 |
ALPINE
COURSES
|
|
|
LOCATION:
Our summer alpine
base is the attractive and traditional village of Evolène
in the Val d'Hérens which lies in the
centre of the Swiss Valais Alps. The mighty Dent
Blanche
(4,357 m) towers above the village and the famous
Matterhorn is only
25 km distant. As well as great local climbing on the
Arolla ranges we can get to most of the great
mountain centres within a 2 hour drive - Zermatt,
Chamonix, Saas Fee, Zinal and Grindelwald are all
within our compass. Evolène is an ideal base
for beginner and expert alike.
GETTING
TO US: Just
25 km from the main Rhône Valley Evolène
is easily reached. Plane to Geneva, rapid train to Sion,
then the local postbus, or by train to Sion, or drive
direct from Calais in 10 hours or less.
OUR
CHALET BASES: Chalets
'Les Maures' and 'Pre d'Evolene' are peaceful and
well-equipped bases for our clients just 2 km from the
village centre with twin or single accommodation. Our
chalet host Judith Weston provides excellent
home cuisine and plentiful mountain food during your
stay.
|
 |
|
The Allalinhorn - Swiss
Trekking Peaks
|
STAFF:
All Alpine courses
are staffed by qualified British Mountain Guides
and Aspirant Guides with international UIAGM
accreditation . We have a regular guiding team with
intimate local knowledge, who are skilled instructors
and motivators.
AGE
AND FITNESS: Clients aged between 18 and
70 may join us provided they have good fitness from
regular trekking and/or mountaineering. We can advise
on training and preparation for the Alps.
EQUIPMENT:
We can loan or hire specialist
equipment for Alpine Climbing. A full kit list is sent
out on booking.
PRIVATE
GUIDING: Some clients or groups may like
to book private guiding for specific mountains or tours.
Contact us with your ideas. Minimum period of engagement:
3 days. We are available to run group courses/private
guidng from June to September. Daily guiding rates
range from £225 to £280 according
to itineraries and group size.
|
COURSES:
Our
courses offer itineraries for all ambitions
and experience with the option of one
or two week duration.
Choose
from three levels:
1) Trekking Peaks Courses,
2)
Introductory Mountaineering and High Summits 3) Intermediate
and Advanced Level Courses
to
help you choose the technical grade appropriate to your experience
and ambitions.
One Week or Two?: On 6
day courses we try to give you maximum productivity of
climbing and training, and you can enjoy an alpine holiday without
stealing all your annual leave. 12 day
courses give you more flexibility with weather, conditions and
choice of routes, and allow proper acclimatisation for attempts
on major high-level peaks. Some guests combine two 6 day courses
to make a fortnight's holiday.
Course
prices include: Full
board chalet accommodation
in the valley (single, twin or 4 bedded rooms) with 3
course dinners and afternoon teas, all packed
lunch food, Guiding &
instruction (6 days per week), guides'
hut and travel expenses. Car/minibus
transport during the course to/from the mountain
venues is provided. Personal
hut charges and cablecars/mountain railways are not included
as they vary considerably according to the chosen venues - it
is simpler and fairer for you to settle these as incurred rather
than for us to impose a fixed inflexible charge. [Allow £60-90
on a 1 wk course and £120-180 on a 2 wk course, £120-150
on Eiger-Matterhorn].
Trekking
Peaks Courses: Ideal
for keen mountain walkers and scramblers who want to
enjoy the challenge of the high Alps without encountering technical
rock and ice terrain. Previous snow experience using axe and
crampons is helpful but not essential; prior roped climbing
experience is not required but good walking fitness is essential.
All essential skills are taught from beginner level.
Technical level: snow slopes
up to 45deg, easy angled glacier ice, rock scrambling, occasional
narrow ridges.; Scottish winter grade I; Alpine grades F to
PD
Suitable courses for preparation:
Winter Mountaineer,
Skye Mountaineer
Swiss
Trekking Peaks - 6 or 12 days- Max Group Ratio
4:1
Climb
the snow peaks of the high Alps
without undertaking technical climbing You'll be able to climb
summits up to 4600m altitude and learn all the essential skills
of alpine mountaineering. The course often undertakes a 3 or
4 day expedition, moving from hut to hut and crossing high peaks
and passes en-route. You have the option of doing a 6 day or
12 day itinerary. A typical 12 day itinerary is:
Day 1: Glacier training; axe/crampon
skills, crevasse rescue
Days 2-4: Walk from Arolla to Dix
Hut, climb La Luette (3543m) and traverse the Pigne d'Arolla
(3796m)
Day 5-6: Drive to Saas valley and
climb to Hohsaas hut, climb Weissmies (4023m)
Day 7: Rest day
in Evolene Days 8-12:
Traverse Italian Haute Route -
the classic trekking peaks circuit from Zermatt staying at Italian
huts and crossing the Breithorn (4164m),
Castor (4228m), and 4 summits of
Monte Rosa including 4556m
Signalkuppe.
