The
Mont Blanc Achievements course is the Intro
4000m 'Summits & Skills' Course with the
Mont Blanc Summits course bolted on the end.
It gives a total climbing novice the skills
for a realistic chance of summitting Mont
Blanc. As
the course is over two weeks, it is ideal
for those wishing to climb Mont Blanc, but
who believe that they would benefit from a
longer period over which to develop their
skills, fitness and acclimatisation.
You
need no previous experience of climbing or
mountaineering. This course is suitable for
keen hill walkers, indoor wall climbers, or
ramblers, to introduce you to the key technical
aspects necessary for mountaineering.
As
with the Mont Blanc Summits course, for
the ascent of Mont Blanc itself you should
be capable of running a half marathon or
cycling for five hours continuously. The
fitter you are the more you will enjoy the
views.
On
the second week of this course, we are as
flexible as possible with the itinerary so
that, if you feel ready, fit and acclimatised,
you make your summit attempt on the first
available weather window, Tuesday onwards.
This
course is focused on you preparing and summiting
Mont Blanc, with other summits and nights
spent at altitude to increase acclimatisation.
There is a dedicated information page for
Mont Blanc: summit
focus.
Dates: these
are listed in the column on the right, and
they show the live availability from our secure
online booking system. When you book online,
you receive immediate confirmation, your Alpine
Information Booklet, course specific kit list
and invoice.
Brief
Course Itinerary
Sunday
Travel to Chamonix to arrive for the 17:00 check-in
followed by and course safety and itinerary briefings.
There is time for kit checks or rental of equipment.
Briefings are over by 19:00 and the team accompany
the group to pre-dinner drinks. Many clients opt
to travel out a day or two early to do an acclimatisation
weekend course to provide an extra night of accommodation,
and to ascend a 3000m peak. Night in Chamonix. Gallery: Chamonix town
Monday
Alpine
skills, navigation, route planning and snow
techniques day.
There are a huge range of options and skills
that can be covered today including climbing
to an Alpine summit via a steep ground, practice of hazard awareness, use of GPS & altimeters, moving on snow and emergency
procedures .
Guiding ratio 1:6 (max). Evening theory session / meeting with course
hosts: click
for info.
Night in Chamonix. Gallery: Alpine skills
Tuesday
Day
to learn and practice using crampons and ice axes
on the Mer de Glace glacier (2000m). You also climb
vertical ice, create ice anchors, and learn glacier
travel skills. This is one of your most important
days of the course in terms of skills development
as it is essential to have good footwork on Mont
Blanc. Guiding ratio 1:6 (max). Evening
theory session / meeting with course hosts: click
for info.
Night in Chamonix. Gallery: Mer de Glace
Wednesday
Glacier
travel skills, practicing building snow anchors,
crevasse rescue, and probing for crevasses,
spent on a journey across either the Vallée
Blanche, Pointe Lachenal and the Col du Midi,
or the massive Argentiere glacier basin. The
day is essential for your acclimatisation
before Gran Paradiso. Guiding ratio 1:6 (max). Evening
theory session / meeting with course hosts: click
for info. Night in Chamonix. Gallery: Lachenal & Vallee Blanche
Thursday
A
morning of rock climbing skills, to learn
/ practice belaying safely and how to lead
/ set up safe anchors on rock climbs.
You climb either in the Chamonix or Aosta
valleys, depending on where the weather is
better. The drive to Pont below Gran Paradiso
takes just over an hour, and after lunch you
trek up to either the Chabod or Victor Emmanuel
hut on Gran Paradiso itself. Guiding
ratio 1:3 (max). Night in mountain hut. Gallery: Alpine rock climbing
Friday
Summit
Gran Paradiso 4061m after an Alpine start
from the high hut, then after you have reached
the summit, you descend to the refuge for
lunchtime. After this you trek back down to
the valley in Pont, and make the return drive
to Chamonix. Celebrations
in Chamonix in the evening. Guiding ratio
1:3 (max). In
the evening there are optional drinks and
then a celebratory meal. Final night is spent
in Chamonix. Gallery: Gran Paradiso 4061m
Saturday
& Sunday
Breakfast, then you have two days off to really
concentrate on resting and relaxation. Some people
opt to book a tandem paraglider flight in the morning
to celebrate the first weeks efforts, and prices
for this are from c.100€ for a c.30 minute
flight. These flights can be booked in resort up
to the day before you wish to fly. On the Sunday
evening you meet at 17:00 for a briefing on the
plans for the second week. Gallery: Chamonix rock climbing
Monday
Day
for further practice using crampons and ice axes
on the Mer de Glace glacier (2000m). You also climb
vertical ice, create ice anchors, and learn glacier
travel skills. This is one of your most important
days of the course in terms of skills development
as it is essential to have good footwork on Mont
Blanc. Guiding ratio 1:6 (max). Evening theory session on the key safety knots and
ropework. Night in Chamonix. Gallery: Mer de Glace
Tuesday
Acclimatisation
route to a summit. Continue to a mountain hut for
the night or return to Chamonix. The aim is to develop
your skills at altitude. The choice of the 1 or
2 day routes is made in reaction to which day you
attempt Mont Blanc, as we can alter the itinerary
to maximise your chances. Guiding ratio 1:2 (max). Evening
theory session / meeting with course hosts: click
for info.
