Alpine rock climbing course – Level 2
INTRODUCTION TO GRANITE CLIMBING AND TRAD CLIMBING IN CHAMONIX
This course is all about climbing. We will get you started in crack and slab climbing skills. Your guide will teach you a lot of rope work skills and tricks which are useful for multi pitch climbing in the mountains. You will be ready to go to places such as Yosemite valley after this course!
The Argentiere hut is a great base to stay during the trip. Perched on a rocky cliff above the Argentiere glacier at altitude of 2771m, it offers great views of the surrounding Alpine peaks and rugged glaciers. The hut has been recently renovated and offers comfortable rooms with bunk beds and a lounge with views of the majestic walls and summits of the Aigiuille Verte, Les Droits, the Aiguille de Triolet and Mont Dolent. You can spot the little torch lights of climbers there when you have an early start before the sunrise. Fred and Bea run the hut and are very friendly and welcoming. You will meet lots of personalities from the local climbing scene at this hut.
The approach to the hut is not particularly long but fairly spectacular. After taking the Grands Montets cable-car, you will descend the steep slopes of the Rognon glacier and cross the Argentiere glacier before climbing a short path up a moraine to the hut. You will arrive there around lunchtime and have time to climb on the nearest crag in the afternoon.
This course will take you climbing on some of the most amazing granite multi-pitch routes in the Chamonix valley. The quality of the rock and routes is superb. There are routes of all grades for climbers of all levels with lengths from 100m up to over 1km.
From: 1850 €
Intermediate
Dates
Dates
Itinerary
Arrival Day in Chamonix
You will meet your group and your mountain guide in the Chamonix Experience office on the evening before your ice climbing course begins. You will receive all the details about your guide and the meeting in an email a week before start of the course.
The meeting is a great opportunity to ask any questions about the course and to check with your guide that you have the right equipment.
The detailed itinerary will depend on the weather. Therefore right now we can give you only a rough outline of what will happen day to day on your course.
Day 1
We will start early today and take the first lift up to Grands Montets. From there we will descend the steep slopes of the Rognon glacier and cross the flat part of the Argentiere Glacier to reach the tiny path leading to the Argentiere hut. This hike should take about 2,5 – 3 hours, arriving just in time for lunch!
The afternoon will be spent working on your climbing techniques and rope work on the nearby cliff. Your guide will use this day to determine your climbing level and choose the climbing routes for the rest of the week.
Enjoy the first sunset at the hut, the views are stunning!
Days 2 – 4
You will climb some of the most amazing granite routes in the Chamonix valley. Your guide will carefully choose routes appropriate to your level so that you enjoy the climbing whilst pushing your limits.
You will return to Chamonix on the afternoon of day 4 at about 17:00h.
Learning outcomes
- Developing of face, slab and crack climbing skills
- Multi pitch climbing skills
- Placement and recovery of trad protection
- Building of anchors, equalization and related rope work skills
- Advanced safety skills in belaying a lead climber, lowering and rappelling
Level requirements
Technical level
We created this 4 day trip for those who already have a rock climbing experience. You should be familiar with the following skills:
- You can follow routes of at least French 5c
- You have good belaying skills
- You know how to abseil
- You have basic crampons and ice axe skills
Fitness level
You need to be in good physical shape, capable of 6 hour climbing days without being too tired the next day.
Equipment
