ICE CLIMBING
December - March

I offer ice climbing courses and trips throughout the Western Alps for all abilities, from beginners to advanced. In this small corner of the Alps there is an enormous choice of ice-falls offering a wide range of grades and lengths of climbs. These can vary greatly from single pitch climbs, which are ideal for both introductory climbs and for perfecting one's technique, to long multi pitch climbs of up to 600 metres. For safety reasons and wherever possible, I try to avoid the highly frequented venues. It is so much nicer to a share your ice-fall with a minimum of people in a quiet and remote alpine valley.
I can provide technical ice gear if needed eg: ice-axes and crampons etc.
Introductory, intermediate & advanced ice climbing courses

OFF-PISTE SKIING
December - April

Off-piste is open to anyone who has mastered the art of basic parallel skiing. Now, with the appearance of modern wider and shorter skis which are easy to turn, you can improve your technique and gain confidence very quickly. Once you move off the pistes the new and different types of terrain and snow conditions present their own unique challenges and opportunities. From wide untracked valleys and steep bowls to the art of tree skiing with small drop-offs, I am happy to guide you and to give tips to help you improve your technique and your enjoyment on your skis.
The Chamonix valley is a wonderful playground for the off-piste skier. Cable-cars, such as the Grands Montets, give access to north facing slopes above 3000 metres. In mid-winter, with low temperatures the snow can remain excellent for days and even weeks at a time. The Aiguille du Midi cable-car rises up from the centre of Chamonix to the top of the Valleé Blanche at 3842 metres.
The Vallée Blanche is a wonderful glacier-covered valley, with several outstanding ski descents, and of course everything is off-piste! With a full moon, a night descent of the Valleé Blanche is an unforgettable experience!

SKI TOURING
February - May

High level routes:
- Chamonix - Zermatt
- Gran Paradiso
- Vanoise
- Monte Rosa
- Bernese Oberland

Ski touring is a great way to traverse and explore mountains. It gives access to remote areas, and if you have a good ski ascent technique ('skinning'), it can sometimes appear almost effortless. After an ascent you have time to take in the outstanding scenery, before setting off on a superb ski descent back down to the valley floor.

The wonderful multi-day, hut to hut, ski tours which I offer (see list above) are great, but I would advise beginner ski tourers to start with day tours and a light rucksack!

If you are a competent off-piste skier and you have a good level of fitness, all you need to learn is the 'skinning' technique, with its uphill kick turns. For me the mastery of these kick turns is one of the most important aspects of personal safety when touring.

WINTER MOUNTAINEERING
DECEMBER - MAY

In the heart of winter, conditions are often very settled for winter alpinism. From Chamonix, thanks to cable-cars, you can quickly reach the base of a climb. Ascending a snow gully or an ice goulotte is a wonderful way, as a climber, to enjoy the mountains in winter.

GUIDING

Apart from the above stated courses, it is possible to employ the services of a mountain guide on a daily, weekend and/or long weekend basis.
The daily guiding fee for this winter is:
December 2009 and January 2010: 300 Euros
February to April 2010: 320 Euros

INSURANCE:
It is essential to be adequately insured by a specialist company, which must cover all mountaineering activities. Also consider travel insurance.
You can consult: The Austrian Alpine Club or The British Mountaineering Council.