Intro to mountaineering & Gran Paradiso 4061 m

Climbing in an alpine environment is a fantastic combination of physical challenge and nature experience. It requires skill in navigation, route selection and climbing skills. Alpine climbing involves climbing on rock, snow and ice, sometimes all at the same time.

 

Approaches and descents often take place on glaciers, this requires knowledge of glaciers. This is the introductory course to climbing in an alpine environment and aims to give you a foundation for different types of alpine climbing. In addition, we have added an ascent of one of the Alps' most beautiful 4000 meter peaks. Perfect for those who want to get started with alpine climbing & mountaineering. Gran Paradiso is a great first 4000 meter peak where you get to feel high altitude at a reasonable level.

This is a trip for women & non binary with female IFMGA guides.

 

 

• Learn basic rope team work, basic knowledge of crampons and alpine ice axe

• Glacier knowledge and route finding on a glacier

• Planning of alpine tours

• Glacier rescue, system to help someone out of a crevasse

• Lots of, and nice, climbing in a magnificent alpine environment!

 

 

To get a foundation to be able to do alpine climbing tours.

 

 

Those who want to get a thorough introduction to alpine climbing under the guidance of skilled instructors who are also authorized mountain guides.

 

 

You do not need to have previous experience of alpine climbing, but must be healthy and have a good physique. If you have a green card in climbing or have taken a basic course in rock climbing, you will learn more during these days. 

 

 

 

This is your travel day as you travel to Chamonix on your own. You can check in at your hotel from 15:00

 

We make an approach up a glacier where we learn how to rope, use an ice ax and crampons and glacier rescue. We then plan tomorrow's trip and talk about navigation, trip planning, mountain safety and route selection. The night is spent in a mountain cabin.

 

We do the Aiguille Tour or another nice peak in the area. It's a lovely trip on a glacier, up a steeper section that ends with an easier climb. You get to experience the alpine environment while our guides teach you how to tackle the terrain. We sleep in a hotel in Chamonix.

 

We head to Italy and make the approach to Gran Paradiso. In the afternoon we take it easy up at the cabin and relax before the summit attempt. We sleep in a mountain hut.

 

We wake up early, while it's still dark outside, and eat breakfast. Then we head, in the glow of headlamps, towards the glacier and the summit of Gran Paradiso. About 5 hours later we are at the top. We then walk all the way back to the car and drive back to Chamonix where we stay in a hotel.

 

Your return home day. You check out no later than 10:00 and continue the adventure on your own. 

 

 

Loan of necessary climbing equipment is included in the price. The following equipment is assigned to you by your mountain guide at the beginning of the course.

• Alpine ice axe

• Crampons

• Helmet

• Harness

• Screw carabiner

 

You need to have the following personal equipment with you, this is not included in the course fee. There is time to arrange the final details such as completing equipment on Monday morning, but it is an advantage if you have everything ready by Sunday. 

 

• Alpine boots to which crampons can be attached (ex La Sportiva Trango Tech or Scarpa Ribelle). If you are unsure whether your boots are sturdy enough, you can of course ask us before you go. There are boots to rent in Chamonix, the best place to rent is Snell Sport in Chamonix. 

• Backpack, 30-40 litres

• Warm hat (which fits under a helmet)

• Underwear, shirt and pants (synthetic or wool, not cotton)

• Thinner fleece sweater

• Thicker fleece sweater or thin down jacket

• Wind and waterproof jacket (preferably shell jacket without lining)

• Wind and waterproof trousers (preferably shell trousers without lining)

• Thick gloves

• Thin mittens, gloves

• Snow locks (gaiters)

• Headlamp

• Sunglasses

• Ski goggles

• Water bottle

• Sun protection

• Poles (telescopes that can be folded and attached to a backpack)

• Sun hat or cap

• Handkerchief (slightly larger can serve as sun protection for the neck/head)

 

• Training and guiding by an authorized IFMGA mountain guides for 4 days

• All climbing equipment

• Accommodation 3 nights at a hotel in Chamonix (shared doubbleroom, single room on request at extra cost)

• Breakfast 5 days

• Accommodation for 2 nights in mountain huts (shared rooms, no single room possible)

• Dinner every day we stay in mountain huts

• All transport during the trip
• 16 week training program
• Documentation of the trip by a professional photographer - Emma Svensson

 

• Travel to and from Chamonix

• Clothing / personal equipment, see the list above

• Lift card

• Own insurance