"There are very few feelings like this plenitude created by the contact between the climber and the rock, when his hands create the holds instead of seeking them, when he goes up smoothly in harmony with the rock and heights. The complicity which links the members of the roped party heightens the inner mental strength of the climber, his concentration mixed with relaxation, his perfect balance.
Climbing is purely and simply beautiful. Climbing is not just rising up as a conqueror, climbing is merging into the rock, climbing is living intensely each moment of the ascent of his companion, and then of his own, living entirely for the moment, a pure present of Mountains" Marc Démolis, Mountain Guide.
This training course to rock climbing has been created to enable you to acquire enough experience to become one day the safe leader of your roped party on easy routes, through all the different techniques that you will discover during this training course: ascent of faces (slabs, dihedrals, chimneys); ascent of ridges; de-escalation; abseil; nuts and belays; rescue.
Therefore, the number of participants to this training course has been fixed to two climbers, in order to allow a fast and safe progress. During the ascents, you are thus always roped on directly with your guide. This training course should not be regarded as a rock-climbing school in mountains. Each ascent carried out brings you the experience and the techniques of a climber, in the heart of the wild environment of the Aiguilles Rouges and Aravis groups, facing the Mont-Blanc, first stage before the ascents of more difficult rock faces in the Mont Blanc group.
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Duration: 5 days, one IFMGA French Mountain Guide, speaking fluently English, for two participants. Meeting Place: Argentière train station, in Chamonix valley, by 08.30 a.m. on Day 1. End of the course : Le Fayet Saint-Gervais train station, by mid-afternoon on Day 5. From there, trains each hour to Chamonix (12 miles journey).
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Tour Itinerary
Day 1: Meeting at Argentière train station, in Chamonix valley, by 08.30 a.m. Short transfer to Montets pass. From the path, a one hour ascent on Chéserys footpath will lead us to the rock-climbing schools of Chéserys and Aiguillette d'Argentière. Rock-climbing school to discover how to rope on, how to place your body on the rock when climbing, the safety techniques and the abseiling techniques. By the end of the afternoon, ascent up to Lac Blanc hut, 7,716 feet. Night by the hut.
Day 2: At dawn, we leave the hut in the direction of the East face of Crochues peaks, a very nice ascent of 350 vertical feet where to apply the techniques discovered yesterday. After this first ascent we follow the Crochues ridges, where we have good chances to see ibexes. Picnic on the third peak of Crochues, 9,317 feet, and then ascent of the chimney and of the easy route leading to Belvédère peak, 9,728 feet, highest peak of the Aiguilles Rouges group, a fantastic wiewpoint on all the Mont-Blanc group summits. Easy way down back to Lac Blanc hut. Night by the hut.
Day 3: Ascent of Persévérance peak, 9,518 feet, by its South ridge, a 800 vertical feet ascent leading to the dizzy Persévérance summit, from which it seems to be very difficult to go down. But your guide knows the way down: a first abseil, a short ridge with de-escalation, a second abseil, and the roped party reaches the gully between Persévérance and Chamois peaks, leading back to the footpath. Way down back to Montets pass by the "old mountain pastures" footpath. Transfer to Chamonix. Night in a lodge in Chamonix.
Day 4: Morning rest in Chamonix. By 12.00 am, you will take the typical mountain train going down to Le Fayet - Saint-Gervais (12 miles journey). Your guide will pick you there for a transfer to the Ânes pass, in the Aravis group. Footpath up to Gramusset hut, 7,100 feet. Rock-climbing school close to the hut. Night by the hut.
Day 5: Ascent of Pointe Percée, 9,022 feet by the Doigt ridge, a ascent which offers a extraordinary wiew on all the peaks of the Northern Alps. Descent by the normal route to Gramusset hut, and to the Ânes pass. Transfer to Le Fayet - Saint-Gervais, separation in Le Fayet by mid-afternoon (from there, trains each hour to Chamonix, 12 miles journey).
Your mountain guide will do everything possible to make a success of this course. But, in altitude, exceptional risks may exist : storms, rainfall, and your guide, responsible for your life, may change the programme of this training course for your safety.
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Your Level:
- you are a complete beginner in rock climbing, or you have a small experience in indoor or outdoor climbing, and you wish to discover the pleasure and the techniques of rock climbing in mountains.
- fitness level two stars : you practise twice a week either running, biking or swimming. During the two months before this course, you must either run 30 minutes 3 times a week, bike 2 hours 2 times a week, or swim 2 hours each week.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
The price includes:
- guiding by a Mountain Guide, and all his expenses
- the following group equipment: radio linked to the relief organization, first-aid kit, survival blanket, ropes, maps, compass, GPS, altimeter
- the loan of a rock-climbing harness, a helmet, and climbing shoes
- transfers by car in Chamonix valley, and from le Fayet train station to Ânes pass and back
- lodging and half-board in the mountain huts of Lac Blanc and Gramusset during three nights
The price does not include:
- optional insurances Generali/EUROP Assistance
- your picnics
- your drinks in the huts
- lodging and half-board for one night (Day 3) in Chamonix valley
- the roundtrip train ticket from Chamonix to Le Fayet
- your personal expenses
- additional transfers related to a modification of the programme
- generally speaking, all the expenses not indicated in the paragraph "the price includes"
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
France
Mountain/Rock Climbing
Outdoor Skills School
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