To make the most of your climbing experience we encourage you to work on your fitness before the trip. You will find that training on hills with a +10kg pack is the best preparation for the mountains, to build your endurance. We recommend training programmes tailored to mountaineering such as those from Uphill Athlete.
Begin your mountaineering career in the heart of the Swiss Alps by scaling several peaks in the Monte Rosa region, or simply come here to partake in some enjoyable climbing where you can extend yourself to whatever level of difficulty you enjoy.
The views are stupendous, from the Matterhorn to the elegant North Face of Lyskamm and the knuckled mass of the Dufourspitze.
This is one of the finest alpine outings in the Alps with a range of difficulties to suit every level. If this is your first time climbing, you can start with introductory lessons on the easier peaks, then move on to more challenging ascents.
Experienced climbers can immediately lock into ascents of the series of summits that are all in close proximity to the alpine hut system. Should you want to push your limits, your guide will be happy to help you develop new skills.
The course can also be worked into a Grand Traverse, a ridiculously scenic journey that includes up to ten 4,000m peaks.
- Climb ten pristine summits from alpine huts in the Swiss Alps
- Learn skills or simply enjoy the climbing
- Departures from Zermatt, Switzerland or Chamonix, France
Climbing Ability
Climbing Ability
Any
Elevation
Elevation
4,634m/15,203ft
Duration
Duration
6 days
Location
Location
France or Switzerland
MRCA ITINERARY
DAY 0
| Arrive in Chamonix, hotel night. |
DAY 1
| The team meets in the hotel for a briefing and gear check. There is time to arrange last minute rental and/or equipment purchases in Chamonix, before driving to Courmayeur, Italy. We take the Funivie Monte Bianco and spend some time learning or refreshing basic mountaineering skills and techniques. We then traverse the Aiguilles Marbrées, the rocky spires that border Italy and France before overnighting at a Courmayeur Hotel |
DAY 2
Early in the morning, we drive to Breuil-Cervinia and take the cable car to Plateau Rosa 3,500m/11,500ft, climbing the West Summit of Breithorn 4,165m/13,665ft before descending the Grand Glacier de Verraz to the Val d’Ayas Guides Hut 3,425m/11,237ft for the night. This is a cosy little hut with a rather good bar (Peak #1)
DAY 3
We need an early start to climb the 400m to the base of the south side of Pollux 4,092m/13,425ft where the short but interesting South-West Ridge might be climbed before the traverse of Castor 4,423m/14,511ft to the Feliksjoch and the descent to the Quintino Sella Hut 3,585m/11,762ft which has panoramic views over the beautiful Gressoney and Ayas Valleys (Peaks #2-3)
DAY 4
Another early start is needed to negotiate the West Lys Glacier under Lyskamm to the Passo del Naso del Lyskamm 4,100m/13,450ft before crossing the crevassed West Lys Glacier to pick up the Balmenhorn 4,167m/13,671ft, an odd little peak with a bivouac and statuesque cross at its top, and then the Pyramid Vincent 4,215m/13,828ft before turning down the Garstele Glacier to the Gniffetti Hut 3,647m/11,965ft or the slightly lower Mantova Hut 3,470m/11,385ft (Peaks #4-5)
DAY 5
After an early breakfast we slowly climb up the East Lys Glacier to reach the short but steep Corno Nero 4,321m/14,177ft, a fine little summit soon followed by the more simple Ludwigshöhe 4,341m/14,242ft and the long whaleback of the Parrotspitze 4,432m/14,541ft before crossing the Grenz Glacier to Signalkuppe 4,554m/14,941ft on the summit of which is the Margherita Hut, the highest mountain hut in Europe, our last Italian night of this tour (Peaks #6-9)
DAY 6
After an early breakfast, we climb the Zumsteinspitze 4,563m/14,970ft by a short scramble and then stroll down the crevassed Grenz Glacier, passing under the magnificent North Face of Lyskamm and sprawling South West facets of the Dufourspitze. We eventually reach the very Swiss Monte Rosa Hut 2,795m/9,170ft for a welcome rest before heading off again across the icy Gorner Glacier and gently climbing back to Rotenboden under the Riffelhorn. We take the Gornergrat mountain railway to Zermatt, then a cable car towards Klein Matterhorn. Another cable car stretch takes us to Plateau Rosa, before a third deposits us down at Breuil-Cervinia, from where we drive back to Chamonix (Peak #10)
DAY 7
After a late breakfast, we say goodbye to Chamonix and depart for home
NOTE
This is a sample itinerary, your actual itinerary may vary if conditions are more suitable in another region or factors such as the weather or lift service precludes access. In some cases, this may be an additional expense to you
Departures and Pricing
Note: Dates are subject to change due to many factors out of our control
| Start/End | Departing from | Quantity | Pricing | Notes | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun - Sept 2024 | Zermatt, Switzerland | 1:1 guide to climber ratio | €6,690 EUR $ | Book Now | |
| Jun - Sept 2024 | Zermatt, Switzerland | 1:2 guide to climber ratio | €4,150 EUR $ | Book Now | |
| Jun - Sept 2024 | Chamonix, France | 1:1 guide to climber ratio | €5,900 EUR $ | Book Now | |
| Jun - Sept 2024 | Chamonix, France | 1:2 guide to climber ratio | €3,500 EUR $ | Book Now |
Looking to learn specific skills? Book a private course
PREPARE
Fitness
Technical Experience
This course will appeal to those with previous experience who want to enjoy a new region and collect plenty of summits. It is also appropriate for first time alpinists with a good level of fitness and a hiking or rock climbing background. Instruction can be included into your itinerary to get you started followed by the ascents themselves.
Why Adventure Consultants?
We offer focused guide attention to ensure consistency across the program. Whilst other operators combine you with large groups on training days we know your safety will be better protected and the learning progressions will be enhanced with the attentive care of your guide and smaller guide to climber ratios.
Adventure Consultants guides are BMG/NZMGA and / or IFMGA-UIAGM qualified mountain guides. They are professional mountaineers and operate to the highest industry standards. Being a technically proficient climber alone is not enough to work with us; our standards demand that trip leaders are great guides as well. You will find your guide friendly, approachable and focused on providing a safe and enjoyable trip in line with your objectives and comfort level.
Success with the highest margin of care is always a hallmark of our approach; promoting the realisation that even extreme pursuits such as high altitude mountaineering can be undertaken safely.
Adventure Consultants only employs IFMGA qualified guides for European ascents and courses and this is the only certification that is recognised in the French Alps. In order to gain these qualifications guides must undergo rigorous training and assessment on climbing skills, instructional skills, avalanche training and assessment, wilderness first aid, rescue training and much more. The qualification takes many years to attain and ensures you are getting a world class professional service.
Inclusions
The price of your trip includes the following:
- Qualified mountain guide
- Group technical equipment
- Lift passes as per the scheduled itinerary
- Hut accommodation as per the scheduled itinerary
- Hotel accommodation on a B&B basis during trip dates as specified on the schedule, including first / last night of your trip
- Local ground transport as per the scheduled itinerary
- Breakfast & dinner during mountain component of course/trip.
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