Winter mountaineering course, Chamonix

This week is aimed at those of you with a good level of fitness who are up for a challenge.

The course will teach you important skills in four different domains: Glacier Travel, Avalanche Awareness, Mixed Alpine Climbing and Ice Climbing; as well as give you the opportunity to explore the winter mountaineering in and outside of the Chamonix valley.

Safety first: we start with glacier travel, crevasse rescue and avalanche awareness skills followed by an introduction to ice climbing. Even if you have already done some you will have the opportunity to learn further skills and start leading. After this, we venture higher up in the mountains, using the cable cars to maximise our time. We will now try some mixed snow, ice and rock routes to finish the week with some more advanced ice climbing.

We will use some locations in the valley as long as conditions allow and we will also be using lifts to take us up the mountain quickly.

Offering an insight into the ‘Alpine Experience winter time,’ this course will provide excellent preparation for your own adventures in the Alps and elsewhere. You are guided by an IFMGA qualified guide and the client to guide ratio for day 1-2 is 1:6 and Day 3-6 1:2.

Back in the village you will be staying in high comfort with fully catered chalet accommodation!

We will use Yeti Lodge for our all-inclusive winter courses. Yeti Lodge is a high standard, fully catered chalet located in the charming village of Argentière, close to our office and sport shop for your convenience. The chalet has a sauna, hot tub and superb views of Mont Blanc. The luxurious and spacious bedrooms are twin, triple or quad bedded, so you should be prepared to share your room with other course participants. The comfortable lounge area has a real fireplace, satellite TV & DVD and free WIFI. There is a secure indoor car park, ski lockers and overnight ski boot warmers in the basement. All meals (breakfast, afternoon tea and three-course dinner) are included and prepared by our hosts, so you can relax and fully enjoy the course.

Please note: Friday night is Yeti staff night off so you have a chance to go out and explore the restaurants in Argentière or Chamonix.

Course Details:

Duration: 8 days (Sunday to Sunday)

2010 dates:

January 03 - 10

January 10 – 17

January 24 - 31

Group Size: 2-6

Ratio: 1:6 day 1-2 and 1:2 day 3-6

Included: 6 days guiding with IFMGA guide, 7 nights accommodation (twin, triple or quad share), breakfast, packed lunches and afternoon tea/coffee every day, 3 course dinner for 6 nights, all lifts, avalanche transceiver, shovel, probe, in-resort transport.

Not included: Personal ski equipment, harness, mountain rescue insurance, lunches.

Price: 2,150€ per person

(Price less accommodation and meals 1,450€ per person.)

For whom: People with a good level of fitness, no previous mountaineering skills required.

Founded in 2001 by Russell Brice, the Chamonix Experience team has expanded to include Martina, Elizabeth and Anne in the office and 20-25 fully qualified IFMGA mountain guides working for us on a regular basis. All mountain lovers, we have skied, climbed and hiked many of the routes around the area and spend our lunch hours and days off exploring more in the Mont Blanc range and the rest of the world!

You find our office at the Alpcenter in Argentiere. During the winter and summer seasons we are open seven days a week to assist you with any last minute bookings or changes. In between seasons we are more or less open Monday to Friday during normal office hours.