Icefall Climbing
Climb amazing ice formations on constantly changing frozen waterfalls, from roadside cragging to big mountain ice routes. I will be based the beautiful Dauphiné Alps in the Ecrins National Park for the winter season of 2012. Check out the area at www.lagrave-lameije.com If you have a particular ambition but don’t have the experience or expertise to tackle it yourself, the flexibility of having your own Guide will give maximise your chances of success, and you will have lots of input into the content of your days out and the routes undertaken.
Ratios and Routes
The areas I work in offer some of the best ice climbing in the world, with numerous vertical icefalls from 40m to 600m long. There are classic climbs of all grades, although most are Scottish Grade IV and above, and many climbs are reached after very short walks. The size of your group will determine the kind of challenges you can undertake - the smaller the ratio, the more adventurous the climbs. The maximum ratio is 1:3.
Dates
20th - 24th February 2012
5th - 9th March 2012
27th March - 13th April 2012
Guiding fees
The fees for 2012 are per Guide per day as follows:
1:1 - £260
1:2 - £280
1:3 - £300
In addition, you must also pay for telepheriques for yourself and your Guide in the local currency.
Accommodation
Check out the Accommodation in Europe page for ideas. We will send travel directions when we receive your booking.
Preparation
The fitter you are, the more you will get out of your time with us, as all ice climbing requires considerable physical effort. Swimming, cycling, and hill-walking are all good preparation, and any climbing-related training is beneficial.
Equipment
Check out the Equipment for Icefall Climbing page for a full list of all the kit you will need.
Insurance
Insurance is absolutely essential when climbing abroad. You must ensure you are covered for rescue from the mountain environment, medical treatment, and cancellation, as well as all the normal things such as personal belongings. Standard holiday insurance does not cover for adventurous activities. Try the British Mountaineering Council, tel 0161 445 6111.
Booking Conditions
Please send a non-refundable deposit of £500 with your booking form. The balance of the fee will be due 14 days before the start of the course. If the booking is made within 14 days of the guiding start date, please send the full fee with the booking form. If you cancel for any reason and we cannot fill your date, we will expect you to pay the full fee as arranged and claim from the insurance company as appropriate. If we fill your date, we will refund your fee less the deposit. If we cancel, we will refund any money paid in full.