Alpine Intro, First Steps in the Alps
First Steps doesn't necessarily mean beginner, we like to think of it more as 'early days' in the mountains. We will take the skills you have from any walking or mountaineering in the UK or elsewhere and introduce them to an Alpine environment. We will look at all the essential alpine skills necessary for you to operate in the Alps with a mountain guide or on your own at an appropriate level. Any trip will include glacier travel techniques, rope work, route choice, equipment (use of crampons and ice axe), crevasse rescue techniques and moving together as well as climbing a number of great routes on mountains up to PD (peu difficile) in grade.
An introduction to many of these techniques can be found in our skills section
Experience
If you can walk up a hill you can join us for an alpine adventure, discuss your experience with us and we will create a week for you.
Where can we go?
There are lots of great areas for us to explore around Chamonix, Arolla, the Gran Paradiso or even the Bernese Oberland.
How long?
Typically a six-day trip. We will go to where the weather is good and find some climbing or mountaineering to suit your taste and experience. If you dont have a whole week to commit to your trip why not join us for a weekend early in the season before the guiding team gets booked up with full time work.
Ratios
On easier routes we can operate at a guiding ratio of 1:3, as you become more adventurous this needs to be decreased to 1:2.
What about kit & equipment?
You need to provide all your own clothing (please refer to the kit lists). We can provide you with technical equipment such as crampons, ice axes, harnesses, helmets, if required and of course ropes and climbing hardware. Boots can be rented in Chamonix if required.
How much does it cost?
We offer a price based on you hiring a guide on a daily basis plus all their expenses this allows maximum flexibility.
Private Guiding is 370 Euros per day plus expenses, please drop us an e-mail for an all inclusive price
When is the best time to go?
The summer alpine season begins in June and gets underway in earnest throughout the months of July and August and then runs though to late September. June and September are often quieter so you can enjoy a bit more solitude in the hills
Typically a guiding week will start on Sunday and finish on Friday. We will meet you on the Saturday evening when you arrive to plan the week ahead according to your wishes and the latest weather forecast.
If you are interested in a weekend we would suggest early or late season when the guiding team are not so booked with full weeks.