Climb
Looking to climb your first 4000m peak? Explore wild alpine ridges far from the crowds? Summit the Matterhorn? Or perhaps reach the top of Europe and the summit of Mont Blanc? The Alps are home to a lifetime’s worth of climbing adventures.
Classic Alpinism
Home to 82 summits over 4000m and iconic peaks such as Mont Blanc, the Matterhorn and the Eiger, the Alps are justifiably regarded as the alpine climbing capital of the world. Whether you are just starting out or looking to develop on prior experience and find a new adventure, these are summits and challenges for all.
Having personally climbed over 300 different alpine routes across the Alps, I have intimate knowledge of route options and summits for climbers of all abilities and ambition. Get in touch and I will be happy to design a tailor-made trip that can turn your dream into reality.
Examples of classic itineraries include:
An ascent of Mont Blanc, having first acclimatised and honed technical skills on Gran Paradiso, Italy’s highest summit
An ascent of the Matterhorn via the classic Hörnli Ridge or the Eiger via the Mittellegi Ridge, having warmed up and acclimatised on Chamonix classics such as the Cosmiques Arête, Aiguille d’Entrèves and the Dent du Géant
Hone your mountaineering skills and climb numerous summits along the way with a visit to the Swiss Valais and ascents of classic 4000m peaks such as the Weissmiess, Lagginhorn and Nadelhorn
Technical Alpinism
There are few things as enjoyable as smoothly navigating a complex alpine ridge at sunrise to a wild summit with no-one else around. Once you’ve got some technical skills and a few alpine summits under your belt, the range of options available in the Alps are limitless.
Examples of possible itineraries include:
Iconic Swiss ridges - climb routes like the the north ridge of the Weisshorn, a long and wild outing to one of the highest peaks in the Alps, or the Nadelgrat, a long and technical ridge outing that takes in 4 different 4000 peaks in the Swiss Valais
Classic north faces - climb classic snow and ice routes such as the north faces of the Tour Ronde, Lenzspitze and Gran Paradiso
The Rochefort-Jorasses traverse - seven 4ooom summits in one amazing ridge traverse, including the summit of the legendary Grandes Jorasses
The Arête du Diable - traverse the Arête du Diable, a challenging and technical high-altitude ridge that takes you to the summit of Mont Blanc du Tacul and climbs five 4000m peaks along the way
Alpine Rock
The Mont Blanc Massif is home to some of the finest rock in the Alps and is famous for its exceptional granite rock climbing. Perfect cracks and testing slabs are the name of the game on these high granite peaks. However, there is also excellent rock climbing to be found in the neighbouring Aiguilles Rouges on lovely incut holds whilst the nearby Aravis mountain range has many brilliant multi-pitch rock climbs. Whatever you’re level, there is superb alpine rock to be enjoyed.
Examples of possible itineraries include:
Chamonix classics – climb iconic rock routes such as Rébuffat on the south face of the Aiguille du Midi, the Contamine on Pointe Lachenal and Frison-Roche on the Brévent, before tackling a full ‘grande course’ on a peak such as Aiguille de la Republique or the Aiguille du Grépon
Three passes – head to Switzerland and climb in the amazing three passes area around Grimsel, Furka and Susten. Home to a lifetime of amazing alpine rock climbing, including classics such as the South Ridge of the Salbitschijen and the aptly named Conquest of Paradise on the Hannibal
Alpine Ice & Mixed
There is perhaps nowhere in the Alps with a greater concentration of high-quality alpine ice and mixed climbing than the Mont Blanc Massif. Whether it’s the Argentière basin and its vast north faces or the many exceptional goulotte climbs on Mont Blanc du Tacul, there are no shortage of ice and mixed climbs for climbers of all abilities.
Alpine ice and mixed climbing is generally best in the winter months and early spring (from January to mid-April). At this time of year, you can climb classic ice and mixed routes such as as M6 Solar and Pelissier Gully on Pointe Lachenal and the Chéré Couloir on Mont Blanc du Tacul, or take on one of the long classics of the Mont Blanc Massif, such as the Gabarrou-Albinoni or Modica-Noury on Mont Blanc du Tacul.
Waterfall Ice
Each autumn, the waterfalls that run freely during the summer start to freeze, producing fantastic frozen ice formations that provide us with ice climbing routes in winter. There are a multitude of venues across the Alps that have reliable waterfall ice climbing all winter long with routes to suit all ability levels. These include the likes of of Cogne in Italy, where amazing ice routes go hand-in-hand with quality coffee and warm Italian hospitality, Kandersteg in Switzerland, home to many of the most famous ice routes in the Alps, and La Grave in France, a wild and steep-sided valley littered with excellent ice climbs.
