Introduction to mountaineering | taster course with application tour

• Course content and procedure

  • Day 1 - Course start Welcome and getting to know each other

    We get to know each other and clarify your expectations.

  • Day 1 - Approach to the hut and training

    We start with the course and explain the exact procedure and go into the course content. On the first day, we will get to know the basics of alpine touring near 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

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

    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

    approx. 15:00

    We complete the course together.

• Venues

  Clariden

  We start at a leisurely pace and take the cable car up to the Fisetengrat and hike to the idyllically situated Claridenhütte. The rocks around the hut are perfect for practising rope skills. On the second day, we head to the Clariden glacier and the summit of Gemsfairen. Here we practise using ice axes and crampons and enjoy the panorama of Tödi and co!

  • Area: Claridenhütte, Glarus
  • Meeting point: 9.16 a.m. in Linthal, onward journey in carpools or by Alpine taxi to Urnerboden
  • Conclusion: approx. 15.00 on the Urnerboden
  • Overnight stay: Claridenhütte

  Furka

  We start comfortably with a coffee at the Hotel Tiefenbach and walk from there to the Albert Heim hut. There are lovely scrambling opportunities around the hut to practise using ropes and moving around on the rock. On the second day we set off early to practise using ice axes and crampons on the glacier and to reach our first small summit. We climb to the upper Bielenlücke and enjoy the magnificent panorama of the Valais 4,000 metre peaks from there. The round tour takes us comfortably back to the Furka Pass road.

  • Area: Realp, Uri
  • Meeting point: 9.30 a.m. in Realp, onward journey in carpools or by Alpine taxi to the Furