Featured Courses
Summits & Skills 4000m
Level 1: Instructional Course
Our six-day 'Summits and Skills 4000m' course is our Level 1 introduction in summer alpine mountaineering. This course is the first in a series of instructional courses naturally leading into our Classic AlpinISM course where you develop those introductory skills and then into Technical AlpinISM where you then learn to become more independent as an alpine mountaineer. We also offer more guided climbing experiences such as climbing the Classic 4000ers or maybe traversing the Monte Rosa 40000ers, climbing Mt Blanc or tackling Technical Alpine Ascents.
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Indoor Wall to Outdoor Climbing
Lake District - Level 1 : Instructional Course
Learn the skills to 'trad' climb outdoors safely, on this instructional Indoor Wall to Outdoor Climbing course in the Lake District. Or maybe develop your rock climbing on our Rock Improvers course and become more independent. If your're more experienced, then why not take the next step and learn to Lead Climb or enjoy more of a guided experience focused on climbing Classic Rock routes. We also offer Alpine Preparation or roped Scrambling Skills - all are Lake District based courses
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Classic Alpine Icefalls
Level 2 : Guided Climbing
Try our instructional Ice Climbing Skills if you're new to ice climbing or maybe this Level 2 - Classic Alpine Icefalls course for those clients wanting to develop their ice climbing skills further. Then our Level 3 Technical Alpine Icefalls course if you're wanting to get on steeper and more adventurous ice. If you want to develop and explore differnt icefalls around the world then we've pulled together an exciting programme of ice climbing in Slovenia, the Italian Dolomites, up in the Arctic Circle of northern Norway and Sweden and then the mecca of icefall climbing the Canadian Rockies.
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Our pedigree speaks for itself
Founded in 1965, ISM is a prestigious English speaking climbing and mountaineering school based in Leysin Switzerland. We are by far the longest established provider of Alpine mountaineering courses to English speaking clients and attract clients from all over the world.
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Sharing Our Knowledge
Visit Our Knowledge Base
On-sighting - Tips and Techniques
Verb - To climb a route that you’ve not climbed before, leading it from bottom to top without resting or…
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Red-Pointing - Tips and techniques
Verb - To climb a route from bottom to top cleanly without any artificial rests such as sitting on the…
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New Routes in the Canadian Rockies
Every day’s a road trip, as we thread our way through the beautiful mountains of the Canadian Rockies in search…
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Which Boots do I need?
Boot and footwear choice represents perhaps the single most important decision of all when considering your mountaineering equipment.
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Some thoughts on rope choice linked into decision making
So, as a BMG IFMGA Mountain Guide and climber what ropes do I use?
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Traditional Climbing on a Single Rope
So, traditional climbing on a single rope - old school or maybe just a modern take on things?
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The Art of Making Traditional Kyrgyz Bread!
Reflecting on a special day in the Pamir Mountains, Kyrgyzstan 2019
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