Sample Programme

This is very much a sample programme of this course as any number of different combinations of peaks and climbs are possible.

Sunday evening
The course starts with participants and guides meeting at 6.45pm at the Hotel PlanB in Le Fayet Saint Gervais, Mont Blanc, France. This is the chance for the guides to give you a thorough briefing and discuss the detailed plan for the week with you.

Monday
The plan for the week might start with an ascent of the Miroir d'Argentine, which is a classic alpine rock route 14 pitches long ascending a huge limestone face high above Villars in the Rhone Valley. Once down we'd drive down and across to the other side of the Rhone valley and up into the small mountain village of Arolla, staying the night here.

Tuesday

A superb expedition for the next two days is the traverse of the Grand Cornier (3733m). The South Ridge of this peak is a fantastic route in a wild and remote setting, climbed from the Dent Blanch bivouac hut. This is situated in an incredible position on the col underneath the north ridge of the Dent Blanche. We sort the bivvy food and gear, drive the short distance up and into Ferpècle, and make the 4/5 hour hike to the bivvy hut. This is a big day so we make a good ‘alpine start’ in the morning.

Wednesday

The climb starts straight from the hut and is mostly rock, so we don’t need to make a pre-dawn start! The difficulties are mostly on rock (pitches to IV) and the ridge itself is a very exposed and narrow crest. From the summit we descend the tricky rock crest of the North West Ridge, then over mixed ground onto the upper Moiry glacier, which gives a long but easy descent to the Moiry hut.

Thursday

After a relaxing start to the day we leave the Moiry hut and head down and across the Moiry Glacier and then hike up over the Col du Tsate and back down into the Arola valley to Les Hauderes and back to our vehicle in Ferpecle. Back early afternoon we would relax, shower and have food in Arolla, before then heading up the short hike to the privately owned Tsa Hut about an hours walk above Arolla. This hut gives great views across the Arolla valley but also access to a beautiful alpine rock route called the Dent de Tsalion.

Friday
After a short hike form the Tsa Hut, the Dent de Tsalion arete is a superb alpine rock route on excellent rock leading up to Aiguille de la T'sa which is the obvious 'mini Matterhorn' rock pinnacle and obvious point on the skyline seen from the Arolla valley and other high points. After our ascent of this fine alpine rock route we make our way down the other side, skirting around the Bertol hut and back down to Arolla. Once in Arolla we then drive back to the Hotel Plan be in Le Fayet Saint Gervais for our last night's meal.

Saturday morning
Breakfast is included before departure (or this is a rest day if you are continuing to another course).