Course Base: Chamonix / Saturday to Wednesday / 3 days guiding

INTRODUCTION

This 3-day Mont Blanc extension is designed for those have completed an Introductory If you wish to discuss any Alpine Techniques - Level 1 course in Arolla the week before. To have a realistic shot at aspect of the course or your Western Europe's highest mountain, we climb via the Goûter Route (Alpine grade PD), suitability for it, please the most assured route for reaching the summit. contact us by telephone: +44 (0) 114 276 3322 or 0333 323 9699 The Goûter Route is the most frequented ascent route on Mont Blanc. The technical Alternatively, you can difficulty involves climbing snow-covered rock on the section to reach the Goûter Hut, contact us by email via our and exposed snow crests in the upper part. The section crossing the Grand Couloir is website: exposed to stone fall. Overall, the route is physically challenging and requires a good www.jagged-globe.co.uk degree of fitness and stamina.

The Goûter Route is our first choice of route on Mont Blanc, as it is in condition more consistently than the 'Three Monts' route (PD+/AD) from the Cosmiques Hut. The 'Three

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Monts' route is longer and more technical. Occasionally we do climb the Three Monts route, if the conditions are better on this route and/or the Guides think you are climbing well enough to attempt it.

On the Goûter Route, we utilise either the Goûter Hut (3,817m) or the Tête Rousse Hut (3,167m), or both on our ascent and descent. Occasionally we also use the Refuge du Nid d'Aigle (2,482m). Our Guides will decide the strategy for the climb, depending on the team's fitness and conditions, and the confirmed bookings that we have at the huts. For example, having taken the Tramway du Mont Blanc to Nid D'Aigle, it takes approximately 3 hours to ascend to the Tête-Rousse Hut. From the hut, we cross the Grand Couloir and climb snow and rock to reach the Goûter Hut. Moderately angled snow slopes lead to the Dôme du Goûter. From here we climb the Bosses Ridge and eventually, the summit ridge. It is normal to take 8 hours to climb from the Tête-Rousse Hut. Descent is via the same route, sleeping at either the Goûter or Tête-Rousse huts.

Day 1 Saturday – transfer from Arolla Coach/train journey to Chamonix (cost not included). 7pm briefing on Mont Blanc. The briefing covers essential information, including equipment required. Please telephone the hotel if you are delayed and give them an expected arrival time. Dinner at 7:30pm.

Day 2 Sunday Morning preparation for Mont Blanc. Train/cable car to Nid D'Aigle. Climb to Tête-Rousse Hut (3 hours).

Day 3 Monday Ascent of Mont Blanc, descend to Goûter Hut (8-12 hours round trip, depending on fitness and snow conditions).

Day 4 Tuesday Descend to Nid D'Aigle and return to Chamonix.

Day 8 Wednesday Dispersal. Breakfast will be provided on the last morning before you leave the course.

Please note that this programme is flexible. The Guides will decide on the best strategy for the climb depending on the weather conditions and the fitness of the group.

Mont Blanc – in the event of bad weather or if the mountain is not in condition

For those taking part in our Mont Blanc courses or extensions, if the mountain is not in condition, or if poor weather means we are unable to attempt Mont Blanc, we have the option of a short journey through the Mont Blanc tunnel to climb Gran Paradiso (4,061m), a fine alterative. Gran Paradiso is the highest mountain entirely within Italy.

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All of our Alpine Guides hold the International Mountain Guides Certificate. The majority of them are also members of the British Association of Mountain Guides (BMG), which is, in turn, affiliated to the International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations (IFMGA). There is no other qualification allowed for working in the Alps as a guide and it is the highest award available to professional mountaineers. Our Guides are dedicated mountaineers with an intimate knowledge of the regions where we base our courses. As many of them also lead our expeditions, they are able to advise you on your long-term expedition and mountaineering goals.

