of courses
(skiiing vs climbing etc) but below are detailed some
of the most popular: |
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| Day |
Time |
Instruction
Topic |
| Sunday |
18:00
Course check in
18:30 Kit checks & briefings |
Accommodation
allocation
Course itinerary and safety briefings & kit
checks |
| Monday |
17:00-17:30
General interest talk
17:30-18:30 Course Instruction |
Aconcagua
or Kilimanjaro Expeditions
A: Alpine ropework - rope choice, fall factors,
knots
B: Advanced ropework, and Alpine abseil systems
C: Using GPS systems for mountain navigation |
| Tuesday |
17:00-17:30
General interest talk
17:30-18:30 Course Instruction |
Ice
climbing or Mont Blanc
A: Mountain weather systems and synoptic charts
B: History of Alpine climbing in Chamonix
C: Mountain navigation and use of maps |
| Wednesday |
17:00-17:30
General interest talk
17:30-18:30 Course Instruction |
Ski
Haute Route - Chamonix to Zermatt
A: Crevasse rescue systems for climbers &
skiers
B: Alpine kit, choice, selection, safety & storage
C: Self rescue rope systems for glacier travel |
| Thursday |
On
every Thursday there is a night off instruction
sessions, as on most courses a night is scheduled
to be spent in a mountain hut. If you are in Chamonix,
you have free time today! |
| Friday |
17:00-17:30
General interest talk
17:30-18:30 Course Instruction |
The
Big 3 - Eiger, Matterhorn, Mont Blanc
A: Snow safety & avalanche tranceivers
B: Transceiver search patterns & practice
C: Interpreting avalanche forecasts in the Alps |
| Saturday |
10:00
Accommodation check out |
End
of course debrief and Q&A session |
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Who
teaches the instruction?
The vast majority of the
instruction is taught
by one of the Icicle guiding team, who have
lived and guided in the Alps for many years.
This is an exceptional extra service that no
other operator offers, and is real value
added element of your course.
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Why
offer the instruction?
We know you are on holiday,
but believe the
the majority of our clients wish to learn as
much as possible both on and off the hill.
All our evening instruction is completely
optional, but to attend the sessions gives
your course an extra dimension.
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