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5 Days • All Levels • 2:1
La Grave Ice Climbing Week
La Grave Ice Climbing Course - Caturgeas pitch 6
 
Ice Program
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All Levels
£675
£270
   
   
.
Advanced
Couloir Climbing £1495
 
.
Specials
Chamonix-Cogne £1500
Lofoten Islands £2800
Canada Special £2800
Private Guiding - from £270
   

" thanks once again for a great few days in La Grave. As ever it was a great trip, full of interesting (and now recorded!) memories " MW+ST, La Grave '04

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

PM meet in La Grave - discuss plans, kit check and sort equipment.

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:

Skills Training :
Skills Training pics    
Lead Coaching pics movie1 movie2
Placing Ice Screws    
Climbing Leashless
icefalls advice article    
     
Possible Climbs :
Caturgeas II 3+    
Colere du Ciel II 3+ movie  
TOTAL CHACAL II 4 movie  
ORGASME II 4+ movie  
Le Pylone I 3-4 movie
Erection II, 5+    
Mauvaises Annees I, 2-3  
Casc. de Claphouse LH III, 3+  
Casc. de Claphouse RH III, 4  
Holiday On Ice II, 3+  

Foundation skills:-

  • Front pointing
  • Axe Technique
  • Winter Belaying

Intermediate skills:- see photos

  • Ice screws and protection
  • Stance organisation
  • Abolakov anchors
  • Descending safely

Advanced skills:-

  • Lead coaching - see photos
  • Maximising protection
  • Leashless climbing etc

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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