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CLIMBING IN CHAMONIX
At the heart of Chamonix’s mountains are a stunning lineup of towers and spires home to some of the most iconic and adored routes in the world. The Mont Blanc Massif is literally a climber's playground. With a huge amount of stone of many types, the area has something for everybody. The heart of the range is composed of impeccable golden granite, and with an incredible network of trains, lifts, huts and trails, it's all easy to get to as well. Chamonix granite comes in all shapes of sizes too, yielding routes ranging from moderate ridges and rock climbs to massive faces and endless splitter cracks. Many of these are reached via short glacier crossings, bringing a unique set of alpine skills to bear.
Below the glaciers, Chamonix also offers a host of options with no snow at all. Those include sunny bolted and traditionally-protected routes, epic ridge traverses and scrambles, and single and multi-pitch climbs on a variety of rock types including gneiss, granite and limestone.
We’ll move between skills sessions and climbing routes of all sizes with the goal of making you an efficient, competent and confident alpine rock climber. Each day we’ll make sure you’re paired with climbers and climbs that match your ability so you don’t have to worry about being held back or pushed too far. Our expert guides are all internationally certified with the IFMGA badge, “the PhD of mountain climbing.” The best in the business, they’ll help you through the training and skills you need both on the ground and on route.
Our low ratios are also what make this program unique. The entire week we'll be in groups of two climbers per guide to maximize your learning and fun and give you the best experience of these incredible mountains.
FOOD & ACCOMMODATIONS
One of the best parts of climbing in the Alps - especially for American climbers used to long slogs, heavy packs and sleeping in tents - is that you get to combine a climbing trip with a European vacation. Sure the mountains are the best in the world, but you’re also in France, which means the food, hotels and mountain huts are superb as well.
In addition to being located in one of the great mountain ranges of the world, Chamonix is also one of the planet’s great mountain towns. With everything from nightlife to wine bars, fondue joints and fine dining, Chamonix has it all. It also hosts some of the most gorgeous chalets and hotels in the Alps, and we’ll be based out of the hip and centrally-located Hotel Pointe Isabelle. Just a few minutes walk from everything in town, it’s a perfect home base for any adventure.
In addition to our lovely hotel, we’ll also spend a night in one of our favorite mountain huts. Situated on the south side of the Vallée Blanche peering into the Italian side of the range, the Torino Hut comes complete with comfy beds, delicious food, and incredible views.
We like to try hard, but we also like to relax and live well, so we’ve hand-picked our favorite hotels, restaurants, bakeries and snacks to give you a taste of it all.
The Schedule
Day 1: Welcome to Chamonix!
You get yourself to the airport in Geneva and we’ll arrange your transport to Chamonix. The drive is beautiful and just a little over an hour as you leave the green hills of Switzerland behind for the craggy peaks of the Chamonix Valley. We don’t like to make anybody do too much after a long day of travel, so you’ll be on your own to explore and shake off the jetlag, and your only job will be to find something tasty for dinner and to try to get some sleep.
Day 2: School of Rock
We’ll officially start the trip with breakfast at the hotel before getting our gear together and heading out for the day. We’ll start our training with rock climbing on one of the many fantastic crags around Chamonix, most likely at the top of the Brévent lift. For those interested in leading throughout the week we'll conduct some brief belay tests, and we’ll practice with the rope systems we’ll be using in the mountains. We’ll work on techniques for multi-pitch climbing, belaying, and rappelling, and for folks with multi-pitch experience experience already, you’ll have the opportunity to learn a few new tricks and just enjoy some climbing. After a full day, we’ll head back to town for a welcome dinner and another night at the Pointe Isabelle.
Day 3: Snow School
After another breakfast, we’ll make sure everyone has everything they need and go over the basics of equipment and packing before heading up the famous Aiguille du Midi cable car. The lift will take us up 9300' to the top to the Valée Blanche, which we'll cross with another panoramic lift ride to the Italian side of the range. From there we’ll drop our overnight gear off at the Torino Hut and head out onto the glacier. We'll spend the day covering the basics of snow climbing with crampons and ice axes before moving on to glacier travel and crevasse rescue. We’ll show you how to manage a rope for moving up and down glaciers, and we’ll spend the afternoon working on crevasse rescue, covering essential techniques for getting a fallen climber out of a bind. After that we’ll head back for a night at the hut, which comes equipped with beds in shared rooms, and serves simple but hearty dinners and breakfasts. They also have beer, wine, soft drinks, and snacks, and will provide sandwiches and other lunch foods on request.
Day 4: Climbing Day #1
This will be the culmination of everything you’ve learned so far as we’ll start the day with breakfast in the hut before heading out in small teams to climb for the day. There are hundreds of classic climbs just a short walk away, and all of them will use our new glacier travel skills to get us to some perfect rock. What exactly we climb will depend on weather and conditions, but whatever we choose, we’ll be aiming for some of the most iconic climbs of the range, like a traverse of the Aiguilles d’Entrèves, the East Face of the Pyramide du Tacul, or routes on the Tour Ronde, Pointe Adolphe Rey, Pointe Lachenal, or even the Dent du Geant or Grand Capucin. At of the day we'll get back to the hut and ride the lift back down to Chamonix.
