By
the end of the weekend you might have ice climbed,
practiced crevasse rescue, and travelled over
crevasses on snow covered (and maybe dry) glaciers.
Saturday night is spent in shared accommodation normally in a high mountain hut, or in Chamonix if you prefer two day routes or in case of very poor weather.
You arrive to start the course on the Saturday morning, and fly home after guiding on the Sunday evening. Many people use this as a brilliant acclimatisation weekend before a week long course, as it usually involves a night sleeping at altitude, to boost the red blood cell production in your body for acclimatisation.
The
weekend is designed to teach a total novice
the key safety considerations for travelling
over glaciers, focusing on the skills that
you will require on ice and snow; including
Alpine ropework, crevasse and self rescue,
glacier travel, crampon and ice axe techniques.
There are two itinerary options, a decision based on what skills and experiences you are after. You can elect for a choice of two days on altitude glaciers with a night in a mountain hut, or two day routes with the Saturday on a dry (not snow covered) glacier, such as the Mer de Glace / Argentiere / Le Tour, and the Sunday on a wet (snow covered) glacier, such as Col du Midi or Punta Helbronner.
Your itinerary choice is either made at the time of booking, or can be implemented if necessary due to changes in the weather or conditions. The focus is on really developing your glacier travel skills.
If you'd prefer this course on a bespoke 1:2 guide ratio, on any date that suits during the summer Alpine season (mid June to mid September), the price is £699 per person.
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.
Brief
Course Itinerary
Option A - altitude glaciers & hut
Option B - dry & wet glaciers
Sat
Meet your mountain guide in the morning, typically at 08:30, for a briefing and kit check, then set off up either the Midi / Helbronner cable cars to the Vallee Blanche. Traverse the altitude glacier, with the day spent learning ropework for roping up on wet (snow covered) glaciers, and snow belays for crevasse rescue anchors. Guiding ratio 1:6 (max). Night in mountain hut (Torino / Cosmiques).
Meet your mountain guide in the morning, typically at 08:30, for a briefing and kit check, then set off for the day. Days
are spent on a high glacier such as the Argentiere / Le Tour
/ Mer de Glace, with the day spent ice climbing,
creating anchors, and learning glacier travel skills.
These dry glaciers are accessed via cable car / mountain railway. Guiding ratio 1:6 (max). Night in Chamonix.
Sun
On
the second day, you build on wet glacier travel skills, with the opportunity to perform a crevasse rescue for real, if you're keen. You may well tackle a glaciated
peak (see options to right), or elect to focus more on mechanical advantage hoist systems.
Guiding ratio 1:6 (max). Guiding finishes by 16:00. Don't book flight departing before 20:00, to allow time for airport transfers.
On
the second day, you meet the guide, then
set off on a day focusing on wet (snow covered)
glacier travel, probing crevasses, Alpine coils,
crevasse rescue, etc. You may well tackle a glaciated
peak such as Pointe Lachenal / Arete Laurence / Aiguille du Toule.
Guiding ratio 1:6 (max). Guiding finishes by 16:00,
so do not book flight departing before 20:00, to allow time for airport transfers.
ITINERARY
NOTES: Where possible we follow itineraries. Mountaineering
is often 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
course itinerary as a guide to the types of route that
you will attempt, not necessarily the exact routes that
you climb.
Course
Prices
Standard
course
2 full days IFMGA guiding, 1:6 max ratio
Sat night hut accommodation included
£595
Live
availability
Click
on the planner logo to the right to
see the real time live course availability
How to book
Secure
payments, bonded tour operator
Details of how to book, click
here
Inclusions:
1) IFMGA Mountain Guide 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)
Road transport in Chamonix valley, 7) Saturday night shared accommodation in mountain hut on a half board basis (itinerary Option A), or in Chamonix valley on a room only basis (itinerary Option B).
Exclusions:
1) Travel to and from Chamonix, 2) Cable Cars (approx
c.£80), 3) Personal laundry, telephone calls, lunches,
evening meals in valley, & any purchases in mountain
huts / hotels / restaurants, 4) Travel
costs outside Chamonix valley (not normally needed,
e.g. Courmayeur c. 30 euros per person), 5) Activities insurance, &
excess baggage charges.
Group
sizes: 3 - 6 people per IFMGA
mountain guide. For groups of 4 or more booking together, a private course can be operated, with a discounted rate applied for private groups of 5 or 6 in total. We also offer a 1:2 bespoke weekend for £745 per person. All private courses can be run on demand on dates of your choice.
Current
course availability
Course Dates Glacier Altitude Weekend
[ 2 ] 28 - 29 Jun 2025
[ 4 ] 12 - 13 Jul 2025
[ 3 ] 26 - 27 Jul 2025
[ 2 ] 2 - 3 Aug 2025
[ 4 ] 16 - 17 Aug 2025
[5+] 30 - 31 Aug 2025
NOTE:
This trip has scheduled
dates, but if there are four who
are booking together, it can be
operated on any date you wish
Price: £595Book
online If you book a course that starts straight after this weekend you get a £100 discount applied to this course.
Joe
Simpson, you would never have made a
film if you knew what I do ! Bob
S , Glacier Skills Weekend
It
was really useful to learn to place
ice screws, and anchor systems on both
bare ice and snow covered glaciers,
and I'm really confident about crevasse
extraction now, but hope never to have
to do it in anger Anne
T , Glacier Skills Weekend
Thank
you so much for organising a great weekend
course. We learnt lots Rachel
C , Glacier Skills Weekend
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Location
data for this trip
The
trips are based 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.
View
full course equipment list,
with examples of kit, click
here
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.
