Coaching for Alpinists Chamonix
Training course for routined alpinists: advanced rope techniques and fine-tuning of tactics for alpine rock and ice routes.
Trip Dates
Difficulty:
Accomodation:
simple: Hut / bunks
The step from moderate (F/PD) alpine peaks to the Grandes Courses, the big routes of the Alps graded french D, is enormous. Long ridges on four-thousand-metre peaks or technically demanding north faces are a different game compared to glacier hiking: technique, tactics, the right timing and speed all play a major role for being successful on such routes. And, we are exposed to the danger of falling the whole day. It is often difficult to decide which belaying technique to choose — moving together on a short rope, short pitching, walking as a roped-team on a glacier...
To decide self-sufficiently requires a lot of experience. That's exactly what you are about to gain here: in practice on the magnificent routes of the Mont Blanc Massif, from planning to descent. The Picos mountain guide is at your side as your mentor and partner and will advise you on everything that you want to know.
We tailor our coachings exactly to your needs and preconditions to achieve an optimal learning intensity. In between outings in the hills there is time for rope techniques such as crevasse rescue or theoretical teaching content.
The terrain and the chosen routes are adapted to the participants' abilities. If the conditions are not good in Chamonix we will drive over to the Valais e.g. to the Saas valley with its well accessible 4000 metre peaks.
This course is particularly suitable for well-established climbing teams. However, we often have requests from individuals that we try to bring together on a rope which has also forged new alpine partnerships.
Complex rope and belaying techniques for alpine routes have long been a passion of ours that we engaged in and researched quite intensely. To give you an idea, you might want to have a look at our Alpine-Tutorial which is unfortunately not (yet) available in English.
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Itinerary
Depending on the planned routes and teaching contents we do day trips valley to valley from Chamonix using the Midi lift or Montenvers train. This allows us to be very flexible with the Aiguilles Rouges, the Aiguilles de Chamonix, the Cosmiques sector, the Torino sector or the Trient Basin within reach. For bigger destinations we also stay at a hut.
Prerequisites
Stamina for 8 to 10 hr climbing days, prior experience with alpine routes graded PD to AD french or adequate alpine skills courses.
Gear
Complete alpine kit. Missing items or specialized gear (e.g. Microtraxion, ice tools) are provided by us.
Included
- Organization and guiding by an IFMGA certified mountain guide
- All rental gear
- All guides' expenses
Excluded
- 4 x accommodation in campground/gîte/hotel 20 – 80 Euro/Night.
- 4 x dinner in the valley if we stay there
- Lunch and drinks during the day
- Lift tickets.
Specials
for this trip
Flexibility: joint risk of bad (weather) conditions.
Flexibility is our working method - not a slick marketing slogan. We budget 1-2 extra days in the planning of many of our trips to factor in adverse weather conditions. The days can for example be used to move the trip a day or two as to use the best weather window for the summit bid.
Of course you only pay the actual guiding days. We'd rather achieve your goal than insist on doing a poor alternative.
Individual coachings - our specialty.
The technical basics of alpinism such as knots, crevasse rescue, setting up a belay etc. are rather easy to learn. What takes a lot more time to acquire are experience, judgement, situational decision making as well as all the tricks of the professionals that make life in the mountains easier.
A lot of alpinists were lucky to learn from more experienced mates. Our coachings give you that unique opportunity. We act as supervisors and consultants while you are climbing on the sharp end of the rope. We try to provide you with as much expert knowledge as we can. There is no business secret, we are happy to share our decision making and perhaps even learn something ourselves.
Advanced topics include complex rope techniques (e.g. the infamous short rope), tactics, speed improvement or analytical snowpack analysis. Our coachings are well suited for experienced teams.
Fairness first.
The job of mountain guides is demanding and highly responsible. Clearly, this work has to be appropriately remunerated. Yet we are climbers, not tough business men. That's why our emphasis is on dealing fairly with our clients.
We block dates for your trip. Sometimes the arranged climb still doesn't work out. We then appreciate your understanding that we cannot bear the cancellation risk alone. On the other hand we do understand that you don't want to pay the summit rate of a prestigious goal for an alternative destination. With open communication and consideration for each other's situation, we will find a good solution. The summit rate only applies if the conditions are right and we make a summit bid.
Additional Info
and links
You would like to take part in our coaching but don't have a partner?
Don't despair, you are not alone!
Just let us know without obligation. Maybe we can bring you on a rope with a suitable teammate.
