Eiger Climbing Course via Mittellegi Ridge

The Eiger climbing course starts with an evening meeting with your mountain guide at the Chamonix Experience office opposite the Aiguille du Midi lift station. Your mountain guide will go through the plan for the week and answer any questions you may have. You should bring your equipment (rental and/or personal) to the meeting, for your guide to check that you have everything you will need for the course.

We start the Eiger climbing course with rock climbing at one of the great multi-pitch areas in Chamonix to refresh our rope work skills. We will choose nice easy itineraries that will give us the opportunity to check your level and work on improving your climbing and rope skills. Les Aiguilles Rouges or Plan des Aiguilles offer some great climbing and scrambling terrain to practice on.

Today we will do an ice axe, crampons and rope skills refreshment on the glacier at Mer de Glace. Your mountain guide will also teach you basic crevasse rescue skills which are essential for safe travel on glaciers. You will then hike up to the Couvercle hut, where you will spend the night. Sleeping at altitude is an excellent way to acclimatise.

Today is an early start to climb the Aiguille du Moine at 3412m via the normal route, on a south face over mixed terrain of rock and ice. Aiguille du Moine is a magnificent mountain; you’ll have a great climb and a long day! You will descend back to Chamonix after the climb and your guide will drop you back at your accommodation.

Today we tackle the normal route on the Aiguille du Peigne; it is 500m long, but a relatively easy and fast climb (4b max). The Aiguille du Peigne will give you a good idea of what to expect on the Eiger climb: a quick simul-climb up and down the mountain, while being protected by your guide on a ‘short rope’.

Your 4 days of training are completed and you’re ready to climb the Eiger! With your guide, you will drive over to Grindelwald where you will hike up to the Mittellegihütte (3355m). The hike takes around 2.5 hours over rocky and glaciated terrain up to the hut, where you will spend the night. Get a good night’s sleep, as tomorrow we begin our ascent of the Eiger!

Today is the big day! We usually do our ascents via the Mittellegi ridge which is the most spectacular. The climb is 615m over a rock and mixed terrain of up to 5b. If the conditions are not good for the ridge, we will choose another itinerary, such as the classic South Ridge (AD or III). These itineraries are not technically very difficult, but they involve a full day of scrambling over tricky terrain where you have to stay well focused. After the descent we will travel back to Chamonix, where the course will finish over a well-deserved glass of beer.

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.

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.

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.

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.