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Not all alpine peaks are as busy as Mont Blanc, not all alpine peaks are as steep as the Matterhorn. From beautiful hut walks to lofty ridges, there is plenty for walkers or mountaineers alike. There really is something for everyone here. That's why, this year, we have expanded our range of Alpine courses to match.
Whether you want a "taste of the Alps" or strive for self sufficiency. Whether you are a walker, or a committed climber. Whether you want five days of skills, a good apprenticeship, or two full weeks of adventure - there is something for everyone.
As if that wasn't enough - this year we have made most of our courses easier to compare. With all the courses priced in one of three ways, you can see what extra value our high Guide to student ratios are across each course.
All our staff are IFMGA guides (or aspirants) as well as Mountaineering Instructors. This means that, in addition to the top international qualification, they have a wealth of Alpine experience to share.
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 A classic journey through dramatic alpine scenery. This five day course will take you from committed walker to standing on alpine summits. You reap all the rewards and enjoy all the alpine views, without the need for technical, or climbing skills.
The first day is spent getting to grips with crampons and ice axes, on a local glacier. It also provides us with an opportunity to sort out all the equipment in the evening. After a night in the valley, we set off on an alpine adventure. Travelling as a team over glaciers and passes, we will learn the skills we need on the move. Taking in some of the best sections of the highly acclaimed 'haute route' we will spend the nights in well appointed alpine huts. Staying high in the mountains we can plan the day ahead, whilst we savour the Alpine ambience.
Ratio Normally 1 instructor : 5 participants
What's included?
For this course, we will stay (half board) in a valley hotel at first, then catered mountain refuges along the way. All you have to pay for are your lunches and drinks. Get yourself to Arolla and let us take care of the rest. |
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| : A keen hill walker, fit enough for five full days out |
No. Days |
Cost 08 |
Dates 08 |
| 5 |
£690 |
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 A perfect introduction to Alpine mountaineering. This five day course is for those who wish to transfer their mountaineering skills to an Alpine environment. Learn the techniques, get a taste of the sights and scale of the Alps, and reap the rewards.
Through the five days we will introduce you to the special aspects of alpine mountaineering. Moving on snow and ice, travelling on glaciers and ridges, alpine rope work, and crevasse rescue. We will then make full use of your new found Alpine skills on the majestic peaks of the area.
This course is for you if you want an all round Alpine apprenticeship where you'd really like to go off and do it yourself, but would like to learn the basic skills (and all those little top-tips) first. This course will pack years of experience into just five days, to help launch your own career of safe and enjoyable Alpinism.
Ratio: Normally 1 instructor : 4 participants
What's included?
This course is based in self catering accommodation in Arolla, and mountain huts along the way. All you have to pay for are meals in the valley, and all your lunches and drinks. |
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| : Some winter hillwalking |
No. Days |
Cost 08 |
Dates 08 |
| 5 |
£745 |
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| : winter hillwalking and some experience of multi-pitch climbing. |
No. Days |
Cost 08 |
Dates 08 |
| 5 |
£375 |
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| : winter hillwalking and some experience of multi-pitch climbing. |
No. Days |
Cost 08 |
Dates 08 |
| 5 |
£175 |
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 If you're going to the Alps this year make this weekend in North Wales a part of your preparation. We've designed a two-day programme to fine tune the skills you need out there, from glacier travel, navigation and route planning to using huts, bivouac skills and access issues. You'll also cover essential alpine ropework, learn how to interpret alpine weather and recognise hazards before they become a problem. |
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| : some experience of climbing ropework. |
No. Days |
Cost 08 |
Dates 08 |
| 2 |
£180 Based at Plas y Brenin |
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 This exciting new five day course is for people with previous Alpine experience to bring your skills bang up to date.
Maybe it's been a while and you want to get back into Alpine Climbing; maybe your Alpine skills need a professional tweak to help you make the most of your time; or maybe your confidence simply needs a boost?
This five day course (at the start of the season) will help develop all the skills you need to kick start your summer. Throughout the week we will coach you in Alpine skills in an appropriate and practical way - from our base in Arolla.
Along the way, we'll share advice and top tips as we acclimatise. By the end of the week, you should be able to get plenty of personal advice on routes and conditions from our experienced guides.
What better way to start the season?
Ratio Normally 1 instructor : 2 participants
What's included?
For this course, when we're in the valley, we stay in half board hotel accommodation. In the mountains, we stay in mountain refuges, so all you have to pay for are your lunches and drinks. Get yourself to Arolla and let us take care of the rest. |
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| : Some alpine mountaineering experience, or a previous course. |
No. Days |
Cost 08 |
Dates 08 |
| 5 |
£745 |
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 Get the skills, the experience, and the judgement to go Alpine Climbing for yourself with this ten-day Alpine extravaganza. One week may give you the skills, but ten days will allow you to put it in to practice and reap the rewards.
This classic ten-day course, gives you the chance to consolidate your new skills in a way that's just not possible for most week long introductions. It may be a long established 'winning formula', but constant development means that the techniques and equipment will be bang up to date; the venues hand-picked for learning, packing ten full days with unique advantages.
We spend the first five days at a 1:4 ratio, giving you the skills you need to travel on alpine terrain, and taking in some great summits.
Then we drop down to a flexible 1:2 ratio to focus directly on your individual aspirations during five days of 'putting in to practice' - awesome summits via the perfect routes for you.
Ratio: Normally 1 instructor : 4 participants initially then 1 instructor : 2 participants
What's included?
This course is based in self catering accommodation in Arolla, and mountain huts along the way. All you have to pay for are meals in the valley, and all your lunches and drinks. |
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| : The more you already know about winter mountaineering, and multi pitch climbing, the more you will gain from the course. Fitness and enthusiasm to learn are most important. |
No. Days |
Cost 08 |
Dates 08 |
| 10 |
£1540 |
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 Soaring snow aretes and lofty rocky ridges - this is five days of Alpine adventure. Throughout this week we will take your skills further, climbing some classic alpine summits. With so many 4000m peaks in the area we have so much to choose from. Of course, they don't have to be technical, and we don't have to limit ourselves to the biggest - there is something for everyone.
Whether you've just been on our 'snowy peaks and passes' week, on an alpine apprenticeship, or 'discover alpinism', this is the ideal progression. Take the weekend off, when we travel to Saas Grund, for another five days. Alternatively, get yourself acclimatised and join us out there.
Saas Grund is ideally located to give us access to the best that Switzerland can offer - the biggest peaks, the greatest variety, and the best weather in the Western Alps. It's also easy to get to from Geneva or Zurich, with Saas Fee and Zermatt on the doorstep.
Ratio Normally 1 instructor : 2 participants
What's included?
For this course, when we're in the valley, we stay in half board hotel accommodation. In the mountains, we stay in comfortable mountain refuges, so all you have to pay for are your lunches and drinks. Get yourself to Saas Grund and let us take care of the rest. |
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| : Some alpine mountaineering experience, or a previous course. |
No. Days |
Cost 08 |
Dates 08 |
| 5 |
£960 |
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