Student Alpine Ascents

2008 DATES Click Dates To Book.... Week 26: 22 Jun - 28 Jun FULL Week 30: 20 Jul - 26 Jul FULL Week 35: 24 Aug - 30 Aug Full Summer Programme Click Here COURSE DURATION 5 days, 6 nights ALL INCLUSIVE PRICE £585 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 6:1 COURSE GRADE Difficulty: 3 Fitness: 3 Click Here for Grading Details

This course is the perfect follow-up to ISM’s Student Alpine Week, being a more intensive week of alpine mountaineering in a high glaciated region of the Swiss Alps. We refresh all the skills covered in the Student Alpine Week, and introduce more advanced skills within a very enjoyable programme of mountaineering on more challenging peaks, which are set among wild and remote glaciers.

Available to anyone (with suitable experience) over the age of 16 in full-time education (under 18's must have written permission from a parent), the course comprises 5 days of climbing and includes 6 nights accommodation (normally two at a Guest House in Leysin and four in high mountain huts). As with our Student Alpine Week, we are mindful of the student budget and keep the course price as low as possible. Once you arrive in Leysin, you will have no expenses other than drinks.

During the week we refresh and practice the full range of skills needed for safe mountaineering on all types of alpine terrain – glaciers, rock ridges, pitched climbing, snow & ice climbing and ‘mixed’ alpine ground. Students will be encouraged to lead the climbing rope for themselves whenever possible, with expert coaching and supervision from the ISM guides.

The area that we use for this course has been carefully selected. The scale and variety of its peaks make it an ideal place to become a competent alpine climber.

The course benefits those who plan to climb independently afterwards by giving every opportunity to practice safe mountaineering technique under the expert supervision of an IFMGA Mountain Guide (who will also be able to advise on suitable areas/objectives to follow up the course).

The course starts with a briefing at 7.00pm at the guest house in Leysin (normally The Hiking Sheep) on the course starting date.

STUDENT GROUPS. In addition to the advertised course dates, we can arrange this course throughout the summer for groups of 6 or 12 people at the advertised price, and for groups of different numbers with an adjustment in price.

Who the course will suit

Participants should either have attended ISM’s Student Alpine Week (or an equivalent course) or have both summer and winter climbing experience in the UK. Basic competence with ice axe and crampons is necessary, as is good general fitness and stamina for walking with a full rucksack (around 15kg) for several consecutive days.

Typical Course Programme

Sunday evening.

The course starts with participants and guides meeting at 7.00pm at The Hiking Sheep guest house in Leysin. This is the chance for guides to find out more about your climbing experience and to give a thorough briefing on the plan for the week - and for you to ask any questions that you may have!

Monday.

After breakfast, we check and issue any climbing equipment needed by course participants. Basing ourselves in the limestone climbing area above Leysin, we use this day to teach/refresh the full range of alpine skills needed for the course. You will be climbing all types and grades of terrain, using the rope for pitched climbing and short-roping, and covering techniques like crevasse rescue and prussiking. We will also use this session to form balanced climbing teams for the rest of the week.

Tuesday.

We travel by minibus, up the Rhone valley and then the Val d’Hérens to the high mountain village of Arolla. From the village a pleasant walking track (lunch en route) takes us to the Pas de Chevres, a 'technical' col equipped with ladders to descend the 80m cliff on the far side. Beyond this lies the Dix hut, a welcoming refuge renowned for its good food and hospitality. It is our base for the next 3 nights. At the hut we have a technical session to review the alpine skills required next day.

Wednesday.

Immediately behind the hut is the glaciated peak of La Louette. This is a less pressured ascent which gives us the chance to use and practice the full range of alpine skills - glacier travel, knots and alpine belays, carrying coils and short roping, correct ice axe and crampon technique, snow belays and crevasse rescue. From the summit we have excellent views of the peaks of the western Valais as well as Mont Blanc de Cheilon (3870m), our objective for the following day.

Thursday

A pre dawn start is required to tackle the much more demanding peak of Mont Blanc de Cheilon by its West ridge, an interesting ascent (PD) giving 1000m of ascent via a rock spur and snow/ice slope. The summit crest is narrow and exposed and requires skillful use of the rope to protect it properly. After a picnic on top we descend via the winter summit to a steep glacier which gives an easier descent overlooked by the imposing North face of La Ruinette (3875m).

Friday.

One of the classic mountain days of the region is the traverse of Pigne d'Arolla (3772m). Though less technical than Mont Blanc de Cheilon it is a serious and strenuous expedition, on glaciated terrain all the way and often requiring good route-finding to pick the safest line through crevassed areas. The summit is a famous viewpoint for the great Valais peaks - the Dent Blanche (4356m) dominating the vista but with landmarks like the Materhorn and Mont Blanc clearly visible in good weather. The descent on the east flank of the Pigne can be a stiff test of crampon technique in icy conditions. At the base a short traverse around the head of the glacier gets us to the spectacularly sited Vignettes hut (which is famous for its extremely 'long drop' toilets!). From here we descend the Glacier de Piece to a good path which eventualy leads to the village of Arolla and a welcome beer/coffee. We drive back to Leysin for a course debrief, dinner and a sociable evening at the Yeti bar with the rest of the ISM crew.

Saturday morning.

Breakfast at the guest house is included before departure.

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