Ma Nolan’s La Voûte

Alpine Introduction Course

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7 days (Chamonix)

Destinations visited: France, Chamonix, World

Grading:

Entry level Mountaineering/Exploratory Trek

Grading Definitions

Discovery & Cruising

These are our least demanding trips. These journeys of discovery and cruises involve little or no extended activity and are suitable for people with a basic level of fitness and good health. The itinerary may take place in remote areas (with basic facilities) and may involve long travel days on various types of transport. Sightseeing may be conducted on foot and all participants should be capable of carrying their own luggage from vehicle to hotel rooms. These adventures do not go above 2500m and rarely involve camping.
Suggested preparation: Once or twice a week, we recommend you walk on undulating terrain for an hour, for at least 2 -3 months prior to departure.

Adventure Touring

Suggested preparation: Two or three times a week, we recommend you walk on undulating terrain for an hour or more, for at least 3 months prior to departure.

Introductory

These trips involve trekking or walking, cycling, rafting or sea kayaking for up to five or six hours a day at a slow but steady pace and should never be misinterpreted to mean they are easy trips. These trips do not spend time at altitudes above 4000m and are usually a week in duration. You will need a reasonable level of fitness and good health.
Suggested preparation: 30 minutes of aerobic type exercise, (either cycling or jogging) three times a week for three months leading up to your trek. For trekking, hill walking with a daypack in variable weather conditions is also recommended. For a cycling adventure, road cycling twice a week for three months prior to departure is recommended.

Introductory to Moderate

These trips involve a combination of what is described in our INTRODUCTORY and MODERATE levels. The emphasis is on introductory activity with several moderate stages

Moderate

These adventures involve trekking, cycling, rafting or sea kayaking for up to 6 or 7 hours a day at a steady pace. These trips may spend successive days at altitudes not generally exceeding 5,500m and are usually between 10 and 15 days in duration. You will need a good level of fitness and be in good health.
Suggested preparation: 45 minutes of aerobic type exercise, three to five times a week for the three months leading up to your trek. Hill walking with a pack in variable weather conditions or road cycling is also recommended depending upon the activity you plan to undertake.

Moderate to Challenging

These adventures involve trekking, cycling, rafting or sea kayaking for up to 6 or 7 hours a day at a steady pace. These trips may spend successive days at altitudes not generally exceeding 5,500m and are usually between 10 and 15 days in duration. You will need a good level of fitness and be in good health. Suggested preparation: 45 minutes of aerobic type exercise, three to five times a week for the three months leading up to your trek. Hill walking with a pack in variable weather conditions or road cycling is also recommended depending upon the activity you plan to undertake.

Challenging

These adventures involve trekking, cycling or rafting in remote areas in variable weather conditions for up to 8 to 10 hours a day (possibly more subject to weather conditions and altitude). This may include spending successive days at altitudes not generally exceeding 6000m. These trips may often be over three weeks in duration. You will need an excellent level of fitness, be prepared to carry a daypack weighing up to 8kgs (and in some cases a full pack) and be completely comfortable in adverse weather conditions.
Suggested preparation: One hour of aerobic type exercise, four to five times a week for three to six months prior to departure. Hill walking with a pack in variable weather conditions or on/off road cycling is also recommended.

Entry Mtn/Exploratory Treks

These adventures are classed as expeditions. They involve either extreme trekking and or basic mountaineering. Expect remote and poorly defined trails in variable weather conditions for up to 12 hours a day (possibly more subject to weather conditions and altitude). This may include a number of demanding high pass crossings and evacuation may be difficult from remote areas. Suitable for first time mountaineers wishing to take the step from trekking into the realm of mountaineering. Prior experience trekking at altitude is preferable but not essential and you should be comfortable in adverse weather conditions. Prior technical mountaineering experience is not necessary. Terrain will involve low angle snow slopes. Ropes may be used during treks for glacier travel and steeper sections of ice and snow. When mountaineering, basic mountaineering instruction is given by our mountaineering guides.
Suggested preparation: For grade 8-10 mountaineering expeditions you will need to be very fit and healthy. A minimum of 1 hour of aerobic exercise per session, four to five times a week is essential. Running and cycling in hilly areas is particularly beneficial as are multi day walks on the weekends. This is the ideal time to try out your boots and other gear to make sure you are prepared and ready for your expedition. If you are considering Intermediate or advanced level trips, you will need to discuss your preparation leading up to the trip with our expert staff.

