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 1 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. 2 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. 3 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. 4 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. 5 EHI entitles you to reduced-cost or free medical treatment whilst you are in the European Economic Area (EEA) or in Switzerland.