Mt Blanc Training Weekend & Climb Gran Paradiso

Mt Blanc Training Weekend & Climb Gran Paradiso

Jen Kingwill and David Lowry Sept 2021
I wanted to say thank you very much for the courses last week. I had a great time, learned a lot and will definitely be back for more.  The guides, especially Jim and Kenny were great!   Jen.
Our September Climb Gran Paradiso Team make there way to the summit…

Great trip. Kenny was an excellent guide in every aspect: professional, knowledgeable, and a very warm , affable person. An asset to you.  David.

Mont Blanc Training Weekend…& Then Mt Blanc!

Mont Blanc Training Weekend…& Then Mt Blanc!

Adam Tew, Private Guiding for Mt Blanc Training in Snowdonia - then Mt Blanc autumn course

Battered, bruised, sodden, scared….

Absolutely loved it!

Climbing Grooved Arete on the East Face of Tryfan, Photo Steve Long

Roll on Mont Blanc!

That was from Adam’s training weekend in Snowdonia…and this from his autumn Climb Mont Blanc course in Chamonix:

Great write up Rob. Positive people, good vibes, loved it.

Chamonix Mountaineering & 4000m Peak Ascent

Chamonix Mountaineering & 4000m Peak Ascent

Paul Tucker, Alpine mountaineering training & private guiding, July 2021

I’ve done two trips guided by Rob this year and both experiences have been excellent. The first time I took my son and brother in law to climb the Gran Paradiso, unfortunately due to Covid restrictions this wasn’t possible but Rob gave us a fantastic alternative at short notice and we achieved all of our objectives. My son (16) struggled at times but Rob was really encouraging and patient with him which enabled him to gain a huge amount of confidence and a big sense of achievement. The plan was pitched at exactly the right level.

Dawn on the ascent of Castor from Rifugio Quintino Sella
The second time Rob planned a trip with a couple of days notice and all the objectives were met. This time climbing Castore at 4228m. A fantastic experience in great company. I’ve been guided before in but what I really enjoyed the most about Rob was the time taken to explain safety procedures and indeed the reasons behind all aspects of mountaineering. We learnt a lot and you don’t always get this!  Not only did I have a great time but I now have a plan for future climbs to progress on my mountaineering journey…
Chamonix Matterhorn Training Course

Chamonix Matterhorn Training Course

Fred Soderstrom, Chamonix Mountaineering Day Trips, June 2021

Terrific climbing with Rob and Tom. I let High Mountain Guides choose the 3 day-climbs and we went for traverse of Aiguille de l’index and Aiguilles Crochues and final day for traverse of Aiguilles Marbrees ( back in time for the best cappuccino at Torino Refuge )They encouraged me but also told me how I could improve and were also realistic when aiming for further goals.

On the brilliant cracked wall pitch of the classic SE Ridge of L’Index…in nice sunny dry conditions…for now! 

Highly-recommended-MountainGuides !😁 Fred

Mont Blanc Training Weekend, Scottish Highlands

Mont Blanc Training Weekend, Scottish Highlands

Mark Cherry, Fort William Mont Blanc Preparation Course, June 2021

Great weekend – exceptionally well organised.  Mike was great; his instructions were clear and concise, he was extremely patient and instilled great confidence.  A credit to guides everywhere!!! All in all a great weekend in a great location – looking forward to the Mont Blanc trip even more now.

Brilliant scrambling and Mont Blanc training on the Glencoe classic, Curved Ridge
Cabane de Moiry Alpine Hut Trip

Cabane de Moiry Alpine Hut Trip

Isabelle & Gordon, June 2021 Intro Alpine Mountaineering
Thank you for a memorable trip!  It was really fantastic to be up there and to be exposed to the stuff that those mountaineering books and images depict. Gordon and I finally understand the relevance of a ‘piolet’!  We had some moments but always felt safe under your guidance.  You are so reassuring – you are able to put even those who are less experienced at ease.  And such great company too!
Last snowy section of the descent of the Moiry Hut normal route approach – above the beautiful green lake with icebergs!

Each of these outings/ clambers are to sites and places that are truly beautiful, and to which we would never otherwise go! Without your calm and careful reading of the snow and weather, neither Isabelle nor I would feel comfortable stepping out of our comfort zone so high from sea level…

Aiguille Purtscheller, Valley to Summit, June 2021

Aiguille Purtscheller, Valley to Summit, June 2021

Bram Hueben, Rapid ascent of South Ridge of Purtscheller from Le Tour

It was epic! Today was amazing, beefy day, high alpine exposure, some tough climbing to challenge me, perfect day…

Bram on the summit of the Aiguille Purtscheller. A fine small granite pinnacle summit, well earnt with some determined rock climbing, and great views including the Aiguille Chardonnet behind.

