Introduction to alpine touring | Taster course with application tour Saas Fee

• Course content and meeting point

  • Meeting place

    09:05, Saas Fee Bus Terminal

    We’ll meet at the bus terminal in Saas Fee. After a brief welcome from the mountain guide, we’ll head to the cable car, which will take us up the mountain.

  • Day 1 - Hut access and training day

    We’ll kick off the course by explaining the exact programme and going over the course content. On the first day, we’ll learn the basics of high-altitude mountaineering out in the terrain on the way to the Britannia Hut and in the vicinity of the hut.

    Daily destination: You will learn the basics of mountaineering and gain your first experience. You will acquire knowledge of techniques that will give you confidence on tour.

    Course content: 

    • Climbing with mountain boots and crampons
    • Handling crampons and ice axe
    • Pimple brake
    • Abseiling

    Materials and equipment

    • Ropes
    • Carabiner
    • Crampons
  • Day 2 - Learning and applying

    On our practical excursion across the Allaling Glacier to a lovely little peak, we’ll practise what we learnt the day before and pick up some new skills.

    Daily destination: You build on what you have learnt and become more confident in its application. You will gain a clear impression of what alpine tours are and what you need for alpine touring.

    Course content: 

    • Behaviour on the glacier
    • Walking with ice axe and crampons on the glacier
    • Rope types
    • Summit happiness
  • Conclusion

    around 3 pm, Felskinn Cable Car valley station

    We finish the course together at the valley station of the Felskinn cable car in Saas Fee.

• Requirements

  • No special prior knowledge is required.
  • Experience in hiking and walking in pathless terrain is an advantage.
  • Stamina for alpine tours with around 800 metres ascent and descent at a leisurely pace (~300m/h)

• Price and services

  • CHF 575.-
  • Small group with 4 - 6 guests per mountain guide.
  • Including planning and realisation with mountain guide and his travel expenses.
  • Including overnight stay in a hut with half board
  • Excluding travel expenses, possible train tickets, personal consumption.

• Material and equipment

  • For this tour you need the material from this PDF. We carry our equipment with us all the time. Pack only what is necessary.
  • General material and packing tips we have also put together for you.

Highlights: Introductory course in Saas-Fee: high-altitude mountaineering