Intermediate Mtn Expedition

Participants should be competent and self sufficient in the outdoors and have experience in multi day trekking at altitude. Prior experience on an entry level mountaineering expedition is highly recommended. The terrain will involve low to moderate angle snow slopes and traveling on crevassed glaciers. Experience using ice axe and crampons is preferred but not essential.
Suggested preparation: For grade 8-10 mountaineering expeditions you will need to be very fit and healthy. A minimum of 1 hour of aerobic exercise per session, four to five times a week is essential. Running and cycling in hilly areas is particularly beneficial as are multi day walks on the weekends. This is the ideal time to try out your boots and other gear to make sure you are prepared and ready for your expedition. If you are considering Intermediate or advanced level trips, you will need to discuss your preparation leading up to the trip with our expert staff.

Advanced Mtn Expedition

These are our most challenging expeditions. Clients must have prior mountaineering experience. Most are participatory expeditions & involve load carrying, setting up of camps, cooking and campcraft. Altitude is generally greater than 6500m. Some of these expeditions also involve “technical” climbing and are for experienced alpine climbers / mountaineers only. Technical expeditions involve steep climbing at high altitude (including rock climbing). Participation on one of these expeditions is subject to acceptance by one of our high altitude mountaineering guides.
Suggested preparation: For grade 8-10 mountaineering expeditions you will need to be very fit and healthy. A minimum of 1 hour of aerobic exercise per session, four to five times a week is essential. Running and cycling in hilly areas is particularly beneficial as are multi day walks on the weekends. This is the ideal time to try out your boots and other gear to make sure you are prepared and ready for your expedition. If you are considering Intermediate or advanced level trips, you will need to discuss your preparation leading up to the trip with our expert staff.

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Alpine introduction course to gain a basic climbing foundation on snow, ice and rock

This alpine introduction course is designed for newcomers to mountaineering and provides a solid basic foundation in high mountain skills, for snow, ice and rock, including crevasse rescue and navigation. We base the week in the Mont Blanc range that provides a stunning location and challenging climbs whilst undertaking the course. At the end of the trip we shall attempt an ascent on the Dome de Miage (3670m), which is a relatively straightforward climb on 40 degree ice and will be a good test of our recently acquired skills. This is a perfect introduction to alpine climbing and would be a great way to prepare for other expeditions in the Himalaya, South America or the Alps. After this course it is possible to add on a 3 day ascent on Mont Blanc (making a 10 day trip), please ask our staff for more details.

Highlights

Learn basic mountaineering techniques
Exhilarating walking in the French Alps
Opportunity to climb to the summit of Dome de Miage (3670m)
Time to experience Chamonix, the world capital of mountaineering
Possible 3-day extension trip to climb to the summit of Mont Blanc (4807m / 15,771 feet), the highest peak in the Alps, after completion of the course (additional costs apply)

Itinerary

Day 1 Join Chamonix

Please make your way to the group hotel which will be advised in your final documentation (any airport transfer service will take you direct to the hotel reception). A group briefing will be held at 6pm at the hotel reception, it is essential that you attend and bring your equipment with you; you will then proceed to the gear hire shop, Snell Sports, with your guide. Please ensure that your travel arrangements will have you in Chamonix at this time. Dinner and overnight at the group hotel. Snell Sports 104 Rue Paccard-74400 Chamonix Mont Blanc Tel. +33 (0) 4 50 53 02 17 Note: Hotel details subject to change; your final documents will confirm the group hotel.

Day 2 Depart Chamonix. Commence glacier instruction and basic mountaineering skills training on the many glaciers, passes and steep snowfields in the area.

From the top of the chairlift at the Balme pass, we will commence with ice-climbing basics on Le Tour Glacier: ie. using crampons, ice axe and rope management. This glacier instruction will cover the essential basics of ice axe and crampon techniques. At the end of the afternoon, we will climb to the Albert 1er hut (2702m). Dinner and overnight mountain hut. Schedule: 1.5 – 2.0hrs; Approx ascent: +570m.

Day 3 Ascend Aiguille du Tour (3529 m). To Trient refuge.

Today we will glacier hike through the cols superieur du Tour, and ascend the Aiguille du Tour (3529 m). We will learn ropework for glacier travel; and on the Aiguille du Tour, you will experience for the first time an easy rock climb (grade II and III). After your first summit, we will traverse the Trient glacier plateau to reach the Trient Hut. In the afternoon we will work on more advanced rope skills such as crevasse rescue, snow anchor etc. Dinner and overnight mountain hut. Schedule: 6 - 7hrs; Approx ascent/descent: +820m / –370m.

Day 4 Ascend Petite Fourche. Return to Chamonix.