😊 Thanks Rob!

Bram

Cosmiques Arête Ascent, Chamonix, June 2021

Cosmiques Arête Ascent, Chamonix, June 2021

Scott & James, Aiguille du Midi Mountaineering

Thanks for another great day out Rob!

Chamonix Mountaineering Course
Scott and James one of very few rocky sections currently on the Arete Laurence. Snowy!

Thanks v much for the photos and videos both. Another great day in the mountains.

I enjoyed it very much.

Scott & James 

Chamonix Intro Alpine Mountaineering, June 2021

Chamonix Intro Alpine Mountaineering, June 2021

Paul, Sydney & Corrado, Albert Premier & Trient Hut Expedition

Thanks once again for a great trip Rob, hopefully we will see you again in the not too distant future! 🙂

+ 👍🏻great photos, many thanks 😊

Paul Tucker

May 2021, Mont Blanc Training Course

May 2021, Mont Blanc Training Course

Adam and Hannah, Snowdonia MB Training course
Thank you for putting together a fantastic Mont Blanc training weekend in Snowdonia.  Both Andy and Steve were great. Very knowledgeable and gave us lots of good advice on the hill walk on Saturday. Andy offered a lot of useful technical advice & both were very welcoming.  We were paired with Steve for the technical roped scrambling on Sunday. He really looked after us.  He is an absolute credit to your company, so inspiring. A mountain guru!
Snowdonia Alpine Training
Mont Blanc training team beneath Tryfan for a wet but brilliant 2nd day of training.
In short, thank you for organising a fabulous, inspiring, exhausting weekend!  And Spice of Llanberis does a belting curry! 👍
All the best, Adam and Hannah.
Snowdonia Mont Blanc Training Weekend

Snowdonia Mont Blanc Training Weekend

Alan Watson, Rich Harrison, May 2021
Just a quick line to say thanks for organising a great weekend. Despite the weather, Barnsley losing and coming last in the Eurovision Song Contest I thoroughly enjoyed it!!  It’s just great to be out again.  Please pass on my thanks to all our guides who did a great job in the circumstances.  Cheers, Alan
Wales Mont Blanc Training
Mont Blanc Training Course in Snowdonia
We had an excellent weekend in the hills, despite the weather trying to throw everything at us!  Your guides were excellent and I thoroughly enjoyed their company and their reassuring and knowledgable approach to guiding was confidence-inspiring.  Onwards to Mont Blanc!  Cheers, Rich
Matterhorn Training Course, Scottish Highlands

Matterhorn Training Course, Scottish Highlands

Chris Cura, Fort William, May 2021

I had a fantastically enjoyable and physically challenging weekend and Jonathon was both a very good teacher and great company. Thanks to you at High Mountain Guides for organising this bespoke weekend of Matterhorn training.

Chris in the Bidean Nam Bian Massif as part of a brilliant day spring – winter mountaineering & Matterhorn Training in Glencoe

Jonathon’s coaching is great, his experience telling and his directions were very clear and easy to comprehend. The routes he chose were not obvious and it was great to get some exposure and altitude without crowds.  I would recommend 1:1 guiding to anyone who can afford it as you pick up so much more than when in a group and move so much faster.

Kind regards, Chris

Lake District Matterhorn Preparation Weekend

Lake District Matterhorn Preparation Weekend

Michael von Geldern,April 2021
…It was all round an excellent weekend.
The company was great, locations were splendid, climbing was testing, weather was perfect.
Lake District Alpine Training
Brilliant big boot rock climbing on our Matterhorn preparation weekend
Couldn’t really ask for more (although perhaps less grubby chimney work!)
cheers all, Michael
Matterhorn Training Course, Keswick

Matterhorn Training Course, Keswick

Andy Clark, April 2021

Thanks again for organising a superb weekend!  Big Boot climbing in excellent conditions on some classic lakeland routes with Dave K .  Good company, good climbing, excellent weather!

Corvus! The brilliant Borrowdale Diff…one of the best around and this is the classic traverse pitch. A great route and bulls eye big boot Matterhorn training…

All you need to do now is sort out the pandemic and we can all get across to the Alps in the summer!”

Andy

Snowdonia Mont Blanc Training, April 2021

Snowdonia Mont Blanc Training, April 2021

Roland McKay

The Mont Blanc preparation course in Snowdonia, and my guide Andy, was phenomenal.

Brilliant scrambling terrain on the North Ridge of Crib Goch, Snowdonia

Well thought out, challenging, and exhilarating.

Many thanks and I look forward to other courses in the future…

Best,

Roland

Chamonix Ice Climbing Guiding & Training

Chamonix Ice Climbing Guiding & Training

Michael Henson, Jan 2021

I’m in the early stages of training to become a middle-aged mountain guide. Water ice climbing was a gaping hole in my skillset. I contacted Rob to help fill that hole and he structured two perfect days of active, hands-on instruction.  Rob tailored our time on the ice to maximise our objectives over the two days and is a highly professional, thoughtful, diligent, and communicative guide.

Solid ice making for secure but not rapid climbing and sometimes more of a north face atmosphere than a cascade!

He was able to balance the sometimes competing demands of moving efficiently and smoothly through a fun multi-pitch route where a dropped belay plate (me) and some ensuing rope tangles from the Italian Hitch slowed us down while carving out enough time to explain to me the “industrial” (to use Rob’s great descriptor) nuances of water ice climbing. Highly recommend High Mountain Guides whether you’re out for recreation, professional training, or somewhere in between! Michael. 

Zermatt & Saas Fee 4000m Peaks Weekend

Zermatt & Saas Fee 4000m Peaks Weekend

Sophie Hane-Weijman, Breithorn, Allalinhorn & Alpine Mountaineering Intro, Oct 20

Thank you for a great weekend and the pictures, Really magical!  An amazing introduction weekend to mountaineering!

Zermatt Mountaineering
High on the Breithorn Summit Ridge in autumn 2020

It gave me a great insight to what mountaineering entails; hiking/climbing up peaks while challenging yourself physically and mentally to reach the summit and have a breath taking view and realizing how much more there is to explore.  Would love to go again…Sophie

Monte Viso & Italian Alpine Rock

Monte Viso & Italian Alpine Rock

Peter Norris, Private guiding for alpine rock climbing & mountaineering, Sept 2020

I enjoyed the week very much and it was great fun to climb with Tim. It took me back to my original start in rock climbing, which was climbing outcrops in the peak district. Yes, the weather was disappointing, but Tim managed to find somewhere for us to climb everyday.

Climb Monte Viso Course
Rifugio Quintino Sella, our Base Camp for Monte Viso. The South Face is quite a long approach from here but the equally very fine East Ridge (which has similarities to the Hornli Ridge on the Matterhorn) can be seen running diagonally left to right towards the summit starting from the top right corner of the main hut building.

So please convey my thanks to Tim for a great week’s climbing notwithstanding all the challenges of Covid and the weather. He was a great companion and I felt in safe hands. I look forward to being back climbing in Chamonix next year and having a go at the Mer de Glace face of the Grepon”. Peter. 

Mont Blanc Training Weekend, Wales Oct 2020

Mont Blanc Training Weekend, Wales Oct 2020

Jason Wilkinson & Daniel Youds, Snowdonia Mt Blanc Training Weekend
Thanks for organising the course, it was a great experience and feel like I’ve learned a lot more than I anticipated I would. Both Andy and Steve were great all weekend and would look forward to climbing with them in the future.  I’m looking forward to the Scottish Highlands course in spring & Gran Paradiso & Mont Blanc course next summer! Jason
UK Mt Blanc Training Course
Steve & team enjoying the super scrambling and views from high on Crib Goch, Snowdon Horseshoe, as part of our Mont Blanc Training weekend in Snowdonia. Photo Andy Teasdale.
I had an amazing weekend and both Andy and Steve were excellent guides – both hugely experienced, knowledgeable and passionate. We learnt some key rope work as well as learning plenty about what to expect on the Mont Blanc ascent and acclimatisation climbs. Going over the Crib Goch route is something I’ve wanted to do for sometime, and to manage the entire horseshoe route on the Sunday was a real bonus. Can’t wait for Mont Blanc next year.  Daniel
North Wales Matterhorn Training Weekend

North Wales Matterhorn Training Weekend

Tim Robinson, Snowdonia Matterhorn training course, Oct 2020

The Matterhorn training weekend was amazing. Big Tim got the measure of us and was able to take us to unimagined heights and levels – full marks to Tim. What a legend he is. Outstanding instructor. Massive experience and knowledge. Excellent advice and guidance. Knowing how to instill confidence and when / how to commit – all within the safety envelope. I felt totally confident as his pupil.

Scrambling and big boot rock climbing as our Snowdonia Matterhorn Training Weekend team tackles the Parsons Nose on Snowdon. Photo Ric Potter.

A brilliant course. Many wonderful moments and memories – thrills and excitements – plus great satisfaction and achievement. I would love to climb the Matterhorn – all I need to do is persuade Mrs Robinson!!