Day 13: Valley rock climbing and
a 'Via Ferrata' ascent
2008
Dates: 6 days: 5-11 July, 2-8 Aug; 12days: 19 July - 1 Aug,
9-22 Aug
PRICE:
£1,340 (12 days) £720 (6days)
Introductory
Mountaineering and High Summits:
These
courses offer a solid instructional grounding
and varied experience of routes on snow, rock and mixed terrain,
with ascents to the highest peaks of the
Alps. They are ideal for a first
Alpine trip for aspiring mountaineers and will suit those who
enjoy general mountaineering with some rope-work and technical
interest. Some past experience of roped climbing on rock
or snow/ice terrain is preferred and good walking fitness is
essential.
Technical level: snow slopes
up to 50deg, glacier ice to 40deg, rock scrambling/climbing
to Alpine grade III UK Severe level; exposed narrow ridges;
Scottish winter grade II; Alpine grades F to PD+ with occasional
short sections of AD terrain
Suitable courses for preparation: Winter
Mountaineer, Intro Winter
Climber, Skye Mountaineer,
Cuillin Traverse
Introductory
Alpine Climbing - 6 days - Max Group Ratio 3:1
Intro
Alpine - Monte Rosa from Pollux
|
A
productive week of instruction and ascents up to 4,000 metres
altitude in the Arolla and Zermatt ranges. Designed for mountaineers
and climbers seeking a firm skills grounding in their first
season in the Alps, including snow, ice and rock techniques.
Some prior experience of winter mountaineering and/or roped
climbing is helpful, but we will guide you from first steps
in all the essential Alpine skills. Itineraries are tailored
to group experience and aspirations.
Sample
programme:-
Day 1: Glacier training; axe/crampon
skills, crevasse rescue
Day 2-4: Walk from Arolla to Dix
Hut; climb Mont Blanc de Cheilon (3869m)
(PD) and traverse Pigne d'Arolla (3796m)
(F+)
Days 5-6: Valley rock climbing,
teaching prusiking and belay techniques; drive to Saas Grund,
ascend to Weissmies Hut, climb Lagginhorn
(4010m) (PD)
2008
Dates: 5-11 July, 12-18 July, 19-25 July, 26 July-1 Aug, 2-8
Aug, 9-15 Aug, 16-22 Aug
PRICE:
£790
Mont
Blanc Fortnight - 12
days - (3:1 ratio, 2:1 on M.Blanc)
The highest summit in Western Europe!
We attempt Mont Blanc on a 2:1 ratio, usually by the
classic traverse from Col du Midi, plus two other 4000ers such
as Alphubel (4206m) or Rimpfischhorn
(4198m). Allowing 2 weeks for Mont Blanc gives you greater
flexibility in timing the ascent and proper acclimatisation.
As a result our Mont Blanc courses enjoy
a 95-100% success rate and our guests can acquire greater
experience and skill levels during the first week of training
climbs and acclimatisation.
Sample
Itinerary
2008
Dates: 5-18 July, 9-22 Aug
PRICE:
£1560
Oberland
Odyssey 6 days (3:1 ratio)
Tackle the great peaks and glaciers of
the Bernese Alps, wildest and most remote
region of the Western Alps . The Jungfrau
(4158m), Mönch (4099m),
Aletschhorn (4195m) and Finsteraarhorn
(4274m) are among the peaks that can be climbed in an
adventurous 5 day hut trip after an initial glacier training
day. Highly recommended if you've already climbed peaks round
Zermatt or Chamonix. Mountain hut accommodation is of the highest
quality with excellent food.
Sample
Itinerary
2008
Dates: 19-25 July, 2-8 Aug
PRICE:
£860
Swiss
Giants - 12 days (3:1 ratio)
Climb Switzerland's highest mountains, the Dufourspitze
on Monte Rosa (4634m) (2nd highest
in the Alps), Dom (4545m),
or Nadelhorn (4327m) and other
4000m giants in the Zermatt area after training and preparation
climbs on the Arolla peaks. The Zermatt
range has a vast wealth of 4000m mountains with rich historic
association and excellent access. Technical standard
PD and PD+ with a short section of AD- on the Dufourspitze.
Sample
Itinerary
2007
Dates: 2-15 Aug
PRICE:
£1490
Intermediate
and Advanced Level Courses:
These courses require greater prior experience of rock
and/or snow-ice climbing; they can follow
on from one of our Introductory level Alpine courses
or from a good experience of personal technical climbing on
home hills. There is a big step up in difficulty from easier
PD snow climbs to AD and D level mixed routes. Neat
efficient climbing technique on tricky and exposed terrain is
demanded. Full instruction is given
in the more advanced rope-work and technical skills required;
good general mountain fitness is essential.
Technical level: snow slopes
up to 55deg, snow/ice faces up to 75deg, rock scrambling/climbing
of Alpine grade III/IV, UK Severe/VS level, exposed narrow ridges.;
Scottish winter grades II to III; Alpine grades PD+, AD and
D
Suitable courses for preparation:
Intro
or Technical Winter Climber, Intro
or Technical Ice, Cuillin Traverse,
Adventure Rock Climbing, or
any Introductory and High Summits Alpine course.