Night in Chamonix or hut. Gallery: Cosmiques Arete
Wednesday
Acclimatisation
route to a summit. Either an Alpine start from the
mountain hut or a second acclimatisation route.
Typical routes for the last two days include Cosmiques
Arete, Gran Paradiso, Petite Verte, Pointe Lachenal
or Aiguille du Tour. Return to Chamonix to prepare
for Mont Blanc. Guiding ratio 1:2 (max). Evening
theory session / meeting with course hosts: click
for info. Night in Chamonix. Gallery: Petite Aiguille Verte
Thursday
Equipment
and bag checks before you set off to climb up to
one of the high huts, either the Cosmiques / Gonella
/ Gouter / Tête Rousse hut for the night.
Guiding ratio 1:2 (max). The choice of route that
you take on Mont Blanc, and which hut(s) you stay
in is a function of the weather, conditions, and
your skills and fitness. Often different teams suit
different plans to maximise their summit chances.
Night in hut on Mont Blanc. Gallery: Mont Blanc Gouter
Friday
Summit
Mont Blanc 4810m from an Alpine start from the high
hut, and descend to Chamonix. It
is usual to reach the summit just after sunrise,
to take advantage of the best snow conditions, and
to minimise the risks of stonefall or late afternoon
storms. Reach valley afternoon, celebrations in
the evening. Guiding ratio 1:2 (max). In the evening there are optional drinks and a celebratory
meal. Final night in Chamonix. Gallery: Mont Blanc Gonella
Saturday
Breakfast then the accommodation check out is by
10:00. Most arrange their transfers for around this
time for a flight from Geneva about midday. Some
people opt to book a tandem paraglider flight in
the morning to celebrate the weeks efforts, and
prices for this are from 100€ for a c.30 minute
flight. These flights can be booked in resort up
to the day before you wish to fly. Depart for home. Gallery: Icicle Windermere office
ITINERARY
NOTES: Where possible we follow itineraries. Mountain
adventures are weather and conditions dependant, so occasionally
we are forced to alter the plans. If this is the case,
suitable alternatives are offered. Please use this outline
itinerary as a guide to the types of route / activity
that you will attempt.
Course
Prices
An
Introduction course (£899) followed by Mont Blanc
Summits course (£1499), totals £2398, so you
save £99!
Standard
course
10
days guiding, 14 days holiday in total
£2299
Live
availability
Click
on the planner logo to the right to
see the real time live course availability
Standard
Course Inclusions: 1) IFMGA Mountain Guide
for nine days, UIMLA guide for one day, 2) Chamonix course
hosts for logistics & briefings, 3) B&B accommodation
in Chamonix (inc. beddings & towels), 4) Up to three
nights half board in mountain hut (inc. costs for guides),
two nights of which are paid for by Icicle, 5) Pre course
information booklet, 6) Equipment discount voucher for
UK shops, 7) Free 36 page technical Course Instruction
Booklet, 8) Road transport in Chamonix valley including
tunnel ticket and road transport to / from Gran Paradiso,
9) Evening technical instruction.
Exclusions:
1) Travel to and from Chamonix, 2) Equipment hire, 3)
Cable cars & uplift (c. 120 euros depending on itinerary),
4) Optional third night in a mountain hut on a half board
basis for you and guide, 5) Personal laundry, telephone
calls, lunches, evening meals in valley, & any purchases
in mountain huts / hotels / restaurants, 6) Certificate
for NNAS navigation award, 7) Sunday pre-dinner drinks
& Friday celebratory meal & drinks, 8) Activities
insurance, & excess baggage charges.
Course
upgrade options
Many clients on this
trip consider upgrading with one or more of
the following course additions...
Private
room
Big
3 Alpine
extensions
Half
board
Acclimatise
weekend
Upgrade
to single from
£300-£500 in addition to
standard course price,
depending on week.
