Student Alpine Week
Level 1: Instructional Course
Our Student Alpine Week is a fun & exciting introduction to alpine mountaineering for students aged 16–23. Learn essential climbing skills, build confidence & put them into practice on your first alpine summits, while making friends & sharing a fantastic mountain adventure with like-minded students.
Student Alpine Week is a fantastic opportunity for students aged 16–23 to discover the exciting world of alpine mountaineering, meet like-minded people and share an unforgettable adventure in the Alps.
Throughout this fun and varied week, you'll learn essential climbing and mountaineering skills, build confidence on rock, snow and ice, and put everything you've learned into practice as you climb your first alpine summits. Along the way, you'll make new friends, share incredible mountain experiences and perhaps find climbing partners for many more adventures to come.
At the end of the course, you'll be awarded an ISM Level 1 certificate, recognising the skills and experience you've developed throughout the week.
Course Highlights
A fun week learning alpine mountaineering skills
An opportunity to practise these skills on your first alpine summits
Expert instruction and coaching from experienced ISM Guides
Price includes all uplift, breakfasts and evening meals, transport and accommodation
ISM certificate on completion of the course
Is The Course For Me?
Is this course for me?
Our Student Alpine Week is open to students aged 16–23 who are in full-time education. If you're under 18, please contact ISM before booking, as we'll need written permission from a parent or guardian.
We've kept the cost of this course as affordable as possible to give students the opportunity to experience alpine mountaineering, learn essential skills and enjoy a fantastic week climbing in the Alps alongside other like-minded young people.
You should have a good general level of fitness and some previous experience of rock climbing and ropework, whether outdoors or at an indoor climbing wall. You don't need any previous alpine mountaineering experience.
Whether you're taking your first steps into alpine climbing or already have more experience, the week offers plenty of opportunities to develop your skills and confidence. More experienced students may also have opportunities to take the lead on suitable alpine terrain, with appropriate instruction and supervision from their ISM Mountain Guide.
And of course, one of the best parts of Student Alpine Week is sharing the experience with other students. You'll learn together, encourage one another, make new friends and hopefully develop climbing partnerships that continue long after the course has finished.
By the end of the week, you'll have put your new skills into practice on real alpine climbs, gained valuable mountain experience and taken an exciting step towards your next alpine adventure.
An Introduction To Alpine Mountaineering
Our Student Alpine Week is structured to introduce you to the essential skills and techniques of alpine mountaineering at a relaxed, enjoyable pace, giving you plenty of time to learn, practise and develop your confidence in the mountains.
Throughout the week, you'll learn how to move on rock, snow and ice, develop your ropework, travel on glaciers and understand the techniques involved in crevasse rescue. With expert instruction and plenty of opportunities to practise, you'll progressively build your skills and understanding before putting everything you've learned into practice on alpine climbs of up to PD+ grade, where conditions and experience allow.
These climbs are a fantastic opportunity to gain real mountain experience, develop your judgement and discover how different skills come together on an alpine route. You'll be encouraged to ask questions, take an active part in the learning and enjoy the experience in a friendly, supportive environment.
During the course, you'll learn and practise:
- Rock climbing and ropework – climbing techniques, taking coils, rope management and moving together on alpine terrain.
- Snow and ice techniques – using crampons and an ice axe, and moving confidently on snow and ice.
- Glacier travel – roping up, understanding glacier hazards and travelling safely on glaciated terrain.
- Crevasse rescue and snowcraft – introductory rescue techniques, snow and ice anchors, and practical mountain skills.
- Alpine route planning – understanding weather forecasts, maps, route choice and mountain conditions.
- Climbing alpine summits – putting your skills into practice on mountain ascents, including the experience of climbing from a high mountain hut.
And of course, learning is part of the adventure! Spending three nights in the mountains gives you a brilliant opportunity to experience life in a high mountain hut, enjoy spectacular alpine surroundings and discover the excitement of putting your new skills into practice on real mountain adventures.
Course Content
Our Student Alpine Week is designed to introduce you to the essential skills and techniques of alpine mountaineering. Through practical instruction, individual coaching and plenty of time learning in the mountains, you'll develop the confidence, understanding and skills to begin enjoying your own alpine adventures.
Throughout the week, you'll learn and practise:
- Rock climbing and ropework – developing your climbing movement and techniques, tying into the rope, essential climbing knots, belaying and taking coils.
- Abseiling and ascending a rope – learning essential rope techniques, including prusiking.
- Alpine rope techniques – moving together, short roping and using appropriate protection on different types of alpine terrain.
- Crampons and ice axe techniques – learning to move efficiently and securely on snow and ice, including safe descent techniques.
- Glacier travel and crevasse rescue – understanding glacier hazards, roping up, travelling on glaciers and practising introductory crevasse rescue techniques.
- Snow and ice protection – learning about anchors, belaying and protection techniques appropriate to snow and ice.
- Mountain navigation and planning – interpreting weather forecasts, maps and guidebooks, understanding route choice and alpine conditions, and selecting and preparing climbing equipment.
- Climbing alpine summits – putting your new skills into practice on mountain ascents, with opportunities to develop your judgement, confidence and experience on real alpine terrain.
- The alpine hut experience – spending three nights in a high mountain hut, experiencing the early alpine start and enjoying the unique atmosphere of life in the mountains.
