Women of Mountaineering Skills Camp

Welcome to our Women of Mountaineering Skills Camp in Chamonix!

This is a skills camp for women who want to become more independent in the mountains. Alpine climbing & mountaineering moves in different terrains: on glaciers, rocks, ice and snow. Becoming independent is a process you build over time and this camp will help you along the way. We will focus on different skills every day and the camp takes place in Chamonix - one of the best places in the world for mountaineering!

Together with certified guides you will develop new skills at our clinics and learn together. With a low guide-client ratio of max 1:4 (+ assistant guide) you will get a high level of your development during the days.

We hope to cover the following over the days, depending on weather and conditions:

Navigation

Trip Planning

Risk Management

Mountaineering Equipment

Rock Skills: Learn to Lead

Rock Skills: Multipitch Climbing

Glacier Skills: Crampon and Ice Axe Techniques for Different Terrains

Glacier Skills: Glacier Travel

Glacier Skills: Ice/Snow Anchors

Glacier Skills: Crevasse Rescue

Alpine Skills: How to Lead in Alpine Terrain

Alpine Skills: How to Build an Anchor

Alpine Skills: Rappelling

Alpine Skills: Route Finding

Program

Day 1

Travel Day, Arrival in Chamonix. You will make your own way to Chamonix during the day and check into a hotel (check-in from 3:00 PM).

Day 2

Today our clinics start! We will adapt the days to the weather and conditions and the level of the group. We will probably start with rock skills. Learn how to lead climbs, multipitch climbing and celebrate multiple rope lengths. You will learn to become more efficient with rope handling, knots and teamwork while climbing. We practice by climbing in independent teams where you take turns leading or together with a guide depending on previous experience.

Day 3

Today we focus on our glacier skills including crampon and ice axe techniques, how to tie into ropes in different ways & alpine coils, glacier travel, crevasse rescue and building ice/snow crampons. We will learn tactics for getting past crevasses, securing our partner and climbing steep snow. We will learn about short roping and we will climb a small mountain where you will lead the climb.

Day 4

Multipitch day up at Brevent where you get to practice all the techniques you have learned so far. Those who have the level to lead can lead parts of the climb.

Day 5

This day is about alpine climbing. We will climb an alpine ridge and learn to place belays, build anchors and route finding. You will practice moving together in the mountains, making decisions and how to keep your partner safe. We learn about short roping and our guides instruct different techniques for belaying and moving effectively in terrain. Those who are ready can lead parts of the climb independently.

Prerequisites

To get the most out of this camp, you have climbed in an alpine environment before (maybe together with a guide) and can belay a climber / have a green or red card. You have some previous experience as a second belayer but now want to learn to lead and become more independent in the mountains.

We will be in easily accessible terrain and climb on easy routes to be able to focus on learning and skills and techniques to be able to climb more independently in the mountains afterwards.

Equipment

Loan of necessary climbing equipment is included in the price. The following equipment will be given to you by your mountain guide at the beginning of the course if you wish to borrow it:

• Alpine ice axe

• Crampons

• Helmet

• Harness

• Screw carabiner

Personal equipment

You need to bring the following personal equipment, this is not included in the course fee.

• Alpine boots that crampons can be attached to (e.g. La Sportiva Trango Tech or Scarpa Ribelle).

• Rock climbing shoes

• Backpack, 30-40 liters

• Warm hat (that fits under a helmet)

• Underwear, shirt and pants (synthetic or wool, not cotton)

• Thin fleece sweater

• Thin down jacket

• Wind and waterproof jacket (preferably a shell jacket without lining)

• Wind and waterproof pants (preferably shell pants without lining)

• T-shirt

• Hiking pants

• Thick gloves

• Thin gloves

• Snow gaiters (gaiters)

• Headlamp

• Sunglasses

• Water bottle

• Sunscreen

• Poles (telescopes that can be folded and attached to a backpack)

The following are good to have but not a must:

• Sun hat or cap

• Handkerchief (something larger can work as sun protection for the neck/head)

Included in the price

• Four days of clinics by certified guides

• Hotel in Chamonix (shared room) five nights

• Breakfast, five days

• Professional photographer to document the trip

• Carbon offsetting

• Climbing equipment to borrow

• Local transport in Chamonix

Not included

• Travel to and from Chamonix

• Personal equipment, see list above

• Lift pass if we use a lift

• Personal insurance

• Drinks and other food mentioned below are included