» 2 nights hotel accommodation in Chamonix on a twin-sharing (occasionally triple/quad), half-board basis » 2 nights mountain hut accommodation in a shared dormitory bunk, half-board basis » 3 days guiding with a qualified IFMGA Mountain Guide. Ratio 1:2 maximum » Transport (by public means, private hire vehicle, minibus or guides' cars) to fulfil the course programme (including travelling to Gran Paradiso in the event of bad weather) » Group mountaineering equipment such as ropes and other technical equipment » Ice axes, crampons, harnesses & helmets, when booked in advance

» Transfer from Arolla to Chamonix » Travel home from Chamonix (a shared transfer from Chamonix to Geneva Airport can be booked through Jagged Globe) » Lunch » Cable cars, mountain railways and mechanical uplift (Tramway du Mont Blanc cost is €36 return) » Any costs associated with travelling outside of the Chamonix Valley in the event that the weather is too bad to attempt Mont Blanc (other than to Gran Paradiso) » Personal climbing equipment and clothing (including boots, which can be hired locally) » Mountaineering and travel Insurance

Please note that the costs for mechanical up-lift (for example, cable cars, chairlifts and mountain railways) are not included in the overall course cost because these can vary, depending on the weather and routes selected. This means that we are not restricted by a budget. Also, if we spend less on up-lift than expected, you make the saving rather than us.

From Arolla, you can travel to Chamonix by train. The journey takes between 4 – 5 hours, so you should leave Arolla no later than midday. Plan you journey at http://www.sbb.ch.

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For your return home at the end of the course, a 50 minute airport transfer to Geneva Airport with Mountain Drop-Offs can be booked through Jagged Globe via your on-line account (price £36). Mountain Drop-Offs will reconfirm your pick up time by texting you, after 5pm, the evening before your scheduled transfer.

Accommodation in Chamonix is in La Chaumière Mountain Lodge. The accommodation is provided on a twin-share (occasionally triple/quad), half-board basis with participants of the same sex sharing.

When out of the valley you will be in mountain huts. These provide clean, basic dormitory accommodation. The price for Alpine courses is based on the cost of providing accommodation in the hotel or in the hut for each night, but not in both. This means that for the nights you are booked into mountain huts, you should expect to vacate your hotel room to make it available to other guests.

La Chaumière Mountain Lodge 322 Route des Gaillands 774400 Chamonix France http://www.chaumierelodge.com/en/ Tel: +33 450 53 13 25

Should you want a room to yourself a single room supplement is payable. However, the availability of single rooms is very limited at La Chaumière, so please contact us to see if it is possible.

A single room supplement of £225 is payable.

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In addition to the gear listed in the Introductory Alpine Techniques – Level 1 equipment list, you should bring the following items:

Boots – Please read » As climbing Mont Blanc often involves at least one very long day, time pressure and scrambling terrain, familiarity with footwear and comfort from previous wear could be said to be of higher importance on this course than on many others. » If you have boots that you think might be suitable for this course, please take them with you. If they are not, then the Guides will advise you to hire some locally. » Please make sure any boots you use are broken in. » Please do not use plastic boots unless you are used to them, as they will be too hot which will lead to easily blistered feet (with the exception of June or September Mont Blanc ascents when their extra warmth won’t be so problematic).

Insulated rigid ‘B3’ mountaineering boots, such as Scarpa Mont Blanc Pro GTX, Phantom Guide or La Sportiva Nepal Extremes, are required. We strongly Mountaineering Boots recommend that you bring your own boots and that they are broken in. The fit of boots differs greatly and an ill-fitting pair will at best negatively affect the enjoyment of your course.

Warm gloves or Mitts Take a pair of mitts or buy very warm gloves (e.g. Black Diamond Guide Gloves). Plus hand warmers.

Extra mid-layer Take an extra fleece, especially if you are joining a June or September Mont Blanc extension.

Snow/ski goggles Double glazed for use in bad weather. Make sure that vents holes are covered with thin nylon gauze to prevent spindrift entering. You do not have to spend a lot on goggles, as they can get damaged in your rucksack over time.