Each day builds on the last, giving you plenty of opportunities to practise your skills, ask questions and develop your understanding while enjoying a fantastic week of alpine mountaineering alongside other students.
It's a chance to learn together, support one another and build friendships and climbing partnerships that could continue long after the course has finished.
Sample Programme
Sunday – Welcome to the Alps!
Arrive at Hotel PlanB in Le Fayet, near Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc, where you'll meet your ISM Mountain Guide and the other students joining you for the week.
We'll get together for a welcome meeting, check equipment and discuss the exciting days ahead. It's a great opportunity to get to know everyone before we head into the mountains.
Overnight: Hotel PlanB, Le Fayet St Gervais.
Monday – Rock Climbing and Ropework
Our first full day is spent rock climbing in the beautiful Chamonix Valley, introducing and developing the climbing and ropework skills we'll use throughout the week.
You'll practise climbing movement, tying into the rope, belaying, abseiling, prusiking and taking coils. If you already have climbing experience, there'll be opportunities to develop your techniques further, with more advanced coaching and leading where appropriate.
It's a fun, practical day, with plenty of time to ask questions, build confidence and get to know your new climbing partners.
Overnight: Hotel PlanB, Le Fayet.
Tuesday – Into the Mountains and Rifugio Albert Deffeyes
Today we travel through the Mont Blanc Tunnel into Italy and onwards to La Thuile in the Aosta Valley, before making the beautiful walk up to Rifugio Albert Deffeyes.
Surrounded by alpine lakes, waterfalls and spectacular mountain scenery, the approach is a wonderful introduction to the environment we'll be exploring over the next few days.
Once at the hut, we'll continue developing our ropework, knots and climbing techniques in preparation for travelling on the glacier.
We'll also spend time looking at weather forecasts, maps and the surrounding mountain terrain, introducing the principles of route planning and the decisions involved in safe mountain travel.
Overnight: Rifugio Albert Deffeyes.
Wednesday – Glacier Travel, Snow and Ice Skills
Today we head onto the Ruitor Glacier for a full day learning and practising essential alpine mountaineering techniques.
You'll develop your crampon and ice axe skills from walking terrain to climbing ice with 2 ice axes, learn how to move efficiently on snow and ice, and practise roping up and travelling on glaciated terrain.
We'll explore glacier hazards, snow and ice anchors, and introductory crevasse rescue techniques, giving everyone plenty of opportunities to practise and understand how these skills are used in the mountains.
It's a fantastic day of learning in a spectacular alpine setting.
Overnight: Rifugio Albert Deffeyes.
Thursday – Alpine Scrambling and Mountaineering Skills
Today we'll build on the skills developed so far, exploring the wonderful alpine terrain around Rifugio Albert Deffeyes.
We'll focus on moving together on the rope, short roping, scrambling techniques, using natural rock anchors and making good decisions on varied mountain terrain.
Depending on conditions and the group's progress, we'll aim to enjoy a suitable alpine scramble or shorter mountain ascent, giving you more experience of putting your new skills into practice.
Throughout the day, you'll be encouraged to take an active part in route finding, ropework and understanding the choices involved in climbing safely.
Overnight: Rifugio Albert Deffeyes.
Friday – Our Alpine Summit Adventure!
Today is the exciting culmination of Student Alpine Week, with the opportunity to climb a memorable alpine summit and put everything you've learned into practice.
Our objective could be the magnificent Grand Assaly or another suitable summit in the Ruitor Glacier area, depending on the weather, mountain conditions and the experience of the group.
You'll draw on the skills developed throughout the week, from glacier travel and ropework to route finding, moving on alpine terrain and making good mountain decisions.
It's a wonderful opportunity to see how far you've progressed, enjoy a real alpine climbing adventure and share the experience with your new climbing friends.
After our ascent, we'll descend from the mountains and return to Hotel PlanB in Le Fayet for a final evening together, celebrating a fantastic week in the Alps.
Overnight: Hotel PlanB, Le Fayet.
Saturday – Departure
After breakfast, it's time to say goodbye and head home, hopefully with plenty of great memories, new skills, increased confidence and some new climbing partners for future adventures.
The course may be over, but your alpine mountaineering journey is only just beginning!
Our ISM Mountain Guides may adapt the itinerary and climbing objectives throughout the week according to weather, mountain conditions and the experience of the group. This flexibility is an important part of learning good alpine mountaineering judgement.
Course Dates & Booking
Meet the Team
Adrian Nelhams
ISM Director and IFMGA British Mountain Guide
As a Director of ISM, Adrian splits his time between guiding, the ISM office, family and climbing for himself. During his 30+ year commitment to the team, Adrian has played a key role in the development of ISM.
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Paolo Intropido
IFMGA Italian Mountain Guide
Born in NW Italy in a region surrounded by mountains, Paolo started to ski and trek as a kid, always wanting to explore 'beyond the next hill'.
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Matt Stygall
IFMGA British Mountain Guide
Originally from the flatland of Norfolk, Matt soon escaped to the highlands of Scotland, to cut his teeth on the Scottish winter climbing scene there. He then worked full time at Plas Y Brenin in North Wales…
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Steve Monks
IFMGA British Mountain Guide
A well known international climber, Steve has climbed and explored all over the world.
Read MoreVital Information
Please check the vital information below to help when booking a course
- Equipment
- Prices
- Getting to Le Fayet Saint Gervais, Mt Blanc
- Insurance Information
- Paying Information
- Booking Conditions
