If you ski off-piste in Chamonix then you are likely to be exploring glacial areas such as Les Grands Montets and the Vallée Blanche – both incredibly beautiful and exciting places. There is nothing quite like skiing or snowboarding in Alpine terrain, passing spectacular glacial formations and being surrounded by magnificent alpine peaks. Unfortunately, on glaciers there is an ever-present risk of falling into a crevasse, as well as the threat of seracs and lumps of ice falling from above. Our experience as mountain rescuers (PGHM Chamonix) means that we want you to enjoy these amazing places as safely as possible.

On this practical and effective course you will be taught how to read glacial terrain to minimise crevasse risk, how to travel roped-up across glaciers either on foot or on skis, and how to carry out a crevasse rescue in a number of different realistic scenarios.

Our instructors are all fully qualified and extremely experienced in all aspects of mountain and off-piste safety; there can be no one better to train you in these crucial skills.

Our crevasse rescue courses run year-round from December to October or early November, with a break during lift closures.

Winter Crevasse Rescue Courses

In winter season, our crevasse rescue course is specifically designed for snowboarders and skiers. It will teach you how to plan a trip on a glacier, how to identify and avoid crevasses and seracs and how to conduct a crevasse rescue. It is a great introduction for anyone planning on skiing or snowboarding off-piste in Chamonix or elsewhere.

Summer Crevasse Rescue Courses

During the summer season, this course will not require the use of skis. We will focus on the glacier trekking safety skills, risk management on both snow-covered and dry glaciers, ropework, equipment handling, and rescue techniques.