Day 5: Climbing Day #2
Once again, we'll start with breakfast at the hotel before heading out to climb. With only one other climber and a guide, you'll be free to focus on routes that suit your style and ability, and that can be anything from another big granite route to a fun traverse or a bolted multi-pitch on the other side of the valley. These days are just meant to be fun, so the world is your oyster. For those interested in working on skills, you'll have one of the absolute best guides in the business at your disposal, and we dare you not to have a good time. We’ll once again finish the day in Chamonix where you'll be free to explore town for the evening.
Day 6: Climbing Day #3
You'll once again have the day climb whatever you want. Some of our favorites include the Voie Contamine on the Pointe Lachenal, the Rebuffat on the south face of the Aiguille du Midi, the Arête des Papillons and the Voie Normale on the Aiguille du Peigne, Nabot Leon on the Blatiere, a traverse of the Aiguilles Crochues and the Frison-Roche on the Brevent. That route, for example, involves riding a lift up into the sunshine and hiking downhill for about 15 minutes before climbing a 7-pitch sport route back up to the lift station where you can grab a beer before riding back down to town. If you haven't gotten the idea yet, you'll just have to trust us on that whole Chamonix is a playground thing. Whatever you do, you'll once again have the evening to yourself.
Day 7: Climbing Day #4
This will be your last day to climb in paradise, so we’ll break into small teams once again to tackle one more of the climbs that make Chamonix famous. Whether you decide to go big and crank hard or get something delicious at the bakery (or both) is up to you. Either way, we'll finish up with a farewell dinner party at a local favorite, the Bighorn Bistro.
Day 8: Heading Home
Unfortunately all good things must come to an end, and you’ll have to go home. A short journey from hotel to airport should have you on your way. Of course we recommend staying a few more days to climb or relax, but that one’s up to you.
MEET YOUR GUIDES
Giulia Monego
Giulia Monego
Giulia Monego
IFMGA Mountain Guide / Superwoman
A local through and through and our expert in all things Italian, Giulia was born in Venice and fell in love with the mountains sliding on snow in the Dolomites. She grew up as a ski racer, then switched to competing on the Freeride World tour, and is one of only a handful of women to complete the IFMGA
IFMGA Mountain Guide / Superwoman
A local through and through and our expert in all things Italian, Giulia was born in Venice and fell in love with the mountains sliding on snow in the Dolomites. She grew up as a ski racer, then switched to competing on the Freeride World tour, and is one of only a handful of women to complete the IFMGA certification in Italy. Giulia lives in Chamonix, France and works, skis and climbs full time. These days she even loves warm rock almost as much as cold snow, and can’t wait to bring her local knowledge to our programs in her old stomping ground.
Chris Wright
Giulia Monego
Giulia Monego
IFMGA/AMGA Mountain Guide / AMGA Certified Rock Guide
Now!Climbing’s founder and lead guide, Chris has climbed, skied and eaten his way across the globe. Winner of the “Gold Medal of Alpinism,” the Piolet d’Or for the first ascent of 7041m Link Sar in Pakistan, he’s as excited about his next cappuccino as he is about his next big climb. I
IFMGA/AMGA Mountain Guide / AMGA Certified Rock Guide
Now!Climbing’s founder and lead guide, Chris has climbed, skied and eaten his way across the globe. Winner of the “Gold Medal of Alpinism,” the Piolet d’Or for the first ascent of 7041m Link Sar in Pakistan, he’s as excited about his next cappuccino as he is about his next big climb. In addition to being an instructor for the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA), Chris has spent his summer seasons working, climbing, playing and eating in the Alps since 2014.
Erin Smart
Erica Engle
Erica Engle
IFMGA/AMGA Mountain Guide / AMGA Certified Rock Guide
Originally from Seattle, Erin grew up skiing and climbing in the Cascades of Washington State and has since traveled and worked in mountain ranges around the world including Norway, Alaska, Himalaya, and the Alps. She has Erin has pioneered first ski descents across the globe, has been
IFMGA/AMGA Mountain Guide / AMGA Certified Rock Guide
Originally from Seattle, Erin grew up skiing and climbing in the Cascades of Washington State and has since traveled and worked in mountain ranges around the world including Norway, Alaska, Himalaya, and the Alps. She has Erin has pioneered first ski descents across the globe, has been mountain guiding since 2010, and lives in La Grave, France. In addition to working year round in the mountains, she is also a freelance writer and has been published in outdoor magazines from Backcountry to Alpinist.
Erica Engle
Erica Engle
Erica Engle
IFMGA/AMGA Mountain Guide / AMGA Certified Rock Guide
Erica was raised in the Pacific Northwest and lives in Twisp, Washington. She learned to climb and ski in the Cascades, and has since guided ski, rock and alpine objectives throughout the world. She is an instructor for the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA), and enjoys shar
IFMGA/AMGA Mountain Guide / AMGA Certified Rock Guide
Erica was raised in the Pacific Northwest and lives in Twisp, Washington. She learned to climb and ski in the Cascades, and has since guided ski, rock and alpine objectives throughout the world. She is an instructor for the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA), and enjoys sharing mountain experiences with her students and guests by engaging their sense of adventure and a love of exploration.
