Winter Mountaineering Skils Itinerary

Exploring the snow and ice of the Southern French Alps in winter.

A five day winter mountaineering skills trip aimed at introducing basic snow and ice techniques.

Based in the beautiful Champsaur valley on the edge of the Ecrins National Park, this trip will explore some of the classic ice climbing, snow gullies and ski touring in the region. Plus you have the advantage of the best sun record in the Alps!

The itinerary isn't fixed in stone and we will adapt it to suit your needs and the conditions of the day.

All the guides we use are fully qualified UIAGM high mountain guides.

Day 1 - Arrival

We'll collect you from Gap train station and take you up to the Auberge Des Ecrins, where you will meet the other members of your group and your guide.

You can settle into your room, have a drink in the bar or go for a little wander around the area.

Once everyone has arrived we'll have a welcome drink and chat about the course with the guides before settling down to a hearty evening meal!

Day 2 - Ice Climbing

A day of ice climbing to introduce the techniques of using ice axe and crampons, rope technique, belaying and mountain security.

The Champsaur and Valgaudemar valleys have the greatest variety and some of the best ice climbing in the Southern French Alps. Ice climbers and mountaineers come from all over the world to climb the famous routes, such as Le Voile de La Mairiee.

Depending on your experience and the conditions of the day we'll choose the most appropriate ice to get started on!

Day 3 - Mountain Day

A mountain day in the region.

This will be a summit or a col with mixed snow rock and ice conditions so you will practice some of the skills you learnt yesterday plus more rope techniques (moving together on a rope – technique used a lot in alpinism) and some avalanche diagnosis and search and rescue techniques. You'll descend on snowshoes from the summit.

Day 4 - Ski Touring

If you are a skier this is an opportunity to try an easy ski mountaineering day which will combine all the skills you have learnt in the week and also give you a taster of mountaineering in the winter and spring. We will choose a route that is suitable for your level of skiing - an easy descent is always a good option as that is the tricky bit but going up and the alpinism part of it will be fine.

If you are not happy about skiing we can either repeat the ice climbing or alpinism day – obviously progressing from previous days and going somewhere new.

Day 5 - Good bye

This is the sad day when we say goodbye!

If you are getting the train, we'll take yo back to we'll take you back to Gap train station.

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