Summits & Skills 4000m
Level 1: Instructional Course
Our six-day Summits & Skills 4000m course offers the perfect introduction to alpine mountaineering. You'll learn essential skills, build confidence and enjoy an exciting adventure in the high Alps, with the opportunity to climb your first 4000m peak as the culmination of your week.
This is a fantastic week in the Alps, designed to introduce you to the skills, techniques and experiences that make summer alpine mountaineering so rewarding. Whether you're an experienced hillwalker looking to take your first steps into the high mountains or simply excited by the prospect of a new adventure, we'll help you develop the skills and confidence to enjoy this wonderful mountain environment.
Throughout the week, you'll learn how to use an ice axe and crampons, travel safely on glaciers and develop an understanding of the techniques and judgement involved in alpine mountaineering. With expert instruction and plenty of opportunities to practise, you'll progressively build your experience, working towards the exciting prospect of climbing your first 4000m peak.
But the week is about more than learning technical skills. It's also about enjoying the mountains, sharing new experiences with like-minded people, staying in alpine huts and discovering what makes mountaineering in the Alps so special. Our experienced ISM Mountain Guides will be there to encourage, support and help you get the most from your adventure.
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
Climb your first alpine summits including a 4000m peak
Accommodation, breakfast and evening meals included
No hidden hotel or hut accommodation costs
Climbing equipment available to borrow free of charge
Low client to Guide ratio aiding the learning environment
ISM certificate on completion of the course
Expert instruction and coaching from professional ISM Guides
No additional uplift or cable car costs
Is this course for me?
Our Summits & Skills 4000m course is designed for anyone looking to take their first steps into the exciting world of alpine mountaineering. You don't need previous alpine mountaineering experience, just a reasonable level of fitness, some experience of walking in the mountains and a willingness to learn, challenge yourself and enjoy a new adventure.
Whether you're a keen hillwalker, have enjoyed winter walking or climbing in Scotland, or already have some rock climbing experience, there's so much to discover in the Alps. Even experienced UK winter mountaineers will find plenty of new skills to learn, from travelling on glaciers and understanding crevasse rescue techniques to planning and climbing alpine summits.
Imagine putting on crampons for the first time, learning to use an ice axe and stepping onto a glacier surrounded by magnificent alpine peaks. Throughout the week, you'll discover a whole new mountain environment, developing the skills and confidence to move through it with greater understanding and independence.
Each day brings something different. Our rock climbing day is a great introduction for those new to climbing, but it's equally valuable if you've climbed before, with opportunities to develop your existing techniques, movement skills and confidence on rock. From ropework and climbing techniques to travelling on snow and ice, glacier travel and crevasse rescue, you'll progressively build your alpine mountaineering skills and understanding.
With a maximum of four clients to each ISM Mountain Guide, there's plenty of opportunity for individual coaching, questions and learning at a level that suits your experience. Whether you're discovering these skills for the first time or building on what you already know, we'll help you get the most from every day.
As your confidence and experience grow, you'll have the opportunity to put everything you've learned into practice on an alpine ascent, with the exciting possibility of standing on the summit of your first 4000m peak towards the end of the week.
Whether your ambition is to climb more alpine peaks in the future, develop your existing mountain skills or simply experience the incredible feeling of mountaineering in the high Alps, this course is a wonderful place to begin. You'll be encouraged, supported and challenged appropriately, with plenty of time to ask questions, learn and enjoy the adventure along the way.
An Introduction to Alpine Mountaineering
Throughout the week, you'll learn the essential skills and techniques needed to enjoy alpine mountaineering safely, from using crampons and an ice axe to roping up for glacier travel, understanding crevasse rescue and planning and climbing your first alpine summits.
Our experienced ISM Mountain Guides will introduce these skills progressively, with plenty of practical instruction, coaching and opportunities to put what you've learned into practice in the mountains. You'll discover how to move confidently on snow, ice and rock, develop your ropework and begin to understand the decisions involved in travelling through the alpine environment.
Learning is very much part of the adventure. Each day brings new experiences, challenges and opportunities to develop your skills, while enjoying spectacular mountain scenery, sharing the experience with others and having plenty of fun along the way.
No previous alpine mountaineering experience is necessary, although a good basic level of fitness and some mountain walking experience will help you enjoy each day and get the most from your course. With a maximum of four clients per Guide, there's time for individual coaching, encouragement and questions, whether you're learning these techniques for the first time or building on existing experience.
