Cogne ice climbing camp – Level 1
COMPREHENSIVE COURSE
LOCATION
ACCOMMODATION
INTRODUCTORY 5 DAY COURSE ICE CLIMBING IN COGNE – IDEAL FOR BEGINNERS
The Cogne valley
Cogne is a world-class area when it comes to ice climbing. Located in Italy, 1.5 hours drive from Chamonix; Cogne offers stunning ice falls of all grades in a beautiful and wild environment.
There are two valleys to choose from in Cogne; the Valnontey and Lillaz, both of which have an amazing quantity of ice routes. There are over 130 routes in Cogne, ranging from as easy as grade 2 going up to the expert grade of 6.
This 5 day ice climbing course is set in Lillaz, a picturesque village at the end of the Cogne valley. You will stay in a comfortable hotel where you will enjoy delicious Italian cuisine for breakfast and dinner. Don’t miss out on the hot chocolate – a drink that has entirely new meaning in Italy!
Our Course
The goal of our 5 day ice climbing course is to teach you all the essential rope and climbing techniques, build your confidence in climbing on ice and lead you to climb routes that you would never normally attempt without a mountain guide. The days are intense and packed with tuition and single-pitch / multi-pitch ice climbing. The length and difficulty of the routes will be chosen accordingly to your skills and fitness level.
Our UIAGM Mountain Guides will be present at all times during the course to ensure your safety and teach you the best ice climbing techniques. The idea of our introductory ice climbing course is to climb these fantastic ice falls without destroying them! So the right technique to anchor your ice axes and crampons is the most important thing.
Your group will be divided into climbing teams of two, and each team will be led by a qualified UIAGM Mountain guide. There will be an emphasis on teaching basic ice climbing skills, using crampons and ice axes and improving technique with routes from French ice grade 3-5.
If you do not have 5 days to spare then we recommend doing our 3 day ice climbing course in Chamonix. If you already have some ice climbing experience and want to broaden your skills then our Winter Alpine Course will take you to the next level of mixed rock and ice climbing in the high mountains and glaciers of the Chamonix valley.
Course dates
Do not hesitate to contact us if our existing course dates are not convenient for you. We will be happy to customise a set of dates according to your holiday plans. He best time of year is from late December until February (depending on conditions).
Ratio & Group size
There will me maximum 4 participants per guide on day 1, and 2 participants per guide for the rest of the course. We accept maximum 4 participants per course / group.
From: 2590 €
Beginner
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Fitness level 3/5
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Groups of 4 maximum
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5 days of climbing
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Available December – February
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4 nights in a hotel
Dates
Start date | End date | Space | Price | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Monday 16 December 2024
|
Friday 20 December 2024
|
Two more to guarantee
|
2590 €
| Make enquiry |
Monday 23 December 2024
|
Friday 27 December 2024
|
Two more to guarantee
|
2590 €
| Make enquiry |
Monday 30 December 2024
|
Friday 3 January 2025
|
Two more to guarantee
|
2590 €
| Make enquiry |
Monday 6 January 2025
|
Friday 10 January 2025
|
Two more to guarantee
|
2590 €
| Make enquiry |
Monday 13 January 2025
|
Friday 17 January 2025
|
Two more to guarantee
|
2590 €
| Make enquiry |
Monday 20 January 2025
|
Friday 24 January 2025
|
Two more to guarantee
|
2590 €
| Make enquiry |
Monday 27 January 2025
|
Friday 31 January 2025
|
Guaranteed
|
2590 €
| Make enquiry |
Monday 3 February 2025
|
Friday 7 February 2025
|
Two more to guarantee
|
2590 €
| Make enquiry |
Monday 10 February 2025
|
Friday 14 February 2025
|
Two more to guarantee
|
2590 €
| Make enquiry |
Monday 17 February 2025
|
Friday 21 February 2025
|
Two more to guarantee
|
2590 €
| Make enquiry |
Monday 24 February 2025
|
Friday 28 February 2025
|
Two more to guarantee
|
2590 €
| Make enquiry |
Dates
Start date | End date | Space | Price | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Monday 16 December 2024
|
Friday 20 December 2024
|
Two more to guarantee
|
2590 €
| Make enquiry |
Monday 23 December 2024
|
Friday 27 December 2024
|
Two more to guarantee
|
2590 €
| Make enquiry |
Monday 30 December 2024
|
Friday 3 January 2025
|
Two more to guarantee
|
2590 €
| Make enquiry |
Monday 6 January 2025
|
Friday 10 January 2025
|
Two more to guarantee
|
2590 €
| Make enquiry |
Monday 13 January 2025
|
Friday 17 January 2025
|
Two more to guarantee
|
2590 €
| Make enquiry |
Monday 20 January 2025
|
Friday 24 January 2025
|
Two more to guarantee
|
2590 €
| Make enquiry |
Monday 27 January 2025
|
Friday 31 January 2025
|
Guaranteed
|
2590 €
| Make enquiry |
Monday 3 February 2025
|
Friday 7 February 2025
|
Two more to guarantee
|
2590 €
| Make enquiry |
Monday 10 February 2025
|
Friday 14 February 2025
|
Two more to guarantee
|
2590 €
| Make enquiry |
Monday 17 February 2025
|
Friday 21 February 2025
|
Two more to guarantee
|
2590 €
| Make enquiry |
Monday 24 February 2025
|
Friday 28 February 2025
|
Two more to guarantee
|
2590 €
| Make enquiry |
Itinerary
Arrival Day in Chamonix
You will meet your group and your mountain guide in the Chamonix Experience office on the evening before your ice climbing course begins. You will receive all the details about your guide and the meeting in an email a week before start of the course. The meeting is a great opportunity to ask any questions about the course and to check with your guide that you have the right equipment. The detailed itinerary will depend on the weather, snow and ice conditions and these can vary very much from week to week. Therefore right now we can give you only a rough outline of what will happen on your course day to day.
