Staying In Mountain Huts - FAQs What are mountain huts like & what additional equipment items do I need to bring? Alpine Huts (Refuge in French / Rifugio in Italian and Hutte in German) add an extra dimension to many of our alpine courses and allow a very early start to be made often with [...]
Can I leave my baggage with you whilst I am in the mountains during my course? No. We have no luggage storage facilities in Chamonix or any of our other venues. So please make alternative arrangements for any luggage not required during your course. In Chamonix for example, many accommodation providers will look after your [...]
Yes, and No! We often get asked by guests if it's possible to climb Mont Blanc in a day from the valley. Yes it is, but only for those with massive levels of endurance and mountain relevant fitness, and some pre-ascent acclimatisation. Even then, it is a huge day to make both the ascent and [...]
A good question relevant to many of our guests trying to decide if they should join one of our open group course teams or hire their own private guide. Here is a summary of the differences... Private Guiding Pros & Cons Private guiding is the best option for guests who want to create a bespoke [...]
For both summer mountaineering and winter ski courses it's great and recommended if you have the time to arrive a day or more early. This gives you time to start acclimatising for your course in a relaxed way with some warm up walking, climbing or skiing. There are great options in Chamonix for using the [...]
Can I book my flight back home from Geneva Airport on the last night of our course? Yes - but! Yes, many people fly back on the last day of the course, almost exclusively without a problem, however the risk of missing your flight is yours as there are issues in the mountains, and on [...]
That depends on the timing of your cancellation. Where courses which are cancelled more than 3 months in advance, a full refund, less the non-refundable deposit, is available. For courses cancelled 2-3 months in advance, a 50% refund is available and for courses cancelled less than 2 months in advance, no refund is available. [...]
No, course deposit payments are both non-refundable and non-transferable. See our other FAQ, Why is my deposit my non-refundable?
It depends how much time you have for the ascent. When people try and rush to the summit on the first few days of their trip, their chances of getting AMS are unacceptably high. People who spend 2 weeks over the whole trip usually have a very good chance of acclimatising well, summiting safely and [...]
Yes. You will need good quality alpine mountaineering boots suitable for taking crampons and warm enough for climbing in snow in temperatures well below freezing. You will also need, crampons, a harness, ice axe, helmet and rope. To state the obvious, you also need to know how to use it all!
f you or someone else on the mountain has a serious injury or is suffering from altitude sickness you should call for a mountain rescue. Before doing this take as good immediate care of the injured person as possible and establish the following information. Your location (description and map co-ordinates, for additional accuracy examine the [...]
Stay together and descend. The entire upper mountain is glaciated, which means that there are crevasses and the party should stay roped together because of this. You also need to look after each other as people suffering from tiredness may slow down and are especially vulnerable to Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) induced by the high [...]
Strong winds, above around 50km/hr, can make the upper mountain a dangerous place due to the cold, getting blown around and the loss of a helicopter rescue option. Poor visibility in thick cloud means crevasses and steep snow slopes can not be negotiated efficiently. Fresh snow can present an avalanche risk and rain will elevate [...]
Even in high summer the temperature is usually below freezing point and often around -5C to -10C. On a calm sunny day this temperature can feel pleasant and a short break can even be taken on the summit to admire the views and enjoy a sandwich. However with cloud and wind chill this can feel [...]
The classic season to climb the mountain on foot is during the summer months of June – September. Ski ascents are usually made from late March to May. The most amenable weather is usually during the ‘high summer season’ although the mountain and huts can get very busy in late July and August. Autumn often [...]
Yes, but so is driving along the busy motorway to get there.... By hiring a Mountain Guide and receiving the benefits of their wisdom, accumulated from climbing many mountains before, a lot of these hazards are strongly reduced. By spending some time mountaineering training and acclimatising at the start of a Mont Blanc week you [...]
No, there is no requirement to hire a Guide and, happily, in the mountains we are all free to climb as we please. However if you do not already have the mountaineering skills described above, and want to maintain a reasonable margin of safety then yes, you would be strongly advised to hire a fully [...]
Via the 'normal route' the ascent is made on a rough rocky path, up to the Tete Rousse Hut and, in normal conditions, this should be a fairly straightforward walk. The next section leading to the Gouter Hut, often climbed in the dark, is steeper and involves some rocky or mixed (snow and ice on [...]
You need to be fit and fit in the right places! The summit day involves around 12 hours of almost constant exertion at high altitude. Whilst this is a generally tiring day there are also specific demands placed on your cardio-vascular system and leg muscles. This is best trained for by going hill / mountain [...]
Zermatt - Schwarzsee return lift costs: Adults: sFr.33 Plus the cost of your Guide at approx half price. Discounts for holders of SwissRail Pass (25% off) and Half Fare cards (50% off). Overnight stay at the Hörnli Hut: sFr.150. Small discounts for members of national alpine associations e.g. Alpine Club, BMC A.A.C, C.A.F. Plus the [...]
FAQsTom Frearson2026-03-25T11:28:26+00:00
