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Our Alpine Introduction course is based in the Valais Alps around Saas Grund; the mountains are generally quieter, & the huts are less crowded than other areas such as Arolla & Chamonix.

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Kitlist for the Alpine Introduction course here
Booking form for the Alpine Introduction course here

Length of Course - with five days of guiding, meeting on the Sunday evening. A typical week would look like this -

Monday - a lift up to the Hohsaas Hut, at just over 3000 metres. The lift takes us right to the hut, so we can leave all our heavy overnight kit there, and gear up for the rest of the day on the Triftgletscher. On the glacier we can practice our crampon & ice-axe techniques; how to tie on & manage the rope for moving as a group on a glacier; try to rescue each other from a crevasse (only a small one!), and generally get used to the scale & geography of an Alpine glacier. All the while we are gaining valuable acclimatisation as we will be operating at around the 3200 metre level. Stay over-night in the Hohsaas Hut.

Tuesday  - An ascent of the Weissmies, at just over 4000 metres, an achievable summit, as it is so accessible from the hut. The route goes through some interesting glacier scenery, weaving through some spectacular seracs, with magnificent views across the Saas valley to the Mischabel range - from Monte Rosa, past the Strahlhorn & Rimpfischorn, to the Allalinhorn, Alphubel, Taschhorn & the Dom & Nadelhorn. Starting from the hut at 5am. the summit is reached by 10am. descending to the hut by 1pm, then catching the lift down to the valley during the afternoon.

Wednesday- an ascent of the Via Ferrata on the Jegihorn, reached by a lift from the village to Chrixbode. Following a fixed wire from the bottom of the scramble to the top of the Jegihorn, at 3206 metres. Wearing a harness & helmet, each person scrambles at his or her own pace, protected all the time by two sling's attached to the wire. Great fun.

Thursday - a short lift from Saas Fee up to Plattjen (2570 metres). then a scenic walk in the afternoon to the Brittania Hut (3030 metres). Overnight in the hut.

Friday - an ascent of the Allalinhorn 4027 metres, by the Hohlaubgrat. This route takes a scenic snow arête, with a three - pitch rock - scramble to finish near the summit of the Allalinhorn. Descent via the Feechopf back to Saas Fee.

The programme outlined above is just an example, there are many other mountains in the region that we might choose. Such as the ascent of the Nadelhorn 4327 metres, by the N.E. Ridge, a higher mountain with a famously big walk & scramble up to the Mischabel Hut to gain access to the mountain. Or the Fletschhorn - Lagginhorn Traverse, by the North Ridge of the Lagginhorn, a great introduction to Alpine ridge scrambling & 'roped moving together' techniques.

The cost - For the five days of guiding, and your valley B&B accommodation. The cost would be £850 per person.
For groups, (two & over) the cost per person does reduce. As an example, for two people booking together, the cost would reduce to £750 per person. For three people, to £700 per person. Included in the cost is all hut expenses, the loan of crampons, ice-axe, helmet & harness, all car transport.

Accommodation  

B&B accommodation at the Hotel Schoenblick Saas Grund.

www.ferienhaus-schoenblick.ch

There are three campsites in Saas Grund, from within 15 to 25 minutes walking distance of the village. Cost around £8 per person.

Equipment - we will provide crampons, ice-axe, harness & helmet if you do not have these, or would prefer to use ours. 

Transport -  We would provide all valley transport. If you are flying easyJet into Geneva, the rail station is part of the airport terminal building, and it is a straightforward two and a half hour train journey to Visp.

Dates - contact us for dates. The course usually runs from the Sunday evening meeting,  to finish on Friday evening. We are able to take bookings from the first week of May, until the end of September.