CHAMONIX ICE CLIMBING DISCOVERY COURSE
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If winter climbing has always
held your fascination why not give it a shot
this winter?
In a place where time appears to have stood
still, a whole universe of ice, snow and rock
awaits you.
Let us guide your first steps into this astonishing
world.
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Duration
: |
5
days.
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Dates
2009 : |
Each Monday
to Friday starting from the beginning of March
through to the end of April |
Group
size: |
Maximum
2 - With your safety in mind and to ensure
you get the most enjoyment from your course, we
restrict the munber of persons per guide to two
in all instance. |
Course
Content: |
- Develop your
skills on snow, ice and snow and rock (“mixed”)
- Learn to belay and lead
- Efficient use of safety equipment on this terrain
(including ice screws, nuts, ice axe etc)
- Evaluate snow conditions
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Price : |
Euro 1,450 for 1 person or Euro 750 for 2
people sharing
The price of the course includes your guide
for the week, the use of an ARVA, a harness,
a helmet crampons and ice-axes. The price does
not include lift tickets of half board accomodation
in a gite. You should estimate between 200 and
250 euros for this.
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Insurance: |
Before you arrive please ensure that your travel
/ winter sports insurance covers you for moutaineering
activities.
-
Clients who are not resident
in the USA or in Canada have the possibility
to become members of the French Alpine Club,
and therefore benefit from their insurance.
Please contact them for further details. CAF
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If you are English, please
contact the British Mountaineering Council
for insurance coverage: www.thebmc.co.uk
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ALPINE ICE CLIMBING COURSE STRUCTURE
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Monday: |
Instead of transporting
cream, as was its role in days gone-by, this small
train will carry us to our enrty point onto the
glacier “Mer du Glace”
at an altitude of 1913m.
Descending 30 meters by steps,
we set foot on the glacier. Throughout the day
you will discover all the techniques necessary
for travelling on ice and snow, from simply walking
with crampons to use of ice axes. We will spend
the night in a “gite” on the valley
floor.
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Tuesday: |
We head for Argentiere where
the cable car carries us swifty to the top of
the Grands Montets (3297m).
We start the day learning about
security on this terrain including how to arrest
a fall of a fellow rope climber. In the afternoon
we will climb the north face of the Petite
Aiguille Verte (3512m) on slopes no
more than 55 degrees pitch. We descend once
again to the valley floor via the cable car
to the comfort of our “gite”
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Wednesday: |
Today we take the cable car
to the top of the Aiguille de Midi.
On arrival at this prestigious
summit we will put on crampons in order to gain
access to the Col du Midi.
From here we head left (45 degree pitch) heading
for the Pointes Lachenal encountering
small strectches of mixed snow and rock as we
traverse. To finish the day’s activities
we descend the pretty and easy Laurence
ridge that leads us to the terrace
of the Refuge des Cosmique
where we spend the night.
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Thursday
: |
After a warming breakfast in
the refuge we take our time soaking up the beauty
of this breathtaking ridge.
The climbing that follows is
challenging without being too difficult. On
the way to the top the view of the north face
of the Aiguille du Midi and Chamonix,
1800 m lower down, will leave you breathless!
And if that is not enough wait until you clamber
over he rail of the viewing platform in your
crampons admist the camera flashes of envious
tourists. We return to the refuge for the second
night.
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Friday
: |
To finsh in style we set off
on the “Triangle du Tacul”
for the “Chere Gully”.
Gaining only 350m the height
gain is still a challenge since it is principally
ice with short passages of 80 degrees and some
good quality snow and rock. This provides you
with an opporunity to strectch out your muscles
after yesterday’s summit and put to good
use all the skills you have mastered over the
past days.
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This is only an example of the
course . The Guide reserves the right to change
it at any time, conditions and group ability
dependent.
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Winter
Ice Climbing Chamonix 5 days Improvement