Intermediate Alpine Climbing - 6 days - Group
Ratio: 2:1
Intermediate
Alpine - Breithorn Traverse
|
For climbers
who seek to climb more technical routes at AD and D standard,
including peaks such as the Dent Blanche
(4357m) or Zinal Rothorn (4221m),
plus an instructional refresher in Alpine skills and a high-quality
AD training climb around Arolla such as the traverse
of L'Evêque or W. Ridge of
the Dent de Tsalion. When conditions are suitable we
may include a North Face snow and ice
climb. Can follow on from an Intro course to make a fortnight;
some previous rock or winter climbing experience essential.
Sample
Itinerary
2008
Dates: 5-11 July, 12-18 July, 19-25 July, 26 July-1 Aug, 2-8
Aug, 9-15 Aug, 16-22 Aug
PRICE:
£1040
The
Swiss Big Three -
Eiger - Matterhorn - Dent Blanche 12 days
The Eiger (3970m), Matterhorn (4478m)
and Dent Blanche (4357m) in a fortnight - Switzerland's
most famous summits; a must for aspiring
Alpinists who relish a big challenge. Prior technical
climbing experience to UK Severe/USA 5.5 on rock and grade II/III
in winter is required. The fortnight offers an initial training
route such as the Traverse of L'Eveque (3716m) (AD, III+) and
an instructional session to provide essential acclimatisation
before tackling the main objectives. 2:1
guiding ratio with 1:1 on the Matterhorn. We'll take
you rock climbing to beautiful cliffs in the Valais region on
any spare days. One of our most popular
courses so book early!
2008 Dates: 19 July - 1 Aug
PRICE:
£2,040
Eiger
- Matterhorn Double
- 6 days - group ratio 1:1
Climb
Europe's most famous peaks on a one week's budget
and by their most exciting ridges - Mittellegi
and South Ridge traverse of the Eiger, and the Hornli,
Italian or Zmutt Ridge on the Matterhorn; with a 1:1
guiding ratio these can be achieved in good conditions; substantial
recent climbing experience essential and a couple of
days prior personal acclimatisation is recommended.
Sample
Itinerary
2008
Dates: 2-8 Aug
PRICE:
£1,640
Alpine
3900m Classics - 12days group ratio 2:1
If
you've already climbed a few harder 4000m peaks and want a new
challenge, then this is the course for you! Tackle 4 superb
and difficult 3900m peaks in remote and inspiring ranges of
the Alps; options include Eiger traverse (3970m), the
historic and magnificent Traverse of La Meije (3983m) in
the Ecrins massif, the enigmatic Bietschhorn (3934m) in
the Oberland and Italy's superb Grivola (3960m). Climbing
will be AD to D in standard with rock pitches to IV+ standard.
2007
Dates: 2-15 Aug
PRICE:
£1,980
|
Grandes
Courses - the Zinal Rothorn traverse
|
Grandes
Courses
12 days - Ratio 2:1
A
challenging programme coaching personal skills and then
tackling some of the great ridge and face routes on
the harder Swiss and Chamonix peaks.
For
those with prior alpine experience or regular rock climbing
and winter moutaineering (to UK Severe/VS and Scottish
winter grade III)
North
Face Fortnight: Climb
classic snow and ice routes in the Swiss and Mont Blanc
ranges such as the Pigne
d'Arolla, Tour Ronde, Lenspitze, or Ober Gabelhorn N.Faces,
Grand Combin, Nadelgrat or Rochefort traverse.
A must for snow and ice enthusiasts.
2008
Dates: 5-18 July
Rock
and Mixed: Climb classic routes in the Western
Alps at AD and D standard, mixed
and rock routes such as the Breithorn Traverse, Frontier
Ridge of Mont Maudit, Dent du Géant and Rochefort
Ridge, Weisshorn and Zinal Rothorn Traverses, and ice
faces as Pigne d'Arolla N.Face as conditions allow
plus superb training routes on the Arolla peaks and
rock climbs on some of Switzerland's finest crags
2008
Dates: 19 July-1 Aug, 9-22 Aug
PRICE:
£1,940
|
To
quote one guest from our 2005 Grandes Courses:
"Thank you again for organising such a fantastic holiday.
I thought your whole operation was excellent, your staff
really impressive (from catering to Knots!) and nothing
was too much problem for we clients"
|
MOUNTAIN EQUIPMENT SPONSORSHIP:
For
2008 we are pleased to team up again with
Mountain Equipment - Britain's No.1 manufacturer
of gear for the serious mountaineer - in recommending
the right kit for your climbs with us. Mountain
Equipment supplied the jackets, clothing, rucksacks
and sleeping bags used on our successful first ascents
of Nilkanth West Ridge and The Godfather (VIII
on Beinn Bhan). For full details of their range
and a list of stockists go to their web-site: www.mountain-equipment.co.uk
|
