« Roped glacier travel and introduction to ice-axe and crampon techniques.
Day 1
Team arrives
in Geneva and transfers to chalet in Chamonix Valley. Meet your guide and trip leaders for a briefing, and explanation of the week and the activities. Your guide will go through your equipment with you and arrange hire of crampons, helmets, harnesses, ice-axes and mountain boots. Supper in the chalet. Evening free for videos and games.
Day 2
Glacier day. This is the day we learn about crampons, ice-axes and ice-craft. Typically, this will be in the stupendous setting of the Mer de Glace, one of the greatest glaciers of the Alps. There will be the opportunity to observe how the surrounding granite peaks and ice fields feed the glacier and its moraines. The geology here graphically illustrates the effects of recent global warming.
The team will be tired and, after a delicious home-cooked supper, will want to relax while they pack for the next day's adventure.
Day 3
Rock climbing day. After a short walk of no more than an hour, we arrive at our rock climbing venue. Often this will be at the Aiguillette d'Argentière, just above the tree line. The Aiguillette looks out onto the inspirational spires of the Mont Blanc Massif, ranged across the southern horizon.
The rock climbing here is exciting and the team will learn and practise the core skills: ropework, knots, belaying, balance, and the art of using unusual handholds...
The team will again be tired and, after another delicious home-cooked supper, will want to relax and pack for the next adventure.
Day 4
Alpine trek. After an early morning start, we go by minibus to the beginning of a high-level walk. We trek past the tree line and through Alpine pastures to a traditional mountain hut on the banks of a glacier. Alpine huts have basic facilities but always provide wholesome food and are usually scenically positioned.
Crossing the glacier to reach the hut, we will put into practice the skills we learnt on day 1 as well as map reading and navigation. Once we get to the hut, we will have a chance the practise snowcraft skills, including how to arrest a slide with an ice-axe.
Depending on the hut we choose this could be quite a long day. The team will probably be tired and, after a hearty supper, will want to relax and discuss the day's events.
Day 5
Alpine peak. Putting all the skills we have learnt so far into practise, the team will climb a small but spectacular Alpine peak. This will involve safely negociating glaciers, crevasses, steep snow slopes and rocky ridges.
Returning to the hut, the team will certainly be tired and will want to relax in a contented glow of achievement.
Day 6
Alpine pass. After having said goodbye to our friendly hut guardian, we cross the glacier with ease (we are now experts) to reach a small pass leading to another valley. We have an enjoyable if long descent to the roadhead. Leaving the snows and glaciers behind us, we execute a transect through the different biozones of the Alps: from lichen-covered rocks, past bushes of willow and blueberry, through Alpine meadows and forests to the first habitations, where we meet our minibus.
Returning to Argentière, the team will be tired. After an overdue shower and hot tub soak, the team will have supper and talk about the week's activities with the team leaders and guide. The team will have acquired many mountaineering skills during this week, all underscored by the underlying principles of discipline, responsibility and teamwork. The team may not realise this as they will have been having so much fun.
Day 7
The team will be tired and appreciate a free morning to relax and enjoy Chamonix before leaving for Geneva airport in the afternoon.
Most of the mountain huts we use are run by the French and Swiss Alpine Clubs and serve meals as well as provide dormitory-style accommodation. Set in breathtaking scenery,
these huts are well worth a visit.
Our base in Argentière is a chalet and the rooms typically have twin beds or bunkbeds. There is a sitting room and an excellent selection of videos. The chalet serves breakfast and evening meals which are all home-cooked and there is always enough to feed an army!
For more information about trips, dates and how we can create itineraries to meet your group's needs, call us on (UK) 01993 830 578 or email us on:
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