Alpine 4000m peaks stretch from the Bernese Oberland in the North to the Bernina in the East and the Barres des Erins in the south. All are great mountains to climb in their own right. The effort and experience to scale one of these great peaks makes the memories that bit more memorable. There are 50 plus 4000m peaks of major status. The aim of this type of course is to attampt as many as possible.
Steady peaks skills required: basic mountaineering skills like walking in crampons, basic use of a rope for glacial travel and easy ridge climbing, along with the ability to walk for up to 8 hours carrying a sack. All skills for Alpine mountaineering would be covered as part of journey on any trip. Most peaks are suitable for first time visitors to the alps.
Intro Alpinism Dome de Mirage
Venues : It’s best to discuss options directly with us to choose the venue that suits your ability, aspirations and conditions. The conditions on the Voir Normal routes across the Alps varies tremendously depending on seasonal changes in the weather, snow pack and temperature. Popular places to head to:
Saas Fee area in the Valais Alps. Peaks Allalainhorn, Weissmies, Lagginhorn, Stralhorn, Alphubel, Rimphishorn, Lenzspitze, Nadelhorn, Stecknadelhorn. Zermatt Peaks: Breithorns, Castor, Pollux, Dom, Monta Rosa chain. Oberland Giants: Aletchhorn, Monk,Jungrau, Finsterrahorn, Gross Grunhorn. Bernina.Grand Paradiso.
Ultimately the venue and peaks are always up to the yourselves to choose but Twid will suggest a variety of options. Always have a plan B for any bad weather. Its easy to out manouver bad weather in the Alps but it might mean a 2 hour drive which is always worth it on a short holiday.
The Programme: All trips have tailored the programmes. Matching weather windows and aspirations. Its important to be able to handle a rope and move in crampons prior to heading up onto more difficult ground at altitude. Its advisable to practise these skills first on more moderate terrain first. Generally lower glaciers and peaks are used as training and acclimatisation during the first couple of days. Most venues allow for a 4000m peak to be climbed each day after the training trip.
Sample 6 Programme: A suitable trip for a first time climbing holiday in the Alps.
Day 1: Meet at aranged meeting point (often Twid’s Chalet) for a full briefing, gear check, bag packing.
Day2: A day on the Moiry glacier running through skills. Moving on ice, roping up for glacial travel, crevasse rescue, ice cutting, ice climbing, route choice. Climb to the Moiry Hut.
Day3: Climb to either Pigne de La or Pointe de Mortie.3700m. Skills ridge climbing, avoiding crevasses.Aclimatisation training.
Day3: Climb the Allalainhorn 4000m above Saas Fee, a steady glacial climb around some big crevasses. 2 to 4 hrs ascent. stay in the Hosas hut.
Day4: Ascend the Weissmeis 4000m. Glacial journey to a snow ridge which leads to a spectacular summit. Return to the Hosas hut 3000m.
Day5: Traverse or take the Voir Normal to the summit of the Lagginhorn 4000m. Return to valley.
Day6: Travel to Zermatt to make an ascent of the western 2 summits of the Brithorn. 4000m. Return to valley base.
Day7: Return home.
Contact to make booking: Please contact us to organise a personalised trip. Groups of clients can be organised on open courses.
Email: twidturner@aol.com mobile 0041 79958 84 12
