Ridge climbing in alpine terrain | Rock course with application tours

• Procedure and meeting place

  • Day 1 - Welcome and getting to know each other

    approx. 09:00 a.m.

    We get to know each other and clarify your expectations.

  • Day 1 - Learn and apply

    6 hours

    We start the course and explain the exact procedure and go into detail about the course content. On the first day, we will learn a lot of new things and take the time to deliberately repeat the topics several times to create confidence.

    Daily destinationYou have learnt the basics of climbing on alpine ridges and gained your first experience of using a short rope.

    Course content:

    Rock training

    • The most important knots
    • Roping techniques and belaying
    • Rope shortening
    • Short rope

    Theory Meteo (evening)

    • Which apps and tools do we use
  • Day 2 - Learn and apply

    200-400 metres altitude

    6 hours

    We apply what we have learnt and add new things, always with a practical focus, to strengthen the learning process.

    Daily destination: You will gain further experience in the various subject areas and become more confident on alpine ridges.

    Course content: 

    Repeat what you have learnt

    • Rock training
    • Material and equipment

    Short rope in the application

    • Level 1 - Walking together on the short rope
    • Stage 2 - Over short difficult sections
    • Level 3 - Micro rope lengths
    • Level 4 - Climbing together on a stretched rope
    • Level 5 - Secure entire rope lengths

    Stands

    • Single fixed point - serrated sling
    • Two bolts
    • Extended stand

    Abseiling

    • Abseiling

    Tour planning

    • • 3×3 tour planning
      • Avalanche bulletin
      • Avalanche awareness
      • Meteo
      • Risk check
  • Day 2 Evening

    After an intensive day of training and application, we take a break and enjoy a get-together before dinner. We use the time after dinner to immerse ourselves once again in tour planning and to explore different methods of risk management in greater depth. We plan the tour for the next day together.

  • Day 3 - Apply and consolidate

    400-600

    6 hours

    During an application tour, we repeat what we learnt the day before and learn something new.

    Daily destination: You can apply and consolidate what you have learnt and gain more confidence.

    Course content: 

    Repeat what you have learnt

    • Short rope
    • Stands
    • Abseiling

    Application tour

    • Individual feedback
    • Discussion of decision points

    Reflection

    • Expectations and feedback
    • Where do we stand - what is still missing?
  • Conclusion

    approx. 15.00 hrs

    We complete the course and tackle the hut descent together.

• Venues

  Venue Säntis - Tierwies

  Meeting point 09:15 Säntis valley station - directly after arrival of public transport
  Ride up with the cable car and rock training in the area around the Tierwieshütte. Approach approx. 1h.

  Location Jura
  Meeting point 08:30 Solothurn railway station.
  Afterwards we drive in carpools to the climbing areas.

  Possible training ridges could be:
  Noble burr
  Owl ridge
  Balmflue south ridge

  We spend the night in a nice hotel just outside Solothurn.

• Requirements

  • You can move around in pathless terrain.
  • First experience with belaying and climbing from the hall.
  • Condition for short climbing tours with a comfortable ascent and descent.

• Price and services

  • CHF 890.-
  • Small group with 4 - 6 guests per mountain guide.
  • Including planning and realisation with mountain guide and his travel expenses.
  • Including accommodation costs with half board.
  • Excluding travel expenses, possible train tickets, personal consumption.

• Material and equipment

  • For this tour you need the following material from this PDF.

Impressions: Ridge Climbing Course