Mont Blanc Mountaineering Introduction
Mountaineering Introduction
You do not need to be a great climber to enjoy its vast mountain attractions. On the contrary one of Courmayeur Mont Blanc's real assets is that it has peaks and mountaineering climbs suitable for all levels of challenge and for every step along the path to becoming an Alpinist.
his training course is designed for those who are new to alpine mountaineering and want to either develop their skills to become independent alpine climbers or complete further climbs with a Mountain Guide.
COURSE AIM.
✓ Personal climbing movement skills & rock climbing techniques with the aim of climbing efficiently & enjoyably.
✓ Basic rock climbing skills like putting on your harness and tying in to the rope.
✓ Technical sessions will include further knots, tying in to anchors and using protection equipment (slings, nuts, cams, hexes etc).
✓ Descending or retreating safely from rock climbs.
✓ Alpine rock skills, managing the rope on easy ground, taking coils & moving together.
✓ Alpine mountain skills, approaching a rock climb with a snow or glacial approach.
✓ Basic use of ice-axe & crampons.
✓ Personal movement skills on a variety of types of terrain.
✓ Safe, simple and efficient glacier travel protocol & techniques.
✓ Efficient use of the rope on mountaineering terrain.
✓ Selecting appropriate equipment to be safe but also light and effective.
✓ Using mountain huts.
✓ Use of maps, guide books, GPS and the latest ‘Apps’ for route planning and navigation.
✓ Emergency Procedures in the Alps.
✓ Two 4000m Peaks (Breithorn 4165m - Gran Paradiso 4061m).
DURATION
Five days in the mountain
FITNESS LEVEL REQUIRED
GROUPS
4 peoples.
COST
€ 920 per person.
$USD 960 per person
£ 763 per person
INCLUDE
✓ Services of an Mountain Guide
✓ All transfers as shown in the program
✓ The cablecars tickets as shown in the program, including cablecars tickets of the Mountain Guide
✓ Half board in the huts, including the halfs boards of the Mountain Guide
NOT INCLUDE
✗ Accomodation
✗ Lunch in both mountain and valley
✗ Mountaineering – Off Piste/Ski Mountaineering Insurance IMPORTANT: Please read this section.
✗ Transfer from/to airport,
✗ Airfare
✗ Anything not specified
NB Trip is confirmed from 3 peoples.
Day 0 - Sun
Arrival
Travel to Courmayeur, to arrive in time for the Evening Briefing.
Your guide will run through safety routines and kit checks, as well as hand out rental equipment for the week, before we go on to a detailed discussion of everyones ambitions for the week, together with the current weather and mountain conditions and how these affect our planning. We’ll also have maps and guidebooks to show you, so if you’ve any further questions or last minute requests, then this is the ideal time to bring them up before we head on to dinner.
Day 1 - Mon
9.00am – 4.00pm: Introduction to Rock Climbing.
We move to a local valley crag and do some top roped climbing with an introduction to basic climbing and ropework techniques. Most likely venues are the famous valley crags of the Courmayeur Valley - Morgex e.g “Palestra Jordaney”.
This day you’ll need a packed lunch, as we’ll be out all day.
Day 2 - Tue
8.00am – 4.00pm: Introduction to ice climbing at Géant Glacier - Helbronner Point 3462m
In early morning we climb with the Sky Way cable car to Punta Helbronner 3462m and from here starts the practice day in high altitude with crampons on icy and snowy slopes. Our principal goals are to acquire greater confidence and improve skills in progression techniques on the glacier with rope, crampons and ice axe as well as to test the physical response to altitude. This will allow, consequently, to increase the possibility of success in the two 4,000m peaks planned mountaineering ascents, the Breithorn and Gran Paradiso summits.
This day you’ll need a packed lunch, as we’ll be out all day.
Day 3 - Wed
6.00am – 4.00pm: Ascent of Breithorn (4165m) – via the normal route.
1.30 hour by road takes us to the Cervinia village situated at foot south face of Matterhorn. A cable car is used to take us to 3515m and a spectacular glacial environment. From here Ascent of Breithorn (4165m). Follow up the glacier to the Klein Matterhorn area and from here in 2 hours to the top. The great views from the summit are definitely worth the effort. In the first afternoon return to Courmayeur via Cervinia.
This day you’ll need a packed lunch, as we’ll be out all day.
Round trip ~5-6hrs.
Day 4 - Thu
11.00am – 4.00pm: Vittorio Emanuele Hut 2732m.
1.00 hrs Drive from Courmayeur to Pont Valsavarenche 1952m. From here in 2.00 - 2.30 hrs ascent through the beautiful trak we reach the Hut. Rest, overnight and Half board in Hut
780m ascent ~2-2.30hrs.
This day you’ll need a packed lunch, as we’ll be out all day.
Day 5 - Fri
4.00am – 4.00pm: Gran Paradiso Summit 4061m - – via the normal route..
Having a 4am breakfast at Refuge Vittorio Emanuel allows us plenty of time to ascend the Gran Paradiso (4061m). The ascent is made via the Glacier du Grand Paradiso and should take around four - five hours to the summit. Crampons and rope need from basic of glacier 3300m to the summit. where scramble the along rocky ridge to gain great views and pictures of the Madonna on the summit. We descend back to Vittorio Emmanuele hut. 1 hrs rest, after return to Courmayeur via Pont Valsavarenche
This day you’ll need a packed lunch, as we’ll be out all day.
1329m ascent - descent ~9-10hrs.
End of Program
Day 6 - Sat
Return home.
After a night of well-deserved rest, departure from Courmayeur for your destination.