Alpine Introduction

2008 DATES Click Dates To Book.... Week 25: 15 Jun - 21 Jun Week 31: 27 Jul - 2 Aug Week 35: 24 Aug - 30 Aug Full Summer Programme Click Here COURSE DURATION 5 days 6 nights ALL INCLUSIVE PRICE £795 Your course price covers: • Guiding + guides expenses • Full board + accommodation • All picnic lunches/snack food • All course transportation • All mechanical uplift • Loan of technical equipment Click here for Full Details RATIO 4:1 COURSE GRADE Difficulty: 2 Fitness: 2 Click Here for Grading Details

This course is designed to be a thoroughly enjoyable, informative and well-rounded introduction to climbing in the Alps with a guide. During the five activity days you will learn all the important alpine skills within a full mountaineering programme, which begins with a peak around 3000m high in the Swiss Prealpes (when alpine ropework and climbing skills are taught) and moves on to higher peaks in a glaciated region where all the associated skills of glacier travel, ice axe & crampon technique and crevasse rescue are covered as part of the climbing days.

The course is less 'instructional' than Summits & Skills 4000m and slightly less arduous, but it does offer an equally sound introduction to alpine climbing for those who enjoy their local hills and who would like to try mountaineering in the more challenging environment of the high Alps.

Throughout the week you climb with the security of the guide for the whole time, enabling you to enjoy the spectacular surroundings to the full. The summits we climb are exceptional viewpoints and in two different alpine regions, giving you experience of every facet of alpine climbing.

Who the course will suit

This course has been designed with the complete beginner to alpine climbing in mind. It is suitable for people with no previous mountaineering experience as well as those with who are experienced in the British hills and feel ready to tackle higher peaks in glaciated regions. In order to fully enjoy the course you do need to have a good level of general fitness, such as that gained from hill walking in the UK (or other) mountains or another regular aerobic exercise.

This course also provides excellent preparation for those planning other alpine objectives with a guide, or as a lead-in to our ‘Classic’ range of courses and our Mont Blanc Summit course.

What the course covers

As this course is designed for the people new to mountaineering, we cover or refresh all of the basic climbing and alpine skills, including:

• Introduction to basic climbing equipment.
• Attaching to the rope and other climbing knots.
• Moving efficiently over rocky 'scrambling' terrain .
• Belaying and protection techniques on rock, ice and snow.
• Use of crampons and ice axe on snow and ice.
• Taking coils and moving together with the rope.
• Short rope techniques for different types of alpine terrain.
• Safe glacier travel and crevasse rescue.
• Descending on snow and ice.
• Alpine navigation and interpretation of maps and guidebook.
• Preparation and selection of climbing equipment.
• Alpine huts and the ‘alpine start’.

You will have the chance to learn and practice these skills continually throughout the week during ascents of two or three of the following peaks (depending on the final itinerary and needs of the group): the Grand Muveran (3051m), Les Diablerets (3210m), the Dents du Midi (3325m), the Pigne d'Arolla (3790mm), the Petit Combin (3672m), the Grand Lui (3509m), La Louette (3548m), the Balmhorn (3699m) and Mt Vélan (3731m).

Please see the course programme description for more details of these ascents.

Typical course programme

Sunday evening.

The course starts with participants and guides meeting at 7.00pm at Le Grand Chalet hotel in Leysin. This is the chance for the guides to give you a thorough briefing on the details of the course, to sort out any particular personal equipment requirements, to get to know other course members and to ask any questions that you may have!

Monday.

The wild peaks of the Western Oberland and the Dents du Midi provide an ideal venue to practice rope techniques and general mountaineering skills whilst climbing to wonderful summits. We drive 1 hour around to Pont de Nant and begin our ascent to the Cabane Rambert hut. This is one of the most beautiful and interesting hut 'walks' in the Alps, winding its way up through crags and gullies and having several exposed sections where ropes and chains have been installed for safety. The views along the peaks of the Swiss Valais get more and more expansive until after 4 hours the hut is reached. It is a traditional Swiss stone-built hut and the welcome is very friendly.

Tuesday.

We make a dawn start for our ascent of the Grand Muveran by the standard route (which is graded F+ or PD, depending on the exact line taken). It has some exposed climbing which is well-supplied with holds, and we use the rope for complete security whenever necessary. There are several variations possible where we can do short rock-climbing pitches to work on climbing skills (such as correct footwork in mountain boots) and belay techniques. Located in the 'crook' of the Alps, the summit of Grand Muveran (3051m) is a remarkable viewpoint for the Swiss Valais, the Mont Blanc Massif and the Bernese Oberland - there are few better full panoramas anywhere. We reverse the route of ascent, or if we're making good time we can descend to the Col Pacheu on the opposite side of the mountain. Here we reach the glacier of Plan Névé and use crampons to descend to the Plan Névé hut for a short break. Now a descent of 1000m takes us back to Pont de Nant and our transport back to Leysin. After this long day a comfortable night at the Grand Chalet is very welcome!

Wednesday.

We travel to the Arolla valley and begin our ascent to the Cabane des Dix. We stop for lunch en route then reach the Pas de Chevres, where a steep cliff is descended using ladders (and a rope for security for those that wish it). We cross the Glacier de Cheilon and use this an an opportunity to further practice ice axe and crampon skills. The Dix is another exceptionally friendly hut where the guardian takes pride in providing excellent meals.

Thursday.

We make an ‘alpine start’ in the morning, leaving the hut before dawn in order to ascend the Glacier de Tsena Réfien before the snow softens later in the day. Our objective is to traverse the Pigne d' Arolla (3790m), one of the classic expeditions of the Valais Alps. After a couple of hours of steady ascent we reach the Col de La Serpentine (3547m) where the views open out and we can see our objective for the first time, together with other magnificent peaks and glaciers. After a snack and a drink we contour round the huge snowfield to the Col du Brenay (3639m) then make our final ascent to the summit of the Pigne. We hope for a clear day as the views from here are exceptional, especially to the east where the gleaming pyramid of the Dent Blanche and the spire of the Matterhorn draw the eye (and the camera!). We descend the east flank of the mountain, which is not too steep if we take the correct line but we always have to be roped up and wary of crevasses, then after 700m a traversing path takes us along to the Cabane des Vignettes, which is spectacularly perched above the glacier.

Friday.

A choice of activities today - we can either drop down to the Glacier de Pièce and have a full instructional session on crevasse rescue and snow belays, or, if the group has the energy for another big day, we can make an early start to traverse the Glacier du Mont Collon and gain the Col de l'Eveque at 3386m. From here we descend the Haut Glacier d'Arolla in truly spectaclar surroundings to return to the Arolla valley and our transport back to Leysin. This option is a great mountain journey with several steep and crevassed areas to negotiate. Once back in Leysin no course would be complete without a night out at the Yeti bar - with many tales of the week’s adventures being told…. and future plans being hatched!

Saturday morning.

Breakfast at the hotel is included before departure.

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