Celebrating 24 years!







Facebook YouTube
Instagram Twitter
Blog Photo galleries

Winter 1:1 Advanced 2024
Week of IFMGA guiding tailored to you | Usually Chamonix based
Course overview
This advanced course is among the top level courses that we offer, without specific tariffs for named routes being quoted. Recent courses have ascended famous routes such as Modica Noury on Tacul (TD), Goulotte Cosmiques, and Cold Couloir (V).
The itineraries are not fixed, and are flexible to take advantage of your progression, the best conditions, your skill and ambitions. You can choose the elements that interest you best to create your ideal itinerary. The maximum grade of climb attempted is grade V ice / Alpine TD, so if you have plans for harder routes ask for a quote. Guides will expect to have climbed with clients before, to consider harder routes.
You should have a good level of previous mountaineering experience such as Alpine Grade D, or Scottish Grade IV+ ice climbing. An ability to ski or ski tour is an advantage, but not essential.
Please note that for highly technical ascents, such as winter ascents of the Aiguille Verte, Grandes Jorasses, and also some of the major difficult routes such as Supercouloir or Omega, these routes cost a lot more to guide so are outside the scope of this course. We are happy to quote individually for this level of routes. If you would like a week of 1:1 waterfall ice climbing, look at the Ultimate Ice course.
On demand: if no scheduled course dates are showing in the column on the right, we can still operate a course on demand for just one person booking, on any dates that suit from January through until the end of April, arriving Sunday and departing Saturday.
Dates: these are listed in the column on the right, and they show the live availability from our secure online booking system. When you book online, you receive immediate confirmation, your Alpine Information Booklet, course specific kit list and invoice.


Course Photo Gallery


Brief Course Itinerary
Sun 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 This is your first of five days of 1:1 guiding, and it is usually used to acclimatise you, and to give the guide a good idea of your climbing level on ice / rock / mixed. Night spent in Chamonix.
Tue Normally a technical day route, at altitude such as the Goulotte Cosmique, or on high grade valley ice (grade V to VI+). You can choose what type of route to attempt. Night in Chamonix.
Wed The next two days are often spent on a mini expedition / major route / different region, to allow you to attempt the principal objectives of the week. Night in Chamonix or in an mountain hut.
Thu Second day of the two day trip, to gain the summit and complete the route. Night in Chamonix.
Fri This final day of guiding is a flexible day for weather or to complete your route, or to try a shorter more technical route, or for something different like a day of ski touring or off piste. Night in Chamonix.
Sat Breakfast then the accommodation check out is by 10:00. Most arrange their transfers for around this time for a flight from Geneva about midday.
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 5 full days IFMGA guiding, 1:1 max ratio
Guided days are Monday-Frday
£2399
Live availability Click on the planner logo to the right to
see the real time live course availability
Latest Availability
How to book Secure payments, bonded tour operator
Details of how to book
, click here
Book online
Standard Course Inclusions
1) Hand picked IFMGA Mountain Guide for five days (1:1 ratio max)
2) Chamonix concierge service for logistics, advice and support
3) Road transport in Chamonix valley to and from the climbing venues each day
4) Pre course information dossier, with training plans and kit lists
5) Briefing the first evening, with latest updates and weather reports
6) Equipment discount voucher for our Windermere shop / online
7) Preferential rates on technical equipment hire in Chamonix
8) Free 36 page technical Course Instruction Booklet
9) Optional evening instruction sessions as per detailed itinerary
Exclusions: 1) Travel to and from Chamonix, 2) Equipment hire, 3) Personal laundry, telephone calls, lunches, evening meals in valley, & any purchases in mountain huts / hotels / restaurants, 4) Cable cars and uplift for you and your guide (cable cars for guide included in Chamonix), 5) Transport / tunnel ticket outside the Chamonix valley, 6) Any night(s) half board in mountain hut (inc. costs for guides), 7) Sunday pre-dinner drinks & Friday celebratory meal & drinks, 8) Activities insurance, & excess baggage charges, 9) Chamonix accommodation, but we offer an upgrade of £200pp for twin room only accommodation In Chamonix, subject to availability.
Ice climbing and Alpine gullies on the Winter 1:1 course
Current course availability

Course Dates
Winter 1:1 Advanced
  • No Dates Available
NOTE: This trip has scheduled
dates, but it can be operated on
any date you wish. Let us know
Facebook
YouTube
Blog
Twitter
Mobile
Photos
Podcasts
News

Price: £2399 Book online
The price above is for the package without accommodation. To add 6 nights in twin room-only Icicle accommodation, is only £200pp extra for 6 nights, subject to availability


Alternative courses
Winter Alpine Intro course
Chamonix Technical Ice
Winter Alpine Classics

Ascent of the Matterhorn

Client feedback


Your Guide team is unmatched anywhere I have ever been before, as shown by the grade and number of routes I ascended this week. You should be proud to have such a skilled team of Guides. Thanks also to the staff for their advice, and for driving us around each day

Mark G , 1:1 Advanced

Just a short message to thank you and Alain my guide for a great week in the Mont Blanc massif. A great local knowledge of the guide and in resort staff, really helped me to achieve an unbelieveable amount

Peter W , 1:1 Advanced

When you guys say that you will push us to our limits you really dont hold back. To climb such huge routes in winter conditions is an amazing experience, and thank you so much for fulfilling my ambitions and more

John Andrews , 1:1 Advanced

Testimonials
Press & media
Films & videos
Photo gallery
Location data for this trip
The trips start in the Chamonix valley in the French Alps, at the foot of Mont Blanc. It is easily accessed via a 90 minute transfer from Geneva airport.
Time Difference
GMT +1hr
Local Currency
€ Euros
Travel from UK
1hr flight
Course notes
To date we haven't run two identical Winter 1:1 Advanced courses, so the exact plans are very much down to your preferences, the conditions, weather, and your performance. We are more than happy to be as flexible as possible to accommodate your plans, so for example if you would like any nights in huts, this is fine as long as you budget for paying for the nights for both you and your Guide. If you approach us either before or during the course with ideas of routes that are objectively more serious, or physically much harder, than the style of routes listed here, you will need to be quoted for each specific route as appropriate.
Suggested reading and kit
View full course equipment list, with examples of kit, click here
Why choose our trips?
See our Alpine blog, by clicking on the Word-press logo to the right.
Icicle Blog
Itinerary flexibility to allow you to take full advantage of the weather windows on any day, to maximise your summit chances.
Our prices are fixed in £ Sterling, to protect you from euro fluctuations, so you can budget accurately.
There is a choice of routes to opt for, depending on the weather, conditions, and your experience.
Any further questions?
A key part of choosing a company is being able to come and talk about your plans with an experienced course advisor face to face. In an increasingly virtual world, we know our clients value speaking to real people, getting open and honest advice. The vast majority of our clients are British, and our office and outdoor store is based in Windermere in the English Lake District.



Get in contact to arrange a meeting, and come in for a coffee to discuss your course in person with a trip advisor.


Facebook Icicle Instagram Twitter Icicle
Windermere & online shop technical kit clothing & shoes the book shop special offers
conditions|privacy|sitemap|copyright © 2024 Icicle, Church Street, Windermere, Lake District, LA23 1AQ
Icicle logo is the registered trademark ® of Icicle Mountaineering|UK company 413 6635. VAT 770 137 933