Alpine Beginner's Courses

Alpine Beginners Course || The Mont Blanc Express Course

 

Remember - Everyone had to start somewhere!!

Bonatti, Cassin, Whillans, Terray, to name a few of the greats. They will have started the same way as you will with us, on the glaciers and peaks of the Alps.

Chamonix

From Geneva airport it's a very short distance to this famous town, the very centre of MODERN ALPINISM. With its excellent system of telepheriques and mountain huts, it's ideal for first time instruction, and, for the more advanced, an opportunity to scale great alpine peaks. Our assessment and familiarisation days will lead us to being able to tackle some of these peaks, our course culminating with the ascent of Mont Blanc, the highest point in the Alps.

 

"Smiler's Alpine course was the perfect preparation for a successful ascent of Mont Blanc."

Dave - Alpine Course 2007

Alpine Beginners Course with Ascent of Mont Blanc

An introduction to alpine climbing including an ascent of Mont Blanc.

Suggested (sample) itinerary:

 

Day 1.
am. Chamonix resumé - Where things are/useful and important places. For the clients' future alpine visits, all important locations i.e. Guides' Office, that useful bread shop, the best supermarket, where the cable car station is, Tourist Office etc. From the latter we get the all important documents on cable car times and prices, mountain hut information (including the telephone numbers for bookings), bus and train timetables.
pm. Ecole du Roche - Familiarisation in ropework, knots, simulated moving together and crevasse rescue training. Getting the theory and dimensions of how to move as a 1:1/1:2 (for future trips) and examining and practising the modern techniques for keeping (or getting) out of trouble.

Day 2.
Crevasse rescue techniques and training (the real thing!) on the glacier. The full-on experience of being in the crevasse. Safe crampon movement and steep ice climbing. Great stuff and great fun!

Day 3.
Aiguille Rouge rock traverse (an awareness and acclimatisation day). Our first stage of acclimatising for Mont Blanc. We go up to c2800 metres and stay at that level for the whole length of this Crib Goch style ridge, descending to Lac Blanc and a welcome coffee at the gite.

Day 4.
Prepare/pack and depart for Albert Premier Hut (c2700m). Carefully planning and packing what we'll need for our first snow peak, we move up to the Col du Balme by cable car and then trek across and up to the Albert Premier hut, in position now for an early start and our push for the summit.

Day 5.
Ascent of Aiguille du Tour (3544m). We put our theories and techniques together now. An early start ensures the snow is cold and crisp,and we make our way across the crevasse-ridden glacier to the delightful rock ridge.

Day 6.
Ascent of Petite Aiguille Verte (3512m).
OR go up to Argentiere Hut.

Depending on conditions...
Our guides, with you in mind, will decide which option to take. A one-day trip to 3500m giving perfect training for steep mixed ground in crampons, and leaving the option of the Midi, for the following day.

Or up to the Argentiere Hut via the Grande Montet, dropping down into the vast glacier basin and across to the hut. Wonderful views of the north faces across the valley.

Day 7.
Ascent of Cosmiques Arête (3842m). OR Ascent of Aiguille Argentiére (c3900m)

Depending on conditions...
Our second one-day climb from the valley and it's fantastic. A sensational start, exiting the cable car and descending the snow arête, leads us to the Col du Midi at c3500m, a chilly place. Mixed climbing along the Cosmiques Ridge take us to 3842m, and an interesting finish.
Or the early start required to tackle the steep slopes of the Aiguille Argentiere (c3900m), summitting around 8am, and descending to the hut and then the valley, before the sun gets too strong.

Day 8.
After preparing and packing, we travel down the valley to the cable car at Les Houches. This lift deposits us on the ridge carrying the little rack railway from down the valley to the Nid d’Aigle (the Eagle’s Nest). We disembark at the dead-end stop and in a steady walk for a couple of hours, we reach theTete Rouse Hut. We then cross the Grande Couloir and reach the Gouter Ridge. This we climb steadily to the Gouter Hut on its summit.

Day 9.
A very early start (3am from the hut after breakfast) gives us time and cool conditions to climb up and around the Dome du Gouter, then it’s all uphill from here, passing the Vallot Hut, an emergency bivouac hut, up and along the final Bosses Ridge to the wonderful final arête leading to the top of Mont Blanc, at 4810 metres, the highest point in western Europe. Dawn will just have broken as we descend the same route, the valley beckoning and soon we are celebrating the end of the course and success.

The aim of the course is to climb Mont Blanc, getting fitter and acclimatised on the way there. However, poor weather could spoil our final days and you should be prepared for a change of mountain for our final climb. Any alternative will be just as much fun and an important summit.

Course Fees & Details

Dates: Various

Contact us for details

Course fee:

£1395 per person

Climbing ratio:

Three clients to one guide (3:1) & (2:1) on Mont Blanc

Minimum on course:

The course will run with minimum of 2 clients.

Suitability:

All are welcome - young (under 18's must be accompanied by parent/guardian) and old! But you must be aerobically fit and used to long days out on the hill - the fitter you are the easier you will acclimatise, and the more fun you will have!

What's included :-

• Expert instruction/Tuition
• All hut and telepherique (cable car) costs
• All guide's expenses
• Sound advice on suitable valley accommodation and amenities
• Complete equipment list
• Full organisational assistance

Not included:-

• Insurance (advise BMC)
• Transport to Chamonix
• Client's valley accommodation and meals

The Mont Blanc Express

Climb to the summit of western Europe in six days

The course itinerary …

Day 1 - we cover a brief awareness of the Chamonix valley and what is intended on the course/what is possible for you in the future, then some preparation for crevasse rescue, moving together on ropes, a little technical rock climbing, all this in a safe environment, where the learning curve has to be attainable quickly.

Day 2 - is our first day at high altitude. We climb up to and traverse a rocky ridge at 2,800metres, moving together and learning to look after each other. We then eventually descend to the valley where we will do more technical training, including crevasse rescue techniques.

Day 3 - All high peaks need a refuge as a starting point, so as to catch the snow when it is firm and cold. Today we move up into a hut at 2700metres, adding much needed and further acclimatisation to our bodies.

Day 4 - Starting at first light, we cross a large glacier and climb to the summit of Aiguille du Tour, at 3,500 metres. We descend to the valley and we’re now ready for the big one!

Day 5 - Using the invaluable mechanised transport Chamonix is famous for, we reach the start of our climb to Mt. Blanc. Around four to five hours will get us to the Gouter Hut at 3817metres, where we will spend the night.

Day 6 – Leaving the Gouter Hut at an early hour (around 02.30) we ascend to the summit of Mont Blanc. We return the same way, only stopping at the hut for refreshments, and we continue on down and return to the valley. A long day but the hard work is over. Celebrations await us.

The aim of the course is to climb Mont Blanc, getting fitter and acclimatised on the way there. However, poor weather could spoil our final days and you should be prepared for a change of mountain for our final climb. Any alternative will be just as much fun and an important summit.
Adequate mountain rescue and holiday insurance is essential (e.g. BMC)

Course fees & Details

The six-day course costs £750 per person plus all mountain expenses.

One guide is required for every two clients on Mont Blanc.

Mont Blanc Express