Day 1 – Ice Climbing in Valsavaranche
We start bright and early, meeting in Chamonix at 6.30am and driving through the Mont Blanc tunnel to Italy, the drive is approximately an hour. We will go straight to Valsavarenche, an excellent ice climbing area where there are more than a dozen routes to suit all capabilities. Your guide will spend today teaching you the basic techniques of ice climbing and ensuring that you know how to use the equipment. At the end of the day we will check into our hotel and enjoy a well-earned dinner.
Days 2 – 5 Ice Climbing selected routes in Lillaz and Valnontey
The rest of the course will be dedicated to improving techniques and skills you have learned on the first day while climbing some of the most stunning icefalls. The routes will be selected according to your level and progress. We will encourage you to push your limits while keeping you happy and safe. We will visit different valleys with good variety of ice climbing with amazing routes for climbers of all levels. Lillaz is a beautiful valley full of frozen waterfalls that offers many different ice climbing routes. Another great option is the selection of icefalls in Valnontey, just south of Cogne. Located in the Gran Paradiso National Park, the Valnontey valley has some fantastic ice climbing routes on 200m high rock faces. On the last day, at the end of the afternoon we will drive back to Chamonix, aiming to be back by around 6:30pm.
Learning outcomes
- Introduction to and improvement of your crampon and ice axe techniques (how to anchor your ice axes and crampons as accurately as possible)
- Improvement of your ice climbing technique (how to improve your balance and body position)
- Safety procedures, use of ice screws and different systems of protection (placing and retrieving ice screws, other means of climbing protection, building belays on ice)
- Abseiling & belay techniques on ice
- Lead climbing and correct placement of the protection
- How to understand and accurately analyse the ice
- Route selection skills
- Risk and hazard management
- Most importantly, lot of good climbing!!!
Level requirements
Experience
There are no prerequisites to attend this course. We highly advise to have some rock climbing experience.
Fitness
You have to have good level of physical fitness. Ice climbing is relatively athletic activity and spending entire days in cold environment is physically tiring.
Training
Rock climbing or indoor climbing is great preparation for this course. You should do some stamina training such as hiking, running or cycling.
Additional services
Equipment hire
Please see the list of recommended equipment on the other tab. Most technical equipment can be rented here in Chamonix, please contact us if you would like prices and advice on whatever you need. Chamonix has dozens of outdoor shops selling everything from basic head torches to expedition standard sleeping bags, so whatever you don’t already have you can find it here.
Insurance
We highly recommend that you take out specific insurance for mountain activities. This will cover you for search and rescue services, evacuation by helicopter and emergency medical treatment. You should also make sure that you have adequate travel insurance that covers you for the usual things such as cancelled flights, lost luggage, hospital treatment, etc. Please contact us to organise mountain rescue insurance for your trip.
Accommodation in Chamonix
If you wish to book accommodation in Chamonix we would be happy to recommend some local hotels, gites, self-catered apartments, or chalets and advise on the best locations. Please contact us if you would like help finding accommodation in Chamonix
Airport transfers
We can help you to organise your transport to/from Chamonix. We work with well-established airport transfer companies which use new and comfortable vehicles and which have the capacity and know-how to handle everything from delayed and cancelled flights, to unexpected traffic jams with professionalism and efficiency.
To book your transfer, we will need the following:
- Your full name
- Mobile phone number
- Email address
- Your destination address
- Your flight details (date, time and flight number)
Shared transfers:
This is the most economic and ecologically friendly way of travel. The driver will meet and greet you at the airport, gather you and the rest of the passenger group together and then head off to your chosen destination. The door-to-door service means that you will be dropped off and picked up right at your hotel /chalet / apartment. From 40€ per person for one-way and 80€ per person for a return trip.
Private transfers:
Private Transfers are the quickest way to get to and from the airport. Your driver will meet and greet you at the airport and guide you to your vehicle. There is no waiting for other passengers. Private transfers are available for one to eight person bookings and travelling together and you are guaranteed sole occupancy of the vehicle for your transfer. And, of course, it’s a door-to-door service, so you won’t be lugging any bags very far.
Guide Fees
5 days of guiding and instruction by a UIAGM qualified mountain guide.
Accommodation (half board)
4 nights in a hotel in Cogne. Accommodation is on shared basis with breakfast and dinner.
Transport
Return transport from Chamonix to Italy.
Group Equipment
Ropes, safety equipment, etc will be provided when needed by your guide.
Office Support
Our team is based at the foot of the Aiguillle du Midi cable car and will be happy to help you with any questions you may have before, during or after your trip to Chamonix.
Not included in price
Personal Equipment
Please see the “Equipment” tab to find out what you will need on this trip / course. For private customised guiding, please contact us directly to confirm your personalised kit list.
Accommodation in Chamonix
Accommodation in Chamonix is not included in the price but we would be happy to advise or organise it on request.
Travel to Chamonix
The price does not include flights, airport transfers or any other travel to/from Chamonix. However, we can organise airport transfers for you on request, please contact us for details.
Insurance
Travel insurance including a mountain search and rescue insurance is mandatory on all our trips (we can organise the mountai search and rescue insurance for you on request). We highly advice to have a policy covering the cost of medical treatment and to protect the value of your holiday in the event of cancellation. When taking out insurance please ensure the policy you choose covers you for the activities and altitude included in your itinerary.
Food & Drink
The price does not include lunch or snacks. You can bring your own food and we can stop for a picnic, or there may be the option to buy lunch at a mountain hut. Please make sure that you are carrying sufficient water and snacks as we will be in the mountains for a number of hours.