mountaineering course

Course Description

The goal is to provide you with knowledge and skills that will give you safety and independence on your upcoming private summer mountaineering tours. This three-day course allows you to close any individual gaps in your training and opens the door to independent mountain tours.

• Tour planning
• Reading maps
• Rope handling
• Knot skills
• Belaying techniques
• Rappelling
• Anchoring in rock and ice
• Rock climbing in mountaineering boots
• Using ice axes and crampons

Offer (per person)
Beginner’s “Mountaineering” Course 3 days: CHF 580-595
Excluding accommodation, including half-board at SAC huts: approx. CHF 80/night

Depending on the date, the camp will take place at various huts. See the dates.

• Spannorhütte, Surenental, Engelberg
• Grassenbiwak, Engelberg
• Sewenhütte, Meiental, Uri
• Sustlihütte, Meiental, Uri
• Kröntenhütte, Uri
• Tierberglihütte
• Weismiesshütte, Wallis

The program is quite similar across the different huts, only the summit and application tours change. Were you already in a camp last year? Then sign up again this year at a different hut and benefit anew!

Requirements:

Ideally, we will divide into two small groups:

• The first group should have some experience in climbing and/or mountaineering. The course will build upon this experience and provide coaching.
• The second group is suitable for mountaineering beginners. The main requirements are good fitness and sure-footedness while hiking.

Detailed Program

All my courses are designed to be highly practical. If you’re looking to memorize complex rescue maneuvers, this is not the place. If you just want to go into the mountains with ease and confidence, this is exactly right!

On a mountaineering tour, you will encounter various terrains, be it rock, glacier, or snow. You should be prepared to handle every situation. The first two days focus on rock and glacier/snow. On the third day, we will apply what we’ve learned in a practical tour.

Depending on the weather, we may need to adjust the program.

Day 1 – Rock

After approaching a suitable area (near a SAC hut), we will do training on rock. Whether you’re already climbing or “just” hiking, there is something for everyone.

• Climbing techniques
• Knot skills
• Belaying techniques
• Rope handling
• Rappelling
• Building anchor points

Day 2 – Glacier/Snow

On mountaineering tours, you often find yourself on glaciers. This is a breathtaking landscape, but there are some important things to consider to avoid making mistakes.

• Roping up on glaciers
• Anchoring in snow and ice
• Handling ice axes and crampons
• Small application tour
• “If something goes wrong”, crevasse rescue, pulley systems, self-rescue, etc.

In the evening, we’ll have a short theoretical session over a beer (or something similar).

• Tour planning
• Map reading

Day 3 – Application Tour

On this day, we will apply everything we have learned and summit a peak together. You will be out in rope teams, and you will benefit from tips and tricks directly in the field. The focus will not be on summiting a challenging peak, but rather on independent thinking and action.

Possible summit goals: (depending on hut/date)

• Gross Spannort
• Krönten (various routes possible)
• Sustenhorn
• Gwächtenhorn
• Vorder Tierberg
• Grassen
• Trotzigplangstock
• Bächenstock
• Etc.

Dates & Locations

Impressions
Ladies Only Mountaineering Camp
30 Photos

General

• Medium-sized backpack (35-40 liters)
• Sturdy, waterproof mountain boots (crampon-compatible)
• Headlamp
• Pocket knife
• Half-fare card
• SAC, DAV membership card (if a member)
• Possible personal medications
• First aid kit

Technical Equipment for Mountaineering

• Ice axe
• Crampons with anti-balling plates
• Climbing harness
• 5 HMS carabiners
• ATC (rappel device)
• 2x 120cm slings
• Prusik (for rappelling)
• 6mm rope (4-5m)
• Helmet (bike helmet is fine)
• If available, quickdraws, slings, 50m single rope, ice screws

Clothing

• Long, weatherproof pants
• Weatherproof jacket
• Hat/headband
• Thin gloves
• Spare gloves
• Thermal underwear (if cold weather is expected)
• Optional rain pants (if cold, wet weather is expected)
• Socks (1x spare)
• Spare clothes for the hut

Miscellaneous

• Sunglasses
• Thermos bottle / water bottle
• Light daily snacks
• Toiletries
• Silk inner sleeping bag

Optional

• Camera, films, maps, reading material

Food

Bring only a small amount of snack food. Additional provisions can be obtained at the hut.

Keep it minimal. The lighter your backpack, the more fun you’ll have!