Crossing the col Blanc (3405m) by a steep snow slope, we will ascend the Petite Fourche (3550m) with a steep snow slope and easy rock climbing. That will be the ideal terrain to walk down the Tour glacier, and reach the Albert 1er hut where we will be able to admire the Argentière north face and the Saleina glacier basin surrounded by many peaks. We will then take the chairlift down to the village of Le Tour. Transfer to hotel in Chamonix, for dinner and overnight. Schedule: 5 - 7 hrs; Approx ascent/descent: +550 m / –1400m

Day 5 Ascend to Conscrit Hut

Today we will head to Contamines village, which is located in another valley at the bottom of the Dôme de Miage and the Aiguille de Tré la Tête; a wonderful part of the Mont Blanc range to the south-west. The walk up to the hut will take us between 4 to 5 hours, with a stop at the Chalet Hôtel de Tré la Tête. Afterwards we will ascend the Glacier de Tré la Tête, where we will undertake a glacier exercice. The Conscrit Hut is quite new, and is located above the glacier in the middle of grass pastures, where you can often glimpse Ibex. Dinner and overnight mountain hut. Schedule: 4 - 5 hrs; Approx ascent: +1400m

Day 6 Ascend Dome de Miage (3670m), return to Chamonix

An early start will bring us to the Aiguille de la Bérangère (3425m). We will admire the sunrise on the southern French Alps and the Italian side of the Mont Blanc range. Following the ridge, we will descend to the col de la Bérangère, before our 400 metre re-ascent of the main Dôme de Miage (3670m). The slope is around 40° steep, and it will be a good test on our acquired skills with crampons. From the top, the panoramic view is magnificent. We will continue to follow the sharp ridge to get down to the col du Dôme (3564m). Looking behind us, the ridge is beautiful and impressive, but we worked it out! Then it is an easier descent through the big Glacier de Tré la Tête surrounded by the north face of the Aiguille de Tré la Tête, la Lex Blanche and the Dôme des Glaciers; back to the Conscrit Hut and the valley. Transfer to hotel in Chamonix, for overnight and celebratory dinner. Schedule: 8-10 hrs; Approx ascent/descent: +1000m / -2400m

Day 7 In Chamonix, trip concludes

The trip concludes after breakfast in the hotel. PLEASE NOTE: The above route and estimated times must be seen as a guide only. This itinerary may change at any time due to weather, snow conditions, group fitness or other reasons. Your guide will always make a final decision after assessing the situation and liaising with the group members.

Additional Information

Inclusions

6 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 6 dinners
3 nights accommodation in a 3-star Chamonix hotel on a twin-share basis
3 nights accommodation in mountain huts
Internal transport
Certified UIAGM high altitude mountain guide (ratio of 1 guide to 6 climbers on days 2-4; and 1 guide to 3 climbers on days 5-6)
All common climbing gear (ropes, carabiners etc)
Ski lifts
Pre-departure information

Summary

5 days trek/mountaineering
3 nights mountain huts
3 nights hotel

Trip Main Activities

Mountaineering
Trekking

Group Size Min

Group Size Max

Accommodation Summary

Our accommodation in the mountain huts is dormitory style with blankets and sheets provided and dinner is usually served by 6.30pm. Meals supplied are wholesome and adequate but not all dietary requirements are easily catered for. Please note that drinking water or other beverages are not available for free, so please bring some money with you to buy some where appropriate; ie: bottled water approx 6 Euros, and soft drinks approx 4 Euros. Each day when you arrive at the hut you will need to take off your boots and swap them for a pair of hut shoes which are provided. Items such as climbing hardware, should be stored in the plastic bins usually provided. You can then proceed inside where your guide will be arranging your room. Your backpack can go with you to your room where you will be allocated a bed in the dormitory.The afternoon can be spent relaxing, hydrating and preparing for the following day. Lights are usually turned out by 9.00pm.

Equipment Required

Whilst we strongly recommend you bringing your own climbing equipment and clothing, there is a considerable range of gear available for hire in Chamonix. This may suit you better if you are travelling on elsewhere and want to keep your baggage to a minimum. Personal clothing and equipment is not included in the trip cost. This would include warm layers and waterproof clothing, and clothing for both hot and cold conditions. You will need to take or hire climbing equipment including ice axe, crampons, harness with belay device, leather or plastic mountaineering boots & helmet. A sleeping bag is NOT required. Our Pre-departure information document for this trip details all clothing and equipment required for the trip and will be provided on booking your place.

What You Carry

Because you will be carrying all your own equipment plus a share of food for yourself and guide, it is essential to keep the weight down. A heavy rucksack will diminish your pleasure and make the climbing a struggle; especially day after day. The rucksack should be about 45 litres maximum (it is possible to rent this in Chamonix). Everything should be pared down to the bare essentials with a change of clothes in case you get soaked. No cotton clothing should be taken as it dries slowly. Inside the huts footwear is provided. Boots should accept step-in crampons and be warm enough for hiking in snow. There are many good models out there. Wear two pairs of socks and road-test them well before the trip. Make sure that the crampons are correctly adjusted to the boots. Your guide will check and make recommendations while in Chamonix, and because we are commencing and returning to Chamonix any extra gear can be stored.

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USD$2,490

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