Ice Program
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The unspoilt mountain village of La Grave lies in the southern French Alps and is renowned as the ice climbing Mecca of France. It's possible to check out conditions from the hotel window, as the icefalls are so close to town! This week is suitable for climbers at all levels of experience and ability, as low ratios allow us to create teams with similar ambitions for each week. Starting on the local icefalls around La Grave, later in the week we usually travel to other top venues around the region. (see: la grave ice climbing photos, more ice photos) NB To make your travel arrangements a little easier, for evening flights we also do a free Grenoble Airport pick up & drop off run each Saturday night - see below for more details. Sample Itinerary Subject to weather and conditions, we follow the general format below: Day 0 Sun Days 1-5 Mon-Fri Classic icefall climbs of the Oisans region, with ascents and skills training tailored to your requirements. Free DMM Test Kit is also available for you to try during the week. Typical coaching areas include: Foundation skills:- Intermediate skills:- Advanced skills:- Food and Accommodation We run all of our courses on a guiding & instruction only basis to allow you maximum flexibility with accommodation options. Our recommended hotel in La Grave is the friendly and comfortable Hotel Edelweiss** run by British/Dutch couple, Robin and Marlon - who we will happily put you in touch with if you'd like to reserve a room (or the hotel can help arrange a twin room with a fellow course member if you like). You are however free to make other accomodation arrangements if you choose (La Grave also has a number of other hotels, gites and rental appartments available at reasonable prices - eg the Hotel Castillan** just down the road, or visit the La Grave website and our own Travel and Accommodation page for more options). Travel Full travel details are provided with your joining instructions. La Grave is most easily reached by a low cost flight to Grenoble (Ryanair run flights from E Midlands, Stansted, Liverpool, Glasgow and Dublin, Easyjet run flights from Bristol, Gatwick, Birmingham, Bournmouth & Luton, BA fly to Grenoble from Gatwick (often cheaper than Easyjet!) and Thomsonfly have flights from Bournmouth, Coventry and Gatwick). Then take a coach transfer to La Grave (or Bourg D'Oisans, from where a taxi transfer can be arranged if needed). If you choose to hire a car, then driving times to La Grave are about 1.5hrs from Grenoble, 2.5hrs from Lyon or Chambery and up to 4hrs from Geneva. Grenoble Airport Pickup To make your travel arrangements a little easier, for evening flights we also do a free Grenoble Airport pick up & drop off run each Saturday night, to connect with Ryanair flights from Stansted, E Midland, Dublin, Glasgow and Liverpool - plus Easyjet flights from Gatwick. The drop off will arrive at 7pm at the airport and depart again for La Grave at approx 9.30pm each Saturday evening. Fitness As with most mountain activities, ice climbing can sometimes be hard work (see fitness level 2)- so we advise you to prepare well in advance with regular climbing related training down the wall or gym as well as cardiovascular exercise to handle route approaches (often just 10-30 min walk ins, but sometimes in fresh snow). On advanced weeks, you need to be fitter (fitness level 3) and prepared for some longer 1-2 hr approaches if we visit more remote ice venues around the region.
Experience For intro level courses, you need no previous ice experience but should have climbed on rock previously ie be able to tie on and belay safely. At intermediate level you need some previous snow or ice experience (in Scotland or the Alps) to get the most out of the week and at advanced level you should have previously climbed Scottish grade IV before starting the course. (see: ice climbing course suitability) Equipment All communal safety equipment (ropes etc) is provided by us. You are expected to provide personal clothing and climbing equipment for the trip (local hire is available). |
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Skills Training :
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