Winter
1:1 Advanced 2024
Week of IFMGA guiding tailored to you | Usually Chamonix based  |
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| Course
overview |
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This
advanced course is among the top level courses
that we offer, without specific tariffs for
named routes being quoted. Recent courses
have ascended famous routes such as Modica
Noury on Tacul (TD), Goulotte Cosmiques, and
Cold Couloir (V). |
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The
itineraries are not fixed, and are flexible
to take advantage of your progression, the
best conditions, your skill and ambitions.
You can choose the elements that interest
you best to create your ideal itinerary. The maximum grade of climb attempted is grade
V ice / Alpine TD, so if you have plans for
harder routes ask for a quote. Guides will
expect to have climbed with clients before,
to consider harder routes. |
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You
should have a good level of previous mountaineering
experience such as Alpine Grade D, or Scottish
Grade IV+ ice climbing. An ability to ski
or ski tour is an advantage, but not essential. |
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Please
note that for highly technical ascents, such
as winter ascents of the Aiguille Verte, Grandes
Jorasses, and also some of the major difficult
routes such as Supercouloir or Omega, these
routes cost a lot more to guide so are outside
the scope of this course. We are happy to
quote individually for this level of routes.
If you would like a week of 1:1 waterfall
ice climbing, look at the Ultimate
Ice course. |
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On
demand: if
no scheduled course dates are showing in the
column on the right, we can still operate
a course on demand for just one person booking,
on any dates that suit from January through
until the end of April, arriving Sunday and
departing Saturday. |
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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. |
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Course
Photo Gallery
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Brief
Course Itinerary |
| Sun |
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 20:00 and the Chamonix hosts accompany
the group to
pre-dinner drinks to answer any queries.
Night in Chamonix. |
| Mon |
This
is your first of five days of 1:1 guiding, and it
is usually used to acclimatise you, and to give
the guide a good idea of your climbing level on
ice / rock / mixed. Night spent in Chamonix. |
| Tue |
Normally
a technical day route, at altitude such as the Goulotte
Cosmique, or on high grade valley ice (grade V to
VI+). You can choose what type of route to attempt.
Night in Chamonix. |
| Wed |
The
next two days are often spent on a mini expedition
/ major route / different region, to allow you to
attempt the principal objectives of the week. Night
in Chamonix or in an mountain hut. |
| Thu |
Second
day of the two day trip, to gain the summit and
complete the route. Night in Chamonix. |
| Fri |
This
final day of guiding is a flexible day for weather
or to complete your route, or to try a shorter more
technical route, or for something different like
a day of ski touring or off piste. Night in Chamonix. |
| Sat |
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. |
| ITINERARY
NOTES: Where possible we follow itineraries. Mountain
adventures are weather and conditions dependant,
so occasionaly 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. |
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Course
Photo Gallery
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| Course
Prices |
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| Standard
course |
5 full days IFMGA guiding, 1:1 max ratio
Guided days are Monday-Frday |
£2399 |
| Live
availability |
Click
on the planner logo to the right to
see the real time live course availability
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| How to book |
Secure
payments, bonded tour operator
Details of how to book, click
here |
Book
online |
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| Standard Course
Inclusions |
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1) Hand picked IFMGA Mountain Guide
for five days (1:1 ratio max) |
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2) Chamonix concierge service for logistics, advice and support |
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3) Road transport
in Chamonix valley to and from the climbing venues each day |
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4) Pre course information dossier, with training plans and kit lists |
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5) Briefing the first evening, with latest updates and weather reports |
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6) Equipment discount voucher for our Windermere shop / online |
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7) Preferential
rates on technical equipment hire in Chamonix |
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8) Free 36 page
technical Course Instruction Booklet |
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9) Optional evening instruction sessions as per detailed
itinerary |
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| Exclusions:
1) Travel to and from Chamonix, 2) Equipment
hire, 3) Personal laundry, telephone calls,
lunches, evening meals in valley, & any
purchases in mountain huts / hotels / restaurants,
4) Cable cars and uplift for you and your
guide (cable cars for guide included in Chamonix),
5) Transport / tunnel ticket outside the Chamonix
valley, 6) Any night(s) half board in mountain
hut (inc. costs for guides), 7) Sunday pre-dinner
drinks & Friday celebratory meal &
drinks, 8) Activities insurance, & excess
baggage charges, 9) Chamonix accommodation, but we offer an upgrade of £200pp for twin room only accommodation In Chamonix, subject to availability. |
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Current
course availability
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Course Dates
Winter 1:1 Advanced
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NOTE:
This trip has scheduled
dates, but it can be operated on
any date you wish. Let us know |
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Price: £2399  Book
online
The price above is for the package without accommodation. To add 6 nights in twin room-only Icicle accommodation, is only £200pp extra for 6 nights, subject to availability
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Client
feedback
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Your
Guide team is unmatched anywhere I have
ever been before, as shown by the grade
and number of routes I ascended this
week. You should be proud to have such
a skilled team of Guides. Thanks also
to the
staff for their advice,
and for driving us around each day
Mark
G , 1:1 Advanced
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Just
a short message to thank you and Alain
my guide for a great week in the Mont
Blanc massif. A great local knowledge
of the guide and in resort staff, really
helped me to achieve an unbelieveable
amount
Peter
W , 1:1 Advanced
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When
you guys say that you will push us
to our limits you really dont hold
back. To climb such huge routes in winter
conditions is an amazing experience,
and thank you so much for fulfilling
my ambitions and more
John Andrews ,
1:1 Advanced
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| Testimonials |
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| Press
& media |
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| Films
& videos |
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| Photo
gallery |
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| Location
data for this trip |
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| The
trips start 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. |
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Time
Difference
GMT +1hr |
Local
Currency
€ Euros |
Travel
from UK
1hr flight |
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| Course
notes |
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| To
date we haven't run two identical Winter 1:1 Advanced
courses, so the exact plans are very much down to your
preferences, the conditions, weather, and your performance.
We are more than happy to be as flexible as possible to
accommodate your plans, so for example if you would like
any nights in huts, this is fine as long as you budget
for paying for the nights for both you and your Guide.
If you approach us either before or during the course
with ideas of routes that are objectively more serious,
or physically much harder, than the style of routes listed
here, you will need to be quoted for each specific route
as appropriate. |
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| Suggested
reading and kit |
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View
full course equipment list,
with examples of kit, click
here |
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| Why
choose our trips? |
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See
our Alpine blog, by clicking on the Word-press logo
to the right. |
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Itinerary
flexibility to allow you to take full advantage
of the weather windows on any day, to maximise your
summit chances. |
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Our
prices are fixed in £ Sterling, to protect
you from euro fluctuations, so you can budget accurately. |
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There
is a choice of routes to opt for, depending on the
weather, conditions, and your experience. |
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| Any
further questions? |
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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. |
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