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Winter
Ice & Alpine Weekend 2013
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| Course
overview |
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Course
dates & availability |
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For
those looking for an exciting weekend adventure,
you can't get much more exhilarating than a weekend
climbing on iced up waterfalls or ascending Alpine
routes! |
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The
course meeting is at 08:00 on the Saturday morning,
but most arrive on Friday evening after work and
leave on Sunday evening, you can be back at work
for Monday morning. On Saturday and Sunday you have
two full days of ice climbing or mountaineering,
and a night in a hotel or mountain hut on a half
board basis. |
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Your
two Guided days are fairly flexible to allow you
to ascend route types of your choice, be it long
multi-pitch ice routes, shorter more technical
routes or mountaineering routes at altitude.
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Although
we ask for no previous experience for this course,
if you have more experience but would like a weekend
ice climbing in the Alps, we will try to match you
with a suitable climbing partner. |
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Whatever
your aim, you can rest assured that the conditions
will be way better than Scotland, so even on a weekend,
you will learn more than a week in Scotland dodging
bad weather and searching for ice. |
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As
this course is operated on a 1:2 guiding ratio,
if there is only one person who books on a date,
then please note we provide one full day of private
guiding and the half board accommodation on the
Saturday night, but the activity is guaranteed to
operate. |
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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. |
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Course
Photo Gallery
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Brief
Course Itinerary |
| Sat |
Arrive
for the 08:30 check-in and course / itinerary briefings.
There is time for kit checks and fitting. You discuss
what you want to get out of the two days with the guide
(for the accommodation booking we need to know your preferences
in advance, though the weather and conditions often play
the deciding role). Then by 08:30 you set off for your
two days climbing. Below are some of the most popular
options. Day of either waterfall
ice climbing, e.g. Cremerie icefalls, or a mountaineering
route, e.g. Petite Aiguille Verte. |
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Option
1
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Guiding ratio 1:2 max
Drive to the Val de Cogne in North Italy, and climb
one of the classic icefalls, such as Cascade Lillaz
or Patrie at the end of the valley, then return to Cogne
village.
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Option
2
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Guiding ratio 1:2 max
Take the Grands Montets cable car above Argentiere,
and climb the north face of the Petite Aiguille Verte.
Descend back to the valley and return to Chamonix.
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Option
3
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Guiding ratio 1:2 max
Spend the day ice climbing at the Cremerie icefalls,
then in the late afternoon take the Aiguille du Midi
cable car to reach the Cosmiques mountain hut.
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Night
spent in hotel in Cogne on a half board basis. |
Night
spent in hotel / flat in Chamonix on half board basis. |
Night
spent in the Cosmiques hut on a half board basis. |
| Sun |
Spend
a second day ice climbing in Cogne, before driving back
to Chamonix to arrive c.17:00. |
Day
of waterfall ice climbing, such as Deferlante / Mini Couloir,
then return to Chamonix c.17:00. |
Ascent
of altitude ice route such as Chere Couloir on Tacul,
then return to Chamonix c.17:00. |
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All
the guiding is scheduled to finish by 17:00, so you can
return any borrowed equipment, then airport transfers
can be booked for any time after 17:00 (realistically
this is for flights departing at 20:00) to allow you to
travel home, in order to avoid taking time off work. |
| 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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| Course
Prices |
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Standard
course
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2
full days IFMGA guiding, 1:2 max ratio
2 days holiday in total, Saturday-Sunday |
£499 |
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Live
availability
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Click
on the planner logo to the right to
see the real time live course availability
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Secure
online booking system |
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Course Inclusions: 1) IFMGA Mountain Guide for two
days, 2) Chamonix course hosts for logistics & briefings,
3) One night half board in a hotel or mountain hut for you and
your guide on the Saturday, 4) Pre course information booklet,
5) Equipment discount voucher for UK shops, 6) Free 36 page
technical Course Instruction Booklet, 7) Road transport in Chamonix
valley and to Cogne, 8) Chamonix office for logistics and support. |
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| Exclusions:
1) Travel to and from Chamonix, 2) Cable Cars (approx £30),
3) Ski hire, 4) Personal laundry, telephone calls, lunches,
evening meals, & any purchases in mountain huts / hotels
/ restaurants, 5) Accommodation in Chamonix (approx from £15
pp/n), 6) Activities insurance, & excess baggage charges. |
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| Notes:
The
loan of all technical climbing equipment for each client is
included* in the course price as required: ice axe(s), 12 point
crampons, helmet, harness, ropes, ice screws, avalanche tranceiver,
avalanche probe and shovel. |
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| Upgrade
options |
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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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