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Winter
Intro 'Ice & Alpine' 2011
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| Course
overview |
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Client
feedback |
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Even
with no previous climbing experience, by the end
of the week you should have climbed grade 3 or 4
waterfall ice, and a famous Alpine PD / AD route
in full winter conditions. |
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This
course is suitable both for Alpine novices and for
those who want to learn waterfall ice climbing (such
as those who have attended a Scottish introductory
or a summer Alpine introductory course). The itinerary
is flexible at the end of the week. |
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Technical
skills taught on the course include glacier travel,
ice climbing, crevasse rescue, ice axe belays and
anchors, ropework, crampon and ice axe use, avalanche
prediction and using ARVA's (tranceivers), and equipment
selection. |
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A
principal feature of this course are the evening
theory sessions, where you learn the background
theory, so that the daylight hours are optimised
for your climbing time. |
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If
you are keen on waterfall ice climbing, then select
the first four dates. The last two dates will be
more of a mountaineering flavour, as they are out
of the normal ice climbing season. |
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'Just
a quick note to say thanks for a great time
on the Winter Intro course last week. Your
help and support was first class, the guiding
was excellent and you even ordered good
weather!'
Craig
Wakefield, Winter Intro 2009
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'Amazing
course that was challenging every day, and
flexible to allow for our different learning
speeds, not to mention climbing speeds.
Thanks a lot'
Anna
Watson, Winter Intro 2008
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'Thank
you for an exceptional week, it was a long
held ambition to climb in the Alps, and
to do so with such a knowledgeble and skilled
team made the experience all the more enjoyable.
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Kevin
M, Winter Intro 2009
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During
this course you will spend a night in a mountain hut,
and if you wish can even work towards your National Navigation
Award Scheme (NNAS) Silver level award through learning
advanced use of the map and compass, as well as altimeters
and GPS. |
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Dates: 12
- 18 December 2010, 16 - 22 January 2011, 30 Jan - 5 Feb
2011, 20 - 26 February 2011, 13 - 19 March 2011, 3 - 9
April 2011.
For current availability on this course click
here. |
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The
course at a glance... |
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Week long course, run in winter. Price £799pp, includes
valley accommodation. |
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No rock or ice climbing experience necessary. Avalanche
safety kit is loaned for free. |
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Top tip... this week could be extended with an Intro
Ski Tour Weekend
for only £199! |
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You could also consider week long... Waterfall
Ice & Gullies
or
Off
Piste Clinic |
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So
why choose Icicle? |
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See
our blog posts about the Winter Intro courses by
clicking on the RSS logo to the right. |
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Itinerary
flexibility to allow you to take full advantage
of the weather and conditions each day, so that
you maximise the amount of time spent climbing each
day. |
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Our
prices are fixed in £ pounds sterling, to
protect you from euro currency fluctuations, so
that you can budget accurately. |
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We
have a team of over 30 IFMGA guides, and a resort
support team, who all want you to have the best
summit chances possible! For more details on the
guiding team and qualifications, please click
here. |
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Brief
Course Itinerary |
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Travel
to Chamonix to arrive for the 17:00 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
&
Tue |
A
two day winter journey, with a night in a remote mountain
hut. You travel on snowshoes, build avalanche pits, learn
winter navigation skills, practice route planning and
hazard awareness, and learn how to build a snowhole. After
the night in the hut, the focus of the second day is to
ascend to a high pass and summit, and to
learn more advanced snowskills, GPS, altimeters, avalanche
tranceivers, and develop winter navigation & avalanche
prediction. Ratio
1:6 (max). Monday night in a hut, Tuesday night in Chamonix. |
| Wed |
Day
of either glacier travel and ice climbing, or valley waterfall
ice climbing. You will learn ice axe and crampon use,
anchor systems, placing ice screws, etc. Guiding ratio
1:6 (max). Night in Chamonix. |
Thu
&
Fri |
Two
days of small guiding ratios (1:2 max) for either mountaineering
or waterfall ice climbing in the Chamonix valley. You
can choose the objective, dependant on conditions. Popular
objectives for technical multi-pitch ice climbs are Deferlante,
Mini Couloir and EMHM. Mountaineering route favourites
include the Cosmiques Arete on Aiguille du Midi or the
Petite Aiguille Verte.
Both nights are spent in Chamonix. |
| Sat |
Breakfast,
then course debrief, with feedback and questions and answers
session. Depart for home. |
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| 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
Photo Gallery
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Prices |
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Standard
course
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5
days guiding, 7 days holiday in total |
£799 |
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Premium
course
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7
days guiding, 8 days holiday in total
(Standard course plus Acclimatisation weekend)
LINK |
£898 |
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Secure
online booking system |
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Course Inclusions: 1) IFMGA Mountain Guide or UIMLA
Leader for five days, 2) Chamonix course hosts for logistics
& briefings, 3) Six nights B&B accommodation in Chamonix
(inc. beddings & towels), 4) One night half board in mountain
hut (inc. costs for guides), 5) Pre course information booklet,
6) Equipment discount voucher for UK shops, 7) Free 36 page
technical Course Instruction Booklet, 8) Road transport in Chamonix
valley, 9) Evening technical instruction. |
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| Exclusions:
1) Travel to and from Chamonix, 2) Cable Cars (approx £40),
3) Equipment hire, 4) Personal laundry, telephone calls, lunches,
evening meals, & any purchases in mountain huts / hotels
/ restaurants, 5) Certificate for NNAS navigation award (c.£3),
6) Road transport outside Chamonix valley, 7) 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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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. |
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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. |
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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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