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Mont Blanc Mountaineering Introduction

Mountaineering Introduction

Altitude: from 1200m to 3842m |  State - Country: Aosta Valley - Courmayeur - Haute Savoie - Chamonix - Italy - France |  Mountains: Mont Blanc |  Top Altitude: Aiguille du Midi 3842m

You do not need to be a great climber to enjoy its vast mountain attractions.

You do not need to be a great climber to enjoy its vast mountain attractions. On the contrary one of Courmayeur Mont Blanc's real assets is that it has peaks and mountaineering climbs suitable for all levels of challenge and for every step along the path to becoming an Alpinist.

his training course is designed for those who are new to alpine mountaineering and want to either develop their skills to become independent alpine climbers or complete further climbs with a Mountain Guide.

COURSE AIM.

✓ Personal climbing movement skills & rock climbing techniques with the aim of climbing efficiently & enjoyably.
✓ Basic rock climbing skills like putting on your harness and tying in to the rope.
✓ Technical sessions will include further knots, tying in to anchors and using protection equipment (slings, nuts, cams, hexes etc).
✓ Descending or retreating safely from rock climbs.
✓ Alpine rock skills, managing the rope on easy ground, taking coils & moving together.
✓ Alpine mountain skills, approaching a rock climb with a snow or glacial approach.
✓ Basic use of ice-axe & crampons.
✓ Personal movement skills on a variety of types of terrain.
✓ Safe, simple and efficient glacier travel protocol & techniques.
✓ Efficient use of the rope on mountaineering terrain.
✓ Selecting appropriate equipment to be safe but also light and effective.
✓ Using mountain huts.
✓ Use of maps, guide books, GPS and the latest ‘Apps’ for route planning and navigation.
✓ Emergency Procedures in the Alps.

DURATION

Five days in the mountain

FITNESS LEVEL REQUIRED

GROUPS

4 peoples.

COST

€ 850 per person.

$USD 924 per person
£ 727 per person

INCLUDE

  Services of an Mountain Guide

  All transfers as shown in the program

  The cablecars tickets as shown in the program, including cablecars tickets of the Mountain Guide

NOT INCLUDE

  Accomodation

  Lunch in both mountain and valley

  Mountaineering – Off Piste/Ski Mountaineering Insurance IMPORTANT: Please read this section.

  Transfer from/to airport,

  Airfare

  Anything not specified

NB Trip is confirmed from 3 peoples.

Day 0 - Sun
Arrival

Travel to Courmayeur, to arrive in time for the Evening Briefing.

Your guide will run through safety routines and kit checks, as well as hand out rental equipment for the week, before we go on to a detailed discussion of everyones ambitions for the week, together with the current weather and mountain conditions and how these affect our planning. We’ll also have maps and guidebooks to show you, so if you’ve any further questions or last minute requests, then this is the ideal time to bring them up before we head on to dinner.

Day 1 - Mon

9.00am – 4.00pm: Introduction to Rock Climbing.

We move to a local valley crag and do some top roped climbing with an introduction to basic climbing and ropework techniques. Most likely venues are the famous valley crags of the Courmayeur Valley - Morgex e.g “Palestra Jordaney”.
This day you’ll need a packed lunch, as we’ll be out all day.

Day 2 - Tue

9.00am – 4.00pm: Introduction to Via Ferrata

A via ferrata (Italian for ‘iron road’) is a mountain route equipped with fixed cables, stemples, ladders and which are accessible to people with not experience of climbing abilities. Whilst the easiest routes are relatively straightforward, more challenging routes are best climbed with a guide to avoid mistakes in handling the safety gear.
This day you’ll need a packed lunch, as we’ll be out all day.

Day 3 - Wed

7.30am – 4.00pm: Climbing Mont Chetif 2343m following the via ferrata.

Ascent of Mont Chetif (2343m) – via the Est Flank. A 5 minute journey takes us to the La Villette village, a further 15 minutes on foot takes us to the base of the Mont Chetif and the start of the route. This via ferrata has a distinctive alpine ambiance and finishes on the summit of the peak (2343m) with stunning views of the Mont Blanc range.
This day you’ll need a packed lunch, as we’ll be out all day.
Round trip ~5-6hrs.

Day 4 - Thu

8.00am – 4.00pm: Introduction to ice climbing at Mer de Glace Glacier - Chamonix.

Drive to Chamonix via Mont Blanc tunnel and from there we head up by mountain railway to the Mer de Glace glacier (1900m), an excellent venue to learn about moving on ice and glacial terrain. Our principal tools are the crampons and ice axe. We also look at belays, rope skills and ice climbing. In mid afternoon return to Courmayeur
This day you’ll need a packed lunch, as we’ll be out all day.

Day 5 - Fri

8.00am – 4.00pm: The Vallée Blanche traverse from Aiguille du Midi 3842m to Punta Helbronner 3462m

In early morning we climb with Sky Way cable car to Punta Helbronner 3462m and from here with the gondola we reach the Aiguille du Midi Station 3842m on the french side. Here the Vallée Blanche traverse starts by descending a 150m exposed snow ridge from the lift station to the glacier. You will hike across the Glacier du Geant to the Punta Helbronner. We will take the Sky Way lift from the Helbronner back down to the valley.
This day you’ll need a packed lunch, as we’ll be out all day.
Round trip ~5-6hrs.

End of Program

Day 6 - Sat

Return home.

After a night of well-deserved rest, departure from Courmayeur for your destination.