Introductory Alpine Mountaineering Course

Please see the Essential Information for the Alps page for info on guiding fees, preparation, accommodation & travel, equipment, and an explanation of fitness levels and mountaineering experience.

Is This The Right Course For Me?

This introductory six day course will include a number of peaks via straightforward routes and will give training in the skills needed to travel confidently over glaciated mountains, including:
~ the use of crampons & ice axe
~ roped glacier travel
~ crevasse rescue techniques
~ ridge scrambling and moving roped together
~ advice on acclimatisation and fitness
~ use of huts and cable cars

What Will The Programme Look Like?

We design each course programme individually, but the itinerary below gives a good idea of what you can expect to achieve. Please be aware that we often have to adjust an itinerary because of weather, snow conditions, fitness, lack of acclimatisation, etc.

Day 0: Arrive in the Saas valley. Meet in the evening for a gear check and a chat about the week.

Day 1: Skills training: movement on rock, snow & ice in boots & crampons; Alpine rope work. Return to valley.

Day 2: Via ferrata on the Jegihorn, return to the valley.

Day 3: Walk to the Almageller hut, overnight in the hut.

Day 4: Climbing on the Dri Hornli, return to the valley.

Day 5: Walk in to the Britannia hut and stay the night.

Day 6: Ascent of the Allalinhorn and return to the valley. Celebrate!

What Dates Are Available?

See the calendar for availability for Alpine mountaineering

What Will I Have To Pay?

See the Essential Information for the Alps page for info on guiding fees, hut fees and cable car costs.

Here are some examples of what our clients expected to pay in 2023, based on the programme above.

With FOUR clients with one guide for six days:

Guiding fee per person: £705
Out of valley expenses per person, including personal expenses and guide's expenses: €335 + 135CHF

With THREE clients with one guide for six days:

Guiding fee per person: £900
Out of valley expenses per person, including personal expenses and guide's expenses: €350 + 140CHF

With TWO clients with one guide for six days:

Guiding fee per person: £1290
Out of valley expenses per person, including personal expenses and guide's expenses: €390 + 160CHF

With ONE client with one guide for six days:

Guiding fee per person: £2460
Out of valley expenses per person, including personal expenses and guide's expenses: €490 + 200CHF

Useful Blog Posts

See the Essential Information for the Alps page for blog posts about equipment and Alpine mountaineering and rock climbing.

What Do Our Clients Say?

Our initial two days assessment and training in the Lake district proved very valuable for me and hopefully informed Chris of what I could do and needed to do for our alpine days in July. We had a potential programme, which lasted for day 1, but bad weather meant changing this and Chris had several suitable suggestions which allowed me to develop the skills that I was aiming for, in alternative locations. Weather never detracted Chris from getting me out and doing something new, even when those around us were deciding to give things a miss when Scottish winter conditions prevailed. This flexibility was an excellent aspect. Several days took me beyond/to the limit of my comfort zone which was valuable in developing my skills. Chris knew just how much to 'push' me.
Wendy Dodds, July 2017

Straightforward and convenient booking system. The programme had to change twice due to unavoidable circumstances. Each time the changes seemed totally appropriate and the final outcome was both highly enjoyable and rewarding. I found myself pushed which helped me get the most out of the trip.
Alex Stubbing-Moore, July 2019