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Mont Blanc Training Course Chamonix 🇫🇷 September 2022
September 5, 2022 - September 6, 2022
£425.00
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This late-summer 2 day course in the Chamonix Valley makes an inspiring complement & fine progression from our UK based Mt Blanc Training Weekends. It also acts as a great warm up for our Climb Gran Paradiso course, and then, the ascent of Mont Blanc itself…
The magnificent, yet highly accessible Chamonix Valley and Mont Blanc Massif provides an ideal Base Camp for this inspiring 2 day Mont Blanc training and intro alpine mountaineering course.
Course Aims
- Have an enjoyable & sociable 2 day mountain hut expedition in the Mont Blanc Massif
- Come away with improved mountaineering movement skills especially using crampons and scrambling on rock
- Enjoy some scenic high altitude glacier trekking and climb a fine alpine peak of around 3500m
- Complete some good physical mountain training plus altitude acclimatisation and develop a better overall idea of what’s involved in the ascent of Mont Blanc
- Gain lots of useful info on mountaineering equipment for Mont Blanc and other mountaineering tips in general
- Prepare for the ascents of Gran Paradiso & Mont Blanc after this course, which is an option if you want to create a longer alpine itinerary with a Chamonix rest day in-between each inspiring element.
This course works very well for anyone preparing for the Mont Blanc ascent either the following year or the following week as a warm up and acclimatisation! This is also great for any aspiring mountaineers keen to develop their alpine skills and just enjoy a cracking couple of days Chamonix mountaineering whilst meeting some other like minded folk.
Sample Itinerary Day 1 – Mountain Hut Walk & Glacier Mountaineering Training
Usually an 0830 welcome to the course in central Chamonix, followed by introductions to the guide and other guests, weather forecast and review of the planned programme. Final equipment checks & issue hire gear and boots as required.
- Short 15 min drive to relocate to the lovely hamlet of Le Tour at the north eastern end of the Mont Blanc Massif. Buy ski lift pass and thus rapid uplift towards the Col de Balme at around 2200m
- Steady walk in to the Albert Premier Hut, 2702m, with great views and some intro footwork training along the way.
- Training in the use of mountaineering equipment like crampons, ice axe, harness & helmet whilst doing a short glacier journey and plenty of crampon mountaineering training.
- Good alpine hut dinner and briefing & packing for the alpine start the following morning….
Sample Itinerary Day 2 – Alpine Start – Glacier Journey – Alpine Summit
- Usually an 0400 breakfast gives a dawn start leaving the hut and heading for the Glacier du Tour.
- Roped glacier team travel up onto the high alpine French – Swiss alpine border.
- As our summit attempt we usually climb either the Tete Blanche, Aiguille du Tour or Petite Fourche, all around 3500m with great views East in to the Swiss Valais Alps including the Matterhorn & Monte Rosa.
- All of these peaks usually have a good mix of glacier trekking with some steeper snow slopes, cramponing on ice and, or, rock and many other good ingredients of a classic alpine summit day.
- Descent back to the hut for a drink and down to Le Tour and usually back to Chamonix for mid afternoon.
Justine, Mont Blanc Training Weekend, August 2020
Thank you once more for the excellent 2-day introduction into mountaineering. The first day on the glacier with instructions on specific techniques and continuous concrete advise were much appreciated. Especially loved you letting us try a hand at ice climbing. The 2nd day up Aiguille du Tour was amazing & continuous guidance on detailed elements throughout the climb were great.
The 2 physical and moderately technical days should really compliment the fitness and endurance training you are able to do on a regular basis from home. This is also a great opportunity to get some high quality skills training walking & mountaineering on glaciers and high altitude alpine ridges. We call this ‘bulls eye’ training!
Course Fee: £425
This is a guiding / training fee only and does not include any other expenses like travel, accommodation, insurance or equipment hire plus the following specific expenses:
- Le Tour ski lift pass, around €30
- Your hut fees, around €60 + your share in the guides hut fees, around €10-40 depending on group size
Course Guide:Guest Ratio is Max 1:4
Course Base Camp – Chamonix
Alpine Mountaineering Equipment List
Course Fitness & Mountain Experience Pre-Requirements
An existing level of good mountain fitness is required for 2 days in the mountains of between around 5-8 hours each day. This will mean you have some existing mountain walking experience or a very good level of current fitness from other aerobic / endurance sports like running / cycling etc.
No previous mountaineering or rock climbing experience is required although any scrambling experience would be beneficial and you should however be ready for some exposed scrambling in the mountains and have a reasonable ‘head for heights’
Bram, Intro Alpine Mountaineering Course, Albert Premier Refuge, Chamonix
The 2 day trip was all I could ask for as an introduction. The positivity in the team was just lovely + your continuous encouragements only improved the good spirits. Thank you for the amazing couple of days that left me wanting for more. It was a wonderful adventure and you will definitely see me again.
