Winter
Alpine Intro, Chamonix 2025
Updated itinerary | 1:3 ratio | Includes guiding and accommodation  |
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| Course
overview |
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This
is our most popular winter course, and it's
easy to see why. It is designed to launch
your winter mountaineering career, and you'll
develop skills for ice climbing and alpinism
too. |
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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 winter mountaineering and 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 (avalanche tranceivers), and
equipment selection. |
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You
learn key skills of waterfall
ice climbing and mountaineering, and there
is the option of a night in a mountain hut,
if you select a route where an Alpine start
is required. If you'd prefer not to stay in
a hut, don't worry as valley accommodation
is provided anyway. |
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There
is a focus through the week on selecting routes
in reaction to the avalanche forecasts each
day, and each day you will need to be equipped
with avalanche tranceiver, probe and shovel. |
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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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Brief
Course Itinerary
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Sunday
Travel to Chamonix to arrive for your accommodation check in from 16:00 on the Sunday afternoon, for those staying in with Icicle. In the early evening there is a course safety and itinerary briefing. There is time for kit checks or rental of equipment, including the hire of any boots or personal climbing equipment. Briefings and sorting equipment is over by 19:00 and then you are free to go out for dinner / drinks. Night in Chamonix. |
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Monday
The
focus of the day is on learning key winter skills
including route choice,
with a focus on avalanche awareness and prediction.
Generally you access the area by cable car, to maximise
your time on the mountain. You will examine show
profiles, perform stability tests, and learn how
to use avalanche transceivers. You also develop
winter navigation skills including safe route choice. Guiding ratio 1:3 (max). Night in Chamonix. |
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Tuesday
Day to develop and practice using crampons and ice axes on a glacier such as the Mer de Glace. You also climb vertical ice, create ice anchors, and learn glacier travel skills. Another option is to have a group mountaineering day, to focus on route choice, snowskills, snow anchors and belays. Either option provides you with key Alpine skills, and the choice is based on conditions. Guiding ratio 1:3 (max). Night in Chamonix. |
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Wednesday
Day
of waterfall ice climbing, to develop your technical
skills. You'll be climbing with a pair of technical
ice axes (loaned for free) on steeper ice, and will
learn skills including placing ice screws, building
anchors, and ropework. Typically you go to a venue
such as La Cremerie or Les Contamines, where there
are options for setting up several top ropes on
a range of ice climbs. Guiding ratio 1:3 (max).
Night in Chamonix. |
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Thursday
Today
and on Friday, you have two days that are very flexible for your choice of either mountaineering
or waterfall ice climbing. You can choose the objective,
dependant on conditions. There is also the option
of spending a night in a mountain hut (not included),
if an Alpine start is required for a route. An example
night be using the Torino hut for climbing Aiguilles Marbrees. Night in Chamonix / hut. |
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Friday
Your
second day of flexible itinerary,
for you to select another route. Popular
objectives for technical ice climbs
such as Deferlante and Mini Couloir. Mountaineering
route favourites include the Aiguille du Toule from Helbronner, or a summit in the Aiguille Rouges such as La Floria, to put your skills in practice. In
the evening there are optional drinks and then a
celebratory meal. Your final night is spent in Chamonix. |
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Saturday
Breakfast
then the accommodation check out is by 10:00. Most
arrange their airport transfers to leave around
this time, to catch a flight from Geneva about midday. Depart for home. Some
people opt to book a tandem paraglider flight in
the morning to celebrate the weeks efforts, and
prices for this are from 90€ for a c.30 minute
flight. These flights can be booked in resort up
to the day before you wish to fly. 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 itinerary
as a guide to the types of route / activity you attempt. |
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| Course
Prices |
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| Standard
course |
5 days guiding, 7 days holiday in total
IFMGA mountain guides for 5 days |
£1395 |
| Live
availability |
Click
on the planner logo to the right to
see the real time live course availability
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| How to book |
Secure
payments, bonded tour operator
Details of how to book, click
here |
Book
online |
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| Standard
Course Inclusions: 1) IFMGA Mountain Guide
/ UIMLA Leader, for five days, 2) Chamonix course hosts
for logistics & briefings, 3) Six nights self-catered accommodation
in Chamonix (inc. beddings & towels), 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, 8) Evening
technical instruction sessions. |
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| Exclusions:
1) Travel to and from Chamonix, 2) Cable Cars (approx
£100), 3) Extra equipment hire, 4) Personal laundry,
telephone calls, lunches, evening meals, & any purchases
in mountain huts / hotels / restaurants, 5) Road transport
outside Chamonix valley, 6) Sunday pre-dinner drinks &
Friday celebratory meal & drinks, 7) Activities insurance,
& excess baggage charges. |
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| Notes:
Included in the course price are the loan of the following
hire equipment (as required) during the week; avalanche
transceiver, snow shovel, probe. Group sizes 3 people (max / min). |
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Standard
course accommodation - normally clients are based
in self-catered flats (details),
so take a look, and decide if it's for you. For
more luxury, contact us for quotes in higher standard
apartments, or hotels of any standard required.
If you have / source your own course accommodation,
or we cannot provide an upgrade, the standard course
price has a £100pp reduction applied on your
invoice. |
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Current
course availability
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| Testimonials |
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| Press
& media |
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| Films
& videos |
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| Photo
gallery |
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| Location
data for this trip |
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| 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. |
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Time
Difference
GMT +1hr
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Local
Currency
€ Euros
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Travel
from UK
1hr flight
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| Suggested
reading and kit |
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View
full course equipment list,
with examples of kit, click
here |
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| Why
choose our trips? |
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See
our Alpine blog, by clicking on the Word-press logo
to the right. |
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Itinerary
flexibility to allow you to take full advantage
of the weather windows on any day, to maximise your
summit chances. |
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Our
prices are fixed in £ Sterling, to protect
you from euro fluctuations, so you can budget accurately. |
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There
is a choice of routes to opt for, depending on the
weather, conditions, and your experience. |
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| Trip
report & article |
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| An
article written about this trip written by Suzanna Shute
was published in the Adventure Travel magazine - Link
to article. It can also be viewed by clicking
the image below...
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| Any further questions? |
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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.
Many people opt for this service, and it is an integral
part of what we offer, as we are keen to ensure that you
are prepared as possible, and that you select a course
that is suitable for you. It makes it easier and more
enjoyable for you and us, if you are on the right trip. |
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