Winter Mountaineering

We have revised and improved our Winter Mountaineering course for 2012! You will now be working in smaller groups and covering more ground!

This course is designed for those with no previous experience of winter mountaineering or for those who want to refresh their existing summer skills and get an introduction to winter climbing in the Alps. The course is run with small numbers per guide therefore has the flexibility to be adjusted to your level.

The course will focus on the following four main areas: Glacier Travel, Avalanche Awareness, Mixed Alpine Climbing, Ice Climbing

You will start with a technical skills day introducing/refreshing glacier travel techniques, ice axe arrest, using crampons on steep snow and ice, crevasse rescue and avalanche awareness. These skills will be continually referred to for the duration of the course.Ice climbing Argentiere

Over the next two days you will be in smaller groups. You will have a day ice climbing and a day introduction to the high mountains where you will have a chance to put your new skills to work with some mixed climbing.

The last two days of the course you will be operating in smaller groups again which will permit you to do more technical ice climbing routes and have a chance to try leading.  You will also get a chance to do a longer more technical winter route.

The locations used will be decided by your guides based on where the best conditions are at the time, possibilities include the Chamonix valley, Trient in Switzerland, Conge in Italy.

You will be guided by an IFMGA qualified guide and the client to guide ratio is as follows

Day 1 - 1 guide : 6 participants

Day 2 & 3 - 1 guide : 3 participants

Day 4&5 –  1 guide : 2 participants


Course Details

Duration: 5 days (Starts with Sunday evening meeting at 1830 at the Chamonix Experience Office course ends apporximatly 5pm Friday evening)


2012 Dates:Ice climbing

New Date: 27 February – 2 March

GUARANTEED TO RUN = as soon as we have the minimum number required to run the activity we guarantee the departure


Group Size: minimum 2, maximum 6
Ratio: Day 1 - 1:6        Day 2 & 3 – 1:3            Day 4&5  1:2


Included: 5 days guiding with IFMGA guide,  avalanche transceiver, shovel, probe, in-resort transport.
Not included: Personal equipment, mountain rescue insurance, airport transfersThe first pitch on the Contamine-Mazeaud route, accomodation and food, uplifts (approx 120€).
Equipment: See Equipment List or contact our office.


Price: 1095€ per person
For whom: People with a good level of fitness, no previous mountaineering skills required but if you have some it is very helpful. This course is an ideal follow on from our summer Alpine Climbing course. The small ratios will enable participants to develope on new and existing skills very quickly.