Mont
Blanc two day;
1:1 £1199, 1:2 £599pp
(booking together). Eiger
or Matterhorn 1:1 £1299.
Upgrade
from B&B to
have 3 course evening
meals in Chamonix for
5 nights for £99pp.
Saturday
night spent in
Chamonix, with choice
of self-guided or guided
on Sunday. From £50.
Standard
course accommodation - normally clients are based
in self-catered flats (details),
so take a look, and decide if it's for you. For
more luxury, contact us for quotes in higher standard
apartments, or hotels of any standard required.
If you have / source your own course accommodation,
or we cannot provide an upgrade, the standard course
price has a £100pp reduction applied on your
invoice.
FREE
Alpine summits open eve
This
is an event extra to the UK
Alpine Training weekend course. It is
FREE and open to those booked on our Mont Blanc
/ Eiger / Matterhorn trips. The event runs from
18:00 to 19:30 at our Windermere shop, to show films
of the routes, and discuss kit and training. You
don't need to be attending the weekend course to
join the open evening (more
details). E-mail us to reserve space(s)
and confirm availability. Dates are the Saturdays
of the weekend dates on the right.
Weekend
dates
Course spaces and dates for
the UK Alpine Training Weekend (link)...
I
just wanted to say thank you for the
most fantastic two weeks this summer.
I had such an amazing time, loved every
minute of it. You guys do such a brilliant
job and i am so so greatful to you both
for 'looking after' me. I am already
trying to think of things to do next
summer and I'm really keen to come out
again for a few weeks. I have attached
a few of pictures I took, thought the
one of the three of us girlies with
the guides at the top was a good one!
I hope you are all well, and hopefully
see you again next year! Laura
O , Achievements
Guides
were very proactive with teaching and
understanding of beginners. Course was
good. Covered a wide range of stuff John
A , Achievements
Fun
and informative all the time Jess
W , Achievements
Testimonials
Press
& media
Films
& videos
Photo
gallery
Location
data for this trip
The
trips are based in the Chamonix valley in the French Alps,
at the foot of Mont Blanc. It is easily accessed via a
90 minute transfer from Geneva airport.
Time
Difference
GMT +1hr
Local
Currency
€ Euros
Travel
from UK
1hr flight
Films
from the summit
Free
resources
FREE
Podcast Training
for Mont Blanc
A no holes barred podcast, to fully
explain what an ascent entails physically
and technically, including several examples
of hill training.
We
send a course specific equipment list to all those booking
on our courses, but due to the popularity of this course,
we outline a typical packing list for the Mont Blanc summit
day in the list below.
Basic
clothing - Light coloured long
sleeve wicking layer
- Schoeller / soft shell climbing trousers
- Mid layer fleece jacket / gillet
- Fleece hat and gloves, and sunhat / cap
- B3 leather / plastic boots, and gaiters
Equipment - Harness, helmet, ice
axe (without leash)
- 12 point crampons andanti-balling plates
- 1 x 120cm Sling, 1 x karabiner, 1 x prussic
- Telescopic trekking poles with snow baskets
- Head torch (LED style is lightest type)
Altitude
gear - Synthetic or down insulation
jacket
- Goggles in case of high wind
- Neoprane face mask in case of wind
- Thick waterproof over gloves
- Windproof over trousers (eg PacLite)
General
kit - Close fitting sun glasses
(Factor 4 for snow)
- Pocket snacks for summit day (eg Haribos)
- Water bottle (bladder type may freeze)
- Rucksack (up to 35 litres max is ideal)
- Basic blister kit, Aspirin, suncream
View
full course equipment list,
with examples of kit, click
here
Latest
news from Icicle
Why
choose our trips?
See
our Alpine blog, by clicking on the Word-press logo
to the right.
Itinerary
flexibility to allow you to take full advantage
of the weather windows on any day, to maximise your
summit chances.
Our
prices are fixed in £ Sterling, to protect
you from euro fluctuations, so you can budget accurately.
There
is a choice of routes to opt for, depending on the
weather, conditions, and your experience.
Any
further questions?
A
key part of choosing a company is being able to come and
talk about your plans with an experienced course advisor
face to face. In an increasingly virtual world, we know
our clients value speaking to real people, getting open
and honest advice. The vast majority of our clients are
British, and our office and outdoor store is based in
Windermere in the English Lake District.
Get
in contact to arrange a meeting, and come in for a coffee
to discuss your course in person with a trip
advisor.
Gallery: 
