Part 1: Mountaineering Course, 5 Days Part 2a: Mont Blanc Ascent, 3 Days or Part 2b: Gran Paradiso Ascent, 3 Days Each Part can be booked individually! Want to learn the high skills of mountaineering? What better place could there be than the birthplace of "Alpinism", the Alps. The goal of this intensive course is to learn and practice the skills necessary to climb easier glaciated peaks on your own. Besides formalized instruction, our course concept depends heavily on “learning by doing,” with the guide being more of a coach than an instructor. After an introduction day on the granite rock of the Aiguille Rouges, we will head to two different huts high up on the Swiss side of the Mont Blanc range. With the glacier only minutes away from the huts, safe glacier travel and ice climbing skills will be on the curriculum, while climbing the surrounding peaks. High point of the trip will be an ascent of the Mont Blanc (4806 Mt. = 15765 ft.) by the Traverse Route, via Aiguille Du Midi and Cosmique Hut. Alternatively, we also offer an ascent of the Gran Paradiso (4050 Mt. = 13300ft.), which is less strenuous and hazardous. Plus you get to spend two days in Italy! Can I do it? Mountaineering Course: Meant for both, novice and advanced levels. The peak ascents during the course require good overall fitness level for climbs up to 8 hrs. Mont Blanc: 1500 Meters (5000 ft) climb, which usually requires 12 - 14 hrs for the return trip. The climb is both physically and mentally demanding and implies substantial objective hazards! Clients need to be able to acclimatize well. All technical skills required will be taught and practiced during the preceding 5 day course. Gran Paradiso: 1200 Mt. climb (4000 ft) climb to the summit at 4050 Mt. (13300 ft), about 9 hrs return trip from a hut base. Strenuous peak ascent but more in line with the difficulties and physical requirements of the preceding mountaineering course. Meeting Point: Either Geneva International (closest Airport) or on the first day at our Hotel in Argentiere, about 10 min. up valley from Chamonix. Climate, Weather, Temperatures: High season for all mountaineering in the western Alps is mid-July through August, mainly due to the stable weather that time of the year. Day time temperatures can vary between 30C (86F) in the valleys to -10C (14F) on clear mornings, when we start our day from a high level hut. The Mont Blanc climb can be very cold (-25C = -13F), given the midnight start, high altitude and the often strong winds on the summit ridge. Notes: 
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