In the Alps, insurance for helicopter rescue and 3rd party liability is mandatory. We will need a copy of your insurance policy to keep on record whilst you are on your trip. The British Mountaineering Council, Snowcard and Dogtag all provide insurance policies for Alpine Mountaineering: www.thebmc.co.uk www.snowcard.co.uk www.dogtag.co.uk

You should ensure that you have European Health Insurance (EHI) before travelling. The quickest and easiest way to apply for an EHIC is online at www.ehic.org.uk.

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EHI entitles you to reduced-cost or free medical treatment whilst you are in the European Economic Area (EEA) or in Switzerland.

When something becomes predictable and absolutely safe, it ceases to be exciting or to be an adventure. For an activity to be adventurous it must have an uncertain outcome and it will carry risks. Going into mountainous regions is implicitly hazardous, and if we add to that an adventurous activity, then by necessity the hazards are increased. This implies an inherent and intractable risk of injury or, in the extreme, death. Anyone considering taking part in a climbing or skiing course in the mountains needs to consider this very seriously and to take responsibility for their own participation.

During a course, you will be in hazardous situations not least due to the unpredictability of the mountain environment. Alternatively, we may choose to seek out such situations so that you can learn how to cope with them. This is part of our mission to provide challenging, realistic, reasonable and responsible training. Should you encounter similar situations in the future, you will then have the appropriate experience to make the right decisions.

Even in Europe, where the infrastructure is generally reliable, emergency rescue cannot be taken for granted as many things might prevent it. If you are injured, a delayed evacuation can mean a poor medical outcome compared with the same injury sustained at home. Furthermore, although generally of modest altitude, those courses that go to heights in excess of 3,000 metres carry a risk of altitude illness, which can cause death under extreme circumstances.

In order to take part in our climbing and skiing courses and to learn from worthwhile mountaineering situations, you have to accept the risks involved.

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It is not possible to give a precise daily programme for each of the Alpine Courses. The weather and conditions on the mountains, as well as the personal aspirations of course members, will determine the best activity for each day. In consultation with members of the course and the other instructors, the Course Director will decide on the most appropriate activity and mountain route for each day. In doing so, he will keep in mind the prevailing conditions, the aims of the course and the wishes of the course participants. The Course Director will choose the venue best suited to the group’s needs and most appropriate to the instructional objectives for the day. This will all be done with safety as the governing factor.

Courses with specific objectives, such as Mont Blanc or the Matterhorn, may also be adversely affected by weather and conditions. However, the stated objectives of these courses will remain the primary aim, within the bounds of safety.

Before attending an Alpine Course, you should ensure that you are fit enough to take part in the full programme. Alpine mountaineering and climbing is extremely arduous, even under mild conditions. The fitter you are, the more you will benefit from the course. Each day, you can expect to be in the mountains, carrying a rucksack of 10Kgs, for at least 7 hours, during which time you may walk 10 miles and climb 1,500m of cumulative ascent. You need to consider the effect of doing this on cumulative days. If you do not have any mountains on your doorstep by which to gauge your fitness, then we would recommend regular running, swimming, walking or cycling in preparation for your course. As a general guide, you should aim to build up to doing two or three sessions of aerobic exercise during the week, with at least one tougher session each week, at the weekend. The duration of each session will depend on the type of activity you are doing and your proficiency in it. If running, for example, you would aim to run for 30-40 minutes during the week, with a longer 1 hour + run at the weekend, as a minimum. If cycling, 1.5 hour rides during the week, with a longer ride at the weekend, would be appropriate for building the level of stamina required for tough days out in the Alps.

If you would like to book a place on this course, you can do so on our website or over the telephone via our office. A non-refundable deposit will secure your place. For on-line bookings, once we have checked that a place is available we will take payment. You will then receive an email confirmation, which includes a written confirmation of booking and invoice. We will set up an on-line account for you, where you can fill in an experience questionnaire, medical declaration and order any hire equipment.

Book Now: http://www.jagged-globe.co.uk/climb/course/i/alps +intro+mb+ext.html

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