And this could be just the beginning of your alpine adventures! A natural progression is our Monte Rosa 4000ers course, where you'll have the opportunity to consolidate your new skills, gain further experience and climb some of the Alps' most beautiful classic 4000m peaks.
Alternatively, if you'd like to continue developing your technical skills through another instructional week, our Classic AlpinISM course is an excellent next step, helping you build on the foundations you've established and explore more of what alpine mountaineering has to offer.
Course Content
Our Summits & Skills 4000m course 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 experience:
- Rock climbing and ropework – developing your climbing movement and techniques, taking coils and learning the fundamentals of roped scrambling.
- Abseiling and ascending a rope – learning essential rope techniques, including prusiking.
- Crampons and ice axe techniques – learning to move efficiently and securely on snow and ice.
- Glacier travel and crevasse rescue – understanding safe glacier travel, roping up, glacier hazards and introductory crevasse rescue techniques.
- Mountain navigation and planning – interpreting weather forecasts, maps and guidebooks, and developing an understanding of route choice and alpine conditions.
- Climbing alpine peaks – putting your new skills into practice on mountain ascents, with the exciting opportunity to climb a 4000m summit towards the end of the week.
- The alpine hut experience – staying in high mountain huts and enjoying the unique atmosphere of life high in the Alps.
Each day builds on the last, giving you the opportunity to practise your skills, ask questions, develop your understanding and build confidence, while enjoying a fantastic week of alpine mountaineering.
Sample Programme
Summits & Skills 4000m – Course Itinerary
Saturday Evening – Welcome to ISM
Your course begins with a 7pm briefing at Hotel PlanB in Le Fayet, near Saint-Gervais Mont-Blanc in Haute-Savoie, France.
This is an opportunity to meet your ISM Mountain Guide and fellow course participants, get to know each other and hear about the exciting week ahead. Your Guide will talk through the programme, check equipment and answer any questions you may have.
We'll then enjoy dinner together before our first night's accommodation in Le Fayet.
Sunday – Rock Climbing and Ropework
We begin our week with a fantastic day of outdoor rock climbing at one of the excellent local crags around Le Fayet or Chamonix, surrounded by beautiful alpine scenery.
If you're new to rock climbing, this is a wonderful opportunity to experience climbing on real rock for the first time. You'll learn how to use climbing equipment, tie into the rope, belay your climbing partner and develop the movement and techniques that will help you feel more confident on the rock.
If you already have some climbing experience, there's plenty to learn too! With individual coaching from your ISM Mountain Guide, you'll have the opportunity to develop your existing outdoor climbing skills, improve your footwork and movement, and, where appropriate, learn the techniques involved in leading a climb outdoors.
It's a brilliant first day, with something for everyone, whether you're discovering the excitement of climbing for the first time or looking to take your existing skills to the next level.
Skills covered: Climbing equipment and safety, tying in and belaying, route choice, climbing movement and technique, using handholds and footholds, introductory or progressive lead climbing, abseiling, prusiking, taking coils, and crag awareness and safety.
We return to Hotel PlanB for dinner and our second night in Le Fayet.
Monday – Into the Mountains and Rifugio Deffeyes
Today we travel from Le Fayet into the beautiful Aosta Valley, arriving at the small mountain ski village of La Thuile.
From here, we begin our walk into the mountains towards the wonderful Rifugio Albert Deffeyes, surrounded by spectacular alpine scenery, waterfalls, rocky peaks and beautiful mountain lakes.
It's a fantastic introduction to the alpine environment, with plenty of time to enjoy the journey and the excitement of spending our first night high in the mountains.
Once settled into the hut, we'll spend the afternoon developing our ropework skills, including prusiking and techniques that will help prepare us for our glacier training the following day.
We'll also begin looking at the wider mountain environment, studying the local geography, reading maps and interpreting weather forecasts. Together with your Guide, you'll explore how these factors influence route choice, planning and the decisions we make to help us travel safely in the mountains over the coming days.
The evening is spent enjoying the atmosphere of the mountain hut, relaxing over dinner and discussing our plans for the next day's adventure.
Skills covered: Mountain awareness and safety, ropework, knots, prusiking, preparation for glacier travel, map reading, understanding mountain geography, interpreting weather forecasts, route planning and making informed mountain decisions.
