Alpine touring experience on the Bishorn - experience rock and glacier in a practical way and learn the skills of alpine touring!
Bishorn, Valais
This course offers the ideal introduction to the fascinating mountain world of the 4000 metre peaks - with a focus on the Bishorn and the surrounding glacier and rock landscapes. Over four days, you will learn the practical aspects of mountaineering: from tour planning and walking with crampons to travelling safely on rock and ice. With a modern, empathetic training style, we accompany you step by step into the alpine craft. After a cosy arrival, we spend the first night in the Turtmannhütte. There we start with the basics: rock technique, roping up, belaying and rope handling. On the second day, we head across an impressive glacier to the Cabane de Tracuit - an ideal opportunity to learn and practise walking with crampons. We spend the next two nights in the beautifully situated Tracuit hut. From here we climb the Bishorn - a perfect practice tour to put what we have learnt into practice. On the last day there is still time to repeat techniques and round off the course with the descent to Zinal.
We’ll meet at Turtmann railway station and then walk to the Turtmann valley station (18 mins). If you’re travelling by car, it’s best to park in Sierre or at Turtmann railway station.
After a leisurely approach to the hut, we have the best training opportunities around the hut.
Rock training part 1
We learn basic roping and belaying techniques, the most important knots and short ropes over boulders (levels 1 and 2). If there is enough time left, we climb in the climbing garden.
Materials and equipment
Theory Meteo (evening)
After our first night in the hut, we set off for the next stage destination: the Tracuit hut (3256 m). The approach is via the Adlerflüe, a short via ferrata and rocky terrain.
Application tour and rock training part 2
Above the Adlerflüe, we reach the glacier area between the Turtmann Glacier and the Tracuit Hut - an ideal place for the basics of ice training:
Walking with ice axe and crampons
Crampon techniques
Pimple brake
Roping up on the glacier
In the evening, we plan a tour together for the ascent of the Bishorn the next morning.
Reflection and tour planning (evening)
We get up early today. Our destination is the Bishorn (4153 m), a perfect training summit with magnificent views and ideal glacier access.
On the way, we will cover what we have learnt so far.
At the summit, we are rewarded with an impressive panorama with views of the Weisshorn, Zinalrothorn, Dent Blanche and as far as Mont Blanc. The descent offers further opportunities to practise and consolidate what you have learnt.
On the last day of our tour training, the Repetition and consolidation of the ice technique in focus - especially the Basics of crevasse rescue with pulley block.
Crevice rescue
We then descend into the valley via the hut path. We arrive in Zinal with a rucksack full of experience, new knowledge and hopefully lasting impressions of an intensive high-altitude tour.
We finish the course together with new knowledge and skills.
Bergschaft tours and courses are conducted in German as standard. However, our mountain guides speak good English, as do many of the participants. If you speak English, you are of course very welcome. Depending on the tour, it may be worth asking us in advance whether the guide and the group are comfortable speaking English.
We currently have no public dates advertised. You are welcome to Contact us with your preferred date and we'll take a look together! You can also always book this tour as a Private Tour book.
As Private Tour on your desired date with your group:
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