"Due to the length and seriousness of the routes involved, a number of peaks in the Alps are normally only guided at 1:1. Some of the most sought after summits and popular climbs are shown here. For these peaks you need to hire a private guide at 1:1"
5 days +
Advanced
1:1
Dates:
By Arrangement
Price:
Private Guiding Rates
Fitness:
3-5
Experience: Full info on request.
Included:Guiding Fees.
Other Costs:Accommodation, food, travel and uplift ~ £400
Guides Expenses:You are also responsible for meeting the guides expenses - see alpine costs for info.
A week of specialist guiding, concentrating on 1:1 guiding peaks. We usually meet in Chamonix, but can arrange meeting points in other areas as well if appropriate.
We offer this itinerary as a private guiding special - with dates by arrangement from mid June to mid Sept. Prices are as per our private guiding rates, up to a maximum of 1 climber per guide.
Course Base
We usually start and finish the week in Chamonix, but can also meet at other venues if appropriate.
Sample Itinerary
Subject to weather and conditions, we follow the general format below:
Day 0
PM, meet in Chamonix - discuss plans, sort equipment and overnight in valley.
Day 1
Acclimatisation Climb. Ascent of a high quality alpine route to brush up on alpine skills.
Days 2 - 5+
1:1 Guiding Peaks - Matterhorn, Eiger, Liskamm, Weisshorn, Grand Jorrasses, Aiguille Verte, Aiguille Blanche de Peutery, Aiguille de Bionassey, Schreckhorn, Taschorn, Ober Gabelhorn, Rochefort Arete..
We will discuss conditions and the route with you before you book. During the week, our guides select the best weather window to make the ascent - if conditions are not good enough to climb the proposed peak, then a good alternative will always be offered.
On these specialist weeks, it is also possible to climb longer more involved routes, beyond the scope of our normal itinerary - for which premium guiding rates apply (paid as a supplement, on a per route basis). As a guideline, these apply to routes that involve one of the following:
more than a 10-12hr day
bivouacs
over 500m of pitched climbing
TD or above.
If you have a particular big objective in mind, then please contact us for a quote so we can discuss the route and conditions with you in more detail.
Food and Accommodation
We run all of our courses on a guiding & instruction only basis. Food and accommodation must be paid for seperately. Our recommended accommodation in the Chamonix valley is Ice and Orange - Chalet Tissières, who we will happily put you in touch with if you'd like to reserve a room. You are however free to make other accommodation arrangements if you choose (for a full hotel service, Hotel Les Lanchers in Chamonix Les Praz is another good option - Chamonix has numerous other hotels and rental apartments available at a wide variety of prices - click on 'reservation' at the Chamonix website for more details).
Travel
Chamonix is easily reached by flights to Geneva and an airport transfer, both of which are bookable online.
Ability and Experience
You need good quality alpine experience for all of these routes. More detailed requirements for each particular peak are available on request. High levels of fitness are required as typical routes involve 8-12 hours climbing each day (see fitness level 3-5) so we advise you to prepare well in advance with regular training and climbing.
Equipment
We will supply you with a full kit list. All communal safety equipment (ropes etc) is provided by us. You are expected to come equiped with personal clothing and climbing equipment. For the more technical items (ice axe, crampons, harness, helmet, boots etc) local equipment hire is also available.
