Articles

Which Alpine Course is right for me?

Written by Tom Briggs, February 2023

If you are a summer hill walker, or if you've done some scrambling, but you've never worn crampons and used an ice axe before, we have two suitable courses. We offer an 'Alpine Introduction' course in both Arolla, Switzerland and in Chamonix, France. Either course will teach you the fundamental skills of Alpine Mountaineering, from planning routes, assessing the weather and conditions, through to crampon and ice axe techniques, ropework and glacial travel (including crevasse rescue scenarios). Arolla is a fantastic base for an introductory week. It's quiet and there is a variety of ideal terrain and summits to go at. Chamonix is much busier and more limited in suitable venues, but there's the chance to climb a 4,000m peak - Gran Paradiso at the end of the week (weather, conditions and fitness allowing!)

If you don't fancy doing a mountaineering course from a single base, but would like to complete a mountain journey (with sections on glaciers and with the odd summit), then the famous Chamonix - Zermatt Haute Route is a deservedly popular choice. We also offer the Italian Haute Route - a circumnavigation of the Monte Rosa Massif (including an overnight in the highest mountain hut in the Alps) and the Oberland Traverse, in the remote Bernese Oberland. For all three of these journeys, you don't need previous glacial travel or ice axe/crampon experience, as this will be taught at the start of the trip.

We have two courses that are suitable for those who have not necessarily been to the Alps before, but have completed a mountaineering course in Scotland, in winter conditions. If you have ice axe and crampon experience and understand basic ropework, you can join our 'Saas 4000ers' course, or our Mont Blanc Summit week.

Once you have some experience of mountaineering in the Alps in summer, it's likely you'll have a good idea of what to do next. Next up in terms of difficulty is our 'Zermatt 4000ers' week, where the aim for the week is to summit the Dufourspitze - the highest mountain entirely within Switzerland. The 'Oberland 4000ers' is more challenging still, as you stay high all week in mountain huts doing back-to-back summits, some of which are exposed and require solid cramponing technique. To join the Oberland 4,000ers week we require that participants have at least two weeks of Alpine climbing experience.

Our more technical climbing courses include 'Alpine Improvers', 'Alpine Climber' and 'Alpine North Faces'. We also offer climbs of the Matterhorn and the Eiger. All of these courses require a higher level of technical climbing ability, as well as fitness and recent climbing experience. If you've had a break from the Alps then we'd recommend doing an easier course to get back into it.

Our Alpine Matrix should give you further help in choosing the right course. However, if you'd like to discuss your previous experience and suitability for a given course, we'd love to hear from you.

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