For
those looking for an exciting weekend adventure,
you can't get much more exhilarating than
a weekend climbing on iced up waterfalls or
ascending Alpine routes!
The
course is designed to squeeze into a weekend. You meet your guide at 08:30 on Saturday morning, and leave on Sunday evening to be
back at work for Monday morning. On Saturday
and Sunday you have two full days of ice climbing
or mountaineering, with one night spent in Chamonix on Saturday night.
Your
two Guided days are fairly flexible to allow
you to ascend route types of your choice,
be it long multi-pitch ice routes, shorter
more technical routes or mountaineering
routes at altitude.
Although
we ask for no previous experience for this
course, if you have more experience but would
like a weekend ice climbing in the Alps, we
will try to match you with a suitable climbing
partner.
Whatever
your aim, you can rest assured that the conditions
will be way better than Scotland, so even
on a weekend, you will learn more than a week
in Scotland dodging bad weather and searching
for ice.
As
this course is operated on a 1:2 guiding ratio,
if there is only one person who books on a
date, we try to find a partner for you. In
the unlikely event that only one person books
on a date, please note we provide one full
day of private guiding and the night
of accommodation, but the activity is guaranteed
to operate.
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.
Private 1:1 guiding options?
The standard course is 2 days guiding and 1 night accommodation. For 1:1 guiding on this basis, with a private room for the Saturday night too, the price is £1295. If you prefer this option, but to travel from Chamonix to Cogne (including driving, and tunnel pass), to climb there for 2 days, and to spend the Saturday night there with half board accommodation for you and the guide, the price is £1495.
Brief
Course Itinerary
Sat
Meet in Chamonix at 08:30am, for the guide to brief you and check equipment for the day. They will discuss with you the current conditions, and
if they require you to wear an avalanche beacon
(provided if required) during the weekend. You then set off for
your two days climbing. Below are some of the most
popular options. Other
possibilities are available, so you don't have to
repeat anything if you have been to the Chamonix
region before. You can discuss direct with the guide
which option you wish to select each day, to react
to weather, experience and conditions, to ensure
you achieve the maximum.
Option
1 -
Guiding ratio 1:2 max
Drive to the Val de Cogne in North Italy, and
climb one of the classic icefalls, such as Cascade
Lillaz or Patrie at the end of the valley, then
return to Chamonix.
Option
2 -
Guiding ratio 1:2 max
Take the Plan Joran lift above Argentiere,
to climb the left bank icefalls above the glacier, such as Mini Couloir & Deferlante. Night is spent in Chamonix.
Option
3 -
Guiding ratio 1:2 max
Spend the day ice climbing at the Cremerie icefalls,
in order to climb multi-pitch ice, and to learn
about ice anchors and abseiling skills. Night
in Chamonix.
Sun
Option
1 - Drive
to Megeve or Reposoir for a second day ice climbing,
before driving back to Chamonix to arrive c.17:00.
Option
2 - Day
of waterfall ice climbs, such as Micro Couloir on Col des Montets / Chatelard, and return to Chamonix
c.17:00.
Option
3 - Ascent
of altitude snow / mixed route such as Arete
des Cosmiques on the Midi, then return to Chamonix c.17:00.
All
the guiding is scheduled to finish by 17:00, so
you can return any hire kit, then airport transfers
can be booked for any time after 17:00 (realistically
this is for flights departing at 20:00) to allow
you to travel home, in order to avoid taking time
off work.
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.
Course
Prices
Standard
course
2 days IFMGA guiding, 1:2 max ratio
2 days holiday in total, Saturday-Sunday
£795
Live
availability
Click
on the planner logo to the right to
see the real time live course availability
How to book
Secure
payments, bonded tour operator
Details of how to book, click
here
9) Pre-course online briefing in the month before your trip
Exclusions:
1) Travel to and from Chamonix, 2) Cable Cars (if required), 3) Kit hire as required, 4) Personal
laundry, telephone calls, lunches, evening meals, &
any purchases in mountain huts / hotels / restaurants,
5) Transport & tunnel tickets for travel outside Chamonix
valley (not normally needed,
e.g. Courmayeur c. 30 euros per person), 6) Activities insurance, & excess baggage
charges.
Group
sizes: 2 people per IFMGA mountain
guide. For group sizes of over 2 people, there are multiple
guides, and the teams travel independently of each other.
Current
course availability
Course Dates Ice Weekend
[ 2 ] 14 - 15 Dec 2024
[ 2 ] 21 - 22 Dec 2024
[ 2 ] 28 - 29 Dec 2024
[ 2 ] 4 - 5 Jan 2025
[ 2 ] 25 - 26 Jan 2025
[ 2 ] 1 - 2 Feb 2025
[ 2 ] 15 - 16 Feb 2025
[ 2 ] 22 - 23 Feb 2025
[ 2 ] 1 - 2 Mar 2025
[ 2 ] 8 - 9 Mar 2025
NOTE:
This trip has scheduled
dates, but if there are two who
are booking together, it can be
operated on any date you wish
No
one in the office on Monday morning
could believe what I had done over the
weekend, and it was hard for me to take
it all in too. A great idea to make
the most of your weekends, and better
still I took no holiday time off work! Karen
B , Ice Weekend
Climbing
with the technical axes on multi-pitch
routes was amazing, and I had a great
weekend Hussain
M , Ice Weekend
Thank
you for matching me so well with a climbing
partner who had the same aspirations
and experience. We got on great and
will be back for more Graham
McN , Ice Weekend
Testimonials
Press
& media
Films
& videos
Photo
gallery
Location
data for this trip
The
trips all meet in 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
Cogne Italian job?
Prefer an Italian based weekend? Spend the night half board night there (the guide also stays), instead of the night in Chamonix. The course would also include the tunnel and driving tolls, travel costs from Chamonix to Cogne. This Italian option costs £925 per person.
View
full course equipment list,
with examples of kit, click
here
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.
Many people opt for this service, and it is an integral
part of what we offer, as we are keen to ensure that you
are prepared as possible, and that you select a course
that is suitable for you. It makes it easier and more
enjoyable for you and us, if you are on the right trip.
