PHOTO:
The amazing location of the luxury Bonatti Hut in the Val
Ferret with Mont Blanc behind
FEEDBACK:"Brilliant, exciting, fun, perfect! Not bad platitudes
for a weekend. The hut was amazing, and
I think you undersold it - no mention of the four course meal
and the duvets!" Anita T, Bouremouth, 2007
Course
Overview
For
those looking for a great weekend adventure, you can't
get much more visual overload than two days snow-shoeing
in north Italy, overlooking the amazing south face of
Mont Blanc that towers over Courmayeur.
This
is a two day course that can either be done in its own
right as a weekend, or before a course to enhance acclimatisation.
It is perfect for those booked on the one week winter
climbing or skiing courses.
The
course meeting is at midday on the Saturday morning, so
there is time for getting an early morning flight on the
Saturday, and for those just doing the weekend, you leave
on Sunday evening, you can be back at work for Monday
morning. On Saturday and Sunday you have two exciting
days of action packed snowshoeing.
A
key feature of this course, is spending a night in a luxury
mountain hut for the night. For those who haven't stayed
in a hut before, banish all thoughts of cold sheds, and
get thinking of gourmet mountain hotels with duvets on
beds and four course evening meals and a fully stocked
bar with beer on tap. Not so bad eh?
You
are led by a very experienced and qualified International
Mountain Leader, who will instruct you in the use of snowshoes,
and is there to guide you and look after your safety in
terms of the weather and avalanche awareness.
Read
all about this trip in an article of ours that appeared
in the Snowshoe Magazine, and get a flavour of what it
is like. Click on the logo to the right.
Dates:
20
- 21 February 2010, 13
- 14 March 2010, 3
- 4 April 2010, 17
- 18 April 2010, 1
- 2 May 2010. For
current availability on this course click
here. Extra dates are
run on demand for four or more people for the same prices.
If there are less than 4 the price is pro-rata based on
the price for 4 people.
The
course at a glance...
•
Weekend course, run January to April. Price only £99pp,
including snowshoes.
•
No snowshoeing experience necessary. All safety kit is
provided for the days.
•
Top tip... this weekend can be extended with an Avalanche
Awareness day for £49!
Arrive
for the midday check-in and course / itinerary briefings.
There is time for kit checks or fitting. Then
you set off from Chamonix for the half hour transfer to
Courmayeur and Planpinceux, where the snowshoe trek starts.
For those who have never used snowshoes, don't worry as
after only about 10 minutes instruction you will be confident.
You set off towards La Vachey and then up through the
trees towards the mountain hut. On the way up you will
stop for lunch, before you leave the treeline behind and
make your way up to the hut. The guide will check you
in, show you where the boot room, shower room, drying
room, dining room, bar, and most importantly your bed
is. Before the evening meal some groups head outside to
take some more photos, and perhaps to learn how to use
the avalanche safety transceivers. Then it's time for
dinner, which is usually four courses of superb food.
Afterwards over a drink from the bar, there is usually
a film shown about the local area, then it is time for
bed in those comfy duvets!
Sun
In
the early morning you emerge for breakfast, and Italian
coffee, cake and cereals are enough to coax you out of
bed. Then in the first light of the crisp Alpine morning,
you put on your snowshoes, and crunch you way over the
well frozen snow. The normal route is to ascend behind
the hut, through the ruined villages of Malatra, and up
the stunning remote valley. At its head is a mountain
barrier, but to the right is a well hidden pass, and as
you ascend to it you are rewarded with the most amazing
views of the sunrise on the south face of Mont Blanc.
After savouring the views from the high pass, you loop
down and around back to the hut, and after a quick rest
you descend back to the valley. Most groups stop for a
celebratory beer and a bite to eat when they reach La
Vachey. Then it's the final section of the trek and the
return drive to Chamonix. You reach here by late afternoon
you are free to depart for home. For those using this
snowshoe weekend as acclimatisation for a week long course,
you will be back in Chamonix in time for your check-in
and course briefings for the main course which are scheduled
for 18:00.
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.
Course
Photo Gallery
Course
Prices
Standard
course
2
days guiding, 2 days holiday in total
£99
Premium
course
2
days guiding, 4 days holiday in total
(Standard course plus 2 nights B&B
gite accommodation)
Standard
Course Inclusions: 1) International Mountain Leader
for two days, 2) Chamonix course hosts for logistics & briefings,
3) Pre course information booklet, 4) Equipment discount voucher
for UK shops, 5) Free 36 page technical Course Instruction Booklet,
6) Chamonix office support and full time in-resort hosts.
Exclusions:
1) Travel to and from Chamonix, 2) Equipment hire, 3) Any cable
cars / uplift / transport (budget on 20€), 4) One night
half board stay in a mountain hut for you and your guide (budget
c. 45€), 5) Activities insurance, & excess baggage
charges.
Notes:
The
loan of all technical equipment for each client is included*
in the course price as required: snowshoes, avalanche tranceiver,
avalanche probe and shovel.
Upgrade
options
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.
Half
Board Upgrade £99
(throughout the season)
For
every night that you are in town, you eat in a different
restaurant in the centre of Chamonix. Always three courses,
to power you for the next day.
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.
