More CMG Guided Summer Mountain Trips and Rock Adventures

In a post dated 16th April (which you can locate by clicking on the date on the calendar); we announced scheduled Mont Blanc trips, Alpine Introduction Courses, Walker’s Haute Routes and Mountain Experience Courses for those keen to get a taste of the high mountains with no prior experience. In addition to these trips, we are offering Rock Climbing courses for beginners and more advanced climbers (described below) and a hut to hut journey designed for keen hiker’s and photographers.

Alpine Rock Intro

5 days, 1:2 guide / client ratio, Price on request.

This course is suited to beginners or novice rock and indoor climbers. No prior alpine experience is required. The first day or so is based in the Chamonix valley at locations such as the Chesery crag. Initially we look at rock climbing movement and techniques and cover appropriate belay and anchor systems that we will later apply in an alpine context.


On the second half of the course we take our new found skills into an alpine environment. Our location of choice is the Orny Refuge on the Swiss side of the Mont Blanc Massif, an enjoyable 2½ hour walk from Champex. Here we have easy access to hut-side cragging or we can venture further afield to the Pointe d’Orny for multi-pitch rock. By necessity in this alpine area we cover basic crampon and ice axe use.

Possible routes on the Rock Intro Course include:

• Traverse of the Crochues, Aiguille Rouges, FR.
• Arete Sud Integral of the Aig. Purtscheller, Glacier du Tour, FR.
• South face of the Jagihorn, Saas Grund, Switzerland

Advanced Rock Climber

6 days, 1:2 guide / client ratio, Price on request.

Designed for novice to intermediate rock climbers, this course is intended for rock-enthusiasts, keen to take their climbing to the next level. Typically we will focus on climbing technique, placing traditional gear, anchor and belay systems, rescue techniques and multi-pitch climbing. Participants who are up for the challenge will have the opportunity to take the sharp end of the rope.

The first couple days are for ‘warm-up’ on sport climbing and multi-pitch crags in the valley which may include: Barberine, on the French / Suisse border, the Miroir d’Argentine in the Canton of Vaud, Switzerland Machaby, Aosta Italy – to name just a few options. Next we up-the-ante taking our skills into the mountains on the orange granite walls that the Alps, especially Chamonix, are famous for. Depending on your level, interest, or ‘tick-list’ we will head for numerous easily accessed routes in the Aiguilles Rouges, take on the challenge of a classic line on the South Face of the Aiguille du Midi such as the Rebuffat or venture up the Mer de Glace to test our mettle on some magnificent slabs in the area of the Envers des Aiguilles.


Possible routes on the Advanced Rock Climber Course include:

• Papillon Arete, Aig. du Peigne.
• Aig. de la Gliere, Index, Aiguilles Rouges
• Harold et Maude, Pointe Lachenal
• Pointe Percee, Grand-Bornand

Mountain Photographer’s Dream Journey

1:4, 5 days (5 nights), Price on Request.

This is a journey in the Mont Blanc Massif intended for keen alpine walkers and devoted photographers.
Starting in the Aiguilles Rouges this pleasurable alpine trek takes us hut to hut crossing the Chamonix valley and into the heart of the Mont Blanc Massif. The objective is to view the mountains from varied perspectives and bask in the alpen glow from high vantage points of many a sunrise and sunset. Like an evolutionary journey, we pass through vegetation zones ranging from grassy valley meadows and larch and pine forests to sub alpine bush, then the more harsh terrain of moraine and glaciers and finally up onto the nevé and the spectacular alpine vistas. By using the lifts we save our knees on descent and gain amazing photographic opportunities.


Options include climbing a peak or some cragging on rocky outcrops close to the huts.


The route will typically involve a hut to hut journey stopping overnight at the following locations: Hotel (TBA) Chamonix valley, Refuge du Lac Blanc, Hotel Montenvers, Couvercle Refuge, Leschaux or Requin Refuge.