Climbing - Winter Alpinism

Winter in the Alps allows for a wide variety of outstanding routes to be climbed. The begining of the course will focus on technique and we will then put what you have learned into play on gradually bigger and longer alpine faces.

Day 1
CHAMONIX - ARGENTIERE GLACIER
Morning pick-up at your hotel in Chamonix and then we will head to the snout of the Argentiere glacier to practice some important skills needed during the coming week: knots, belaying, cramponing, movement skills, rappelling, etc. Night in Chamonix.

Day 2
COSMIQUES ARETE - COSMIQUES HUT
We start the day by riding the cable to the top of the Aiguille du Midi and head down to the glacier to the base of the Cosmiques ridge. This is a great route to start off with and you will find a bit of everything here from some easy mixed terrain to rappels to rock. We spend the night at the Cosmiques Hut.

Day 3
CHERE COULOIR
An early start will get us out onto the glacier and we will make our way to the base of the Chere Couloir. This is a fabulous route offering a classic mix of mixed terrain to fairly steep ice. Evening in Chamonix.

DAY 4
TORINO HUT
Today we head through the Mont Blanc tunnel and ride a series of lifts to the top of the Helbronner. From here we will choose a satelite summit offering some steep ice and mixed terrain to further pratice our skills. Night at the Torino Hut.

DAY 5
TOUR RONDE NORTH FACE
We have a classic alpine start to the day and head out for a long slog into the night in the vallee blanche. By dawn we will be at the bottom of the face, ready to commence climbing. The climb is moderately long and goes from steep snow to a narrow ice filled gulley, back to steep snow and finally a rocky summit. The Tour Ronde is the reward for a great week of winter climbs in the heart of the Alps.

*Course program is subject to change depending on conditions.

Other related winter programs>>