You are an experienced hiker or a beginner alpinist who has already ventured off-trail, on rugged, rocky, snowy paths at high altitude.

Do you dream of standing on alpine summits like the normal route of Mont Blanc, while learning glacier walking and alpine techniques before being guided on your very first 4000 m peak?

This high mountain alpine techniques clinic aims to train or improve participants’ skills to move safely and efficiently in alpine terrain. Its content is structured around the following topics:

Terrain Progression Techniques

Snow and ice progression
Ice axe use (anchoring, support, traction)
Crampon techniques (front-point, mixed, flat-foot)
Roped progression
Rope spacing and management
Short rope and tensioned rope walking
Belaying and safety techniques

Essential knots (figure-eight, overhand, half-hitch, friction knots)
Moving belays
Fall management and arrest (self-arrest with ice axe)
Crevasse rescue (simple hauling)

Learning Objectives

By the end of the clinic, participants should be able to:

Move safely on beginner alpine routes
Make informed decisions based on conditions
React effectively in case of an incident

Ice climbing experience (an asset)
Ability to belay on top-rope
Good physical condition

Schedule

7:30 a.m.: Meet at parking lot P1 (Festiglace reception area) – you will be greeted by the volunteer assigned to your clinic, who will guide the group down into the canyon to pick up your equipment from our partners.

8:00 a.m.: Meet your guide at the reception area in the exhibitors’ village (down in the canyon).

Please be on time so that the group can pick up the equipment and get the most out of the clinic.

Equipment to bring:

Required or borrowable:

– Harness, helmet, alpine ice axe, mountaineering crampons, ATC, 2 carabiners, 120 cm nylon or dyneema sling, 19 cm ice screw
– Warm clothing, Gore-Tex, several pairs of gloves, thermos, snacks or lunch, insulated jacket, base layers, hot pad

If you don’t have your own equipment or want to try different brands, you can visit our partners’ booths:

Our partners will be happy to loan the following starting at 7:30 a.m. in the Exhibitor Village:

Mammut: boots, helmets, harnesses, complete avalanche kit (DVA, shovel, probe)
Petzl: ice axes, crampons, helmets, harnesses
CAMP: alpine crampons, ice axes
La Sportiva: boots
Black Diamond: crampons, helmets, harnesses, complete avalanche kit (DVA, shovel, probe)

$135 per person

Corentin Gonzalez, 29, is a young high mountain guide in France. Based in Chamonix and originally from Chablais, he has been guiding in the Alps for 4 years with a varied international clientele.

He has been in contact with mountains and high alpine terrain since childhood. He first worked as an instructor at the French Alpine Club before passing the entrance exam to become a High Mountain Guide, with a special focus on ice climbing and winter mixed ascents. He enjoys sharing his knowledge with an emphasis on teaching, personal growth, and mastery of his practice.