Overnight: Rifugio Albert Deffeyes.
Tuesday – Glacier Skills on the Ruitor Glacier
Today is a fantastic day of learning and adventure on the beautiful Ruitor Glacier, one of the highlights of the week.
Surrounded by spectacular alpine scenery, we'll spend the day developing the essential snow, ice and glacier travel skills needed for alpine mountaineering.
You'll learn how to use crampons and an ice axe, move efficiently on snow and ice, rope up correctly for glacier travel and begin understanding how to recognise and manage glacial hazards.
We'll also introduce crevasse rescue techniques, giving you the opportunity to practise rope systems and develop your understanding of how to respond to an incident on a glacier.
It's a brilliant practical day, with plenty of individual coaching, opportunities to ask questions and time to build confidence as you become more comfortable moving through this exciting mountain environment.
We return to Rifugio Albert Deffeyes in the afternoon for a second night in the mountains.
Skills covered: Crampon and ice axe techniques, snow and ice movement, safe glacier travel, glacier ropework, identifying glacial hazards, snow and ice anchors, introductory crevasse rescue and mountain safety.
Overnight: Rifugio Albert Deffeyes.
Wednesday – A Spectacular Granite Ridge and Alpine Summit
Today brings a completely different mountain adventure as we head out to climb a beautiful rocky alpine ridge, leading to a spectacular summit with some of the finest panoramic views across the Alps.
The climbing and scrambling on wonderful granite provides the perfect opportunity to develop your movement on rock, practise short-roping and moving-together techniques, and learn how to travel efficiently and safely over exposed alpine terrain.
Building on the skills introduced during Sunday's rock climbing day, you'll gain a greater understanding of how ropework, climbing techniques and good mountain judgement come together on a real alpine ascent.
Reaching the summit is a wonderful reward, with breathtaking views across the surrounding mountains and glaciers.
After enjoying the summit, we descend carefully along the ridge and return to Rifugio Albert Deffeyes before continuing our walk down to the valley.
We then travel to our accommodation in the Aosta Valley for a well-earned rest after three fantastic days in the mountains.
Skills covered: Alpine scrambling, movement on granite rock, short-roping and moving-together techniques, rock belays and anchors, route choice, safe movement on exposed terrain and managing an alpine ascent and descent.
Overnight: Valley accommodation in the Aosta Valley.
Thursday – Towards the Breithorn and the High Glaciers
After an early breakfast, we travel to Cervinia on the Italian side of the Matterhorn and Monte Rosa region.
Using the mountain lift system, we ascend towards Rifugio Teodulo (3,317m), situated beside the Theodul Glacier.
With two days available for our final alpine objectives, your Guide will choose the most appropriate programme according to the weather, mountain conditions and the group's progress.
Option 1 – Breithorn (4,164m)
Roping up for glacier travel, we cross the Theodul Glacier and continue towards the Breithorn, a magnificent 4000m summit on the border between Italy and Switzerland.
The ascent offers spectacular views towards Monte Rosa, the iconic Matterhorn and the mountains surrounding Zermatt far below.
Option 2 – Theodulhorn (3,472m)
Alternatively, we may head north across the Theodul Glacier to climb the Theodulhorn, a lovely rocky alpine summit in a spectacular glacial setting.
This provides another excellent opportunity to practise and consolidate the mountaineering skills you've developed throughout the week including crevasse rescue.
Overnight: Rifugio Teodulo.
Friday – Our Final Alpine Summit Day
Our final mountain day gives us another opportunity to put everything we've learned into practice.
Depending on the objectives achieved on Thursday, along with the weather and mountain conditions, we may climb either the Breithorn (4,164m) or the Theodulhorn (3,472m).
After our climb, we return to Rifugio Teodulo, descend using the lift system and travel back through the Aosta Valley to Le Fayet.
We'll enjoy a final dinner together at Hotel PlanB, sharing stories and memories from what will hopefully have been a fantastic week of alpine mountaineering.
Overnight: Hotel PlanB, Le Fayet.
Saturday – Departure
Breakfast is included before departure and the end of your Summits & Skills 4000m adventure.
As with all alpine mountaineering programmes, the itinerary and summit objectives may be adapted by your ISM Mountain Guide to suit weather, mountain conditions and the needs of the group. This flexibility is an important part of safe and enjoyable mountaineering.
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'.
Read MoreVital Information
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