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 Ice Climbing Courses
Experience required: For the introductory level you
need no previous experience. For the advanced we
recommend a minimum level of Scottish grade IV ability
Course Dates
Please click Course Dates for the current scheduled courses
Or email us for other possible dates
Price: £990.00
What is included in the price:
a) All mechanical uplift
b) Full board accommodation
c) Equipment loan
d) Instruction by fully qualified IFMGA mountain guides
e) Packed lunches Monday to Friday
f) Accommodation in Apartment L’Acacia (see
AlpBase.com website)
g) Optional evening lectures/workshops
PLUS all transport during our courses, including airport transfers, is FREE OF
CHARGE
What’s
On Offer:
The Hautes Alpes or the Ecrins Massif as it is more
commonly known, comprises an area over 30 times
larger than the Chamonix Valley and has the largest
concentration of pure ice falls in France. There
are over 10 major areas and over 500 ice climbs
all less than one hour’s drive from AlpBase.com,
located in Vallouise, gateway to the Ecrins Massif
itself.
Bad weather days are practically non-existent
- Briançon claims 300 blue sky days a year.
The conditions are very reliable, with clear nights
the temperature often drops at night to below -10°C
and it is rare to miss a day’s climbing. Because
of such diversity of routes and stable conditions,
Europe’s largest and longest running ice climbing
festival takes place here every year at L’Argentiere-La-Bessee,
10 minutes from us.
The climbing is very different
from Scotland in that it is purely on frozen waterfalls.
Access to the climbs is often short and possible
without the need for skis. Good physical preparation
though is important. The ice is hard in consistency
and good equipment is essential. We loan out the
latest gear for course members to try. The routes
range from short to long (ten pitches) and are of
all grades of difficulty.
Each Ice Climbing course is bespoke
as it is designed around the individual’s abilities
and experience. Generally though the courses are
split into two levels:
- Introductory Level: Here we look at modern techniques
of the sport, including both climbing and safety
aspects. We will tackle multi-pitch routes and you
will have the chance to lead if you wish, so that
you can then attempt your own ice climbs without
a guide. You learn by doing, and we make sure you
learn what you specifically need to know.
- Advanced Level: The advanced course will recap on everything covered in the
introductory course, before attempting harder routes such as grade 5 and 6
routes. Depending on client performance it may even be possible to make ascents
of long mountain gully routes.
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