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La Grave Ice Climbing Course

"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! Starting on the local icefalls around La Grave, later in the week we usually travel to other top venues around the region."
  
5 days
All Levels
2:1
Dates: 09 - 13 Jan 2012  
  16 - 20 Jan 2012  
  23 - 27 Jan 2012  
  30Ja - 3Feb 2012  
 
06 - 10 Feb 2012
  
Price: £895
Fitness: 2-3
Experience: Some previous rock climbing experience needed. Ice experience required for advanced level.
Included: Guiding Fees and Expenses.
Other Costs: Food + accom ~ £400
Book Online Here
 
Summary
A varied week of ice climbing in La Grave, with tailored skills development and coaching mixed into quality ascents.
The 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.

Recent Trip Reports - La Grave, Conditions Roundup, 2011
 
Course Base
We base ourselves in the renowned ice climbing centre of La Grave, climbing in the Oisans region and other venues nearby during the week.
 
Sample Itinerary
Subject to weather and conditions, we follow the general format below:
la grave ice climbing course itinerary
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. Typical coaching areas include:

Foundation skills:-

  • Front pointing
  • Axe Technique
  • Winter Belaying

Intermediate skills:-

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

Advanced skills:-

  • Lead coaching
  • Maximising protection
  • Leashless climbing etc
Fri PM - course debrief and advice for the future.
la grave ice climbing course
 
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 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 - see the La Grave website for more details).
 
Travel
Full travel details are provided with your joining instructions.  La Grave is most easily reached by a low cost flight to Grenoble, then via bus to La Grave. If you choose to hire a car, then driving times to La Grave are about 1.5hrs from Grenoble, 2.5hrs from Lyon, Chambery or Turin and up to 4hrs from Geneva.
 
Ability and 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.  Ice-fall climbing requires good levels of fitness & stamina (see fitness level 2-3) so we advise you to prepare well in advance with regular exercise and trips to your local climbing wall.
 
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.
 
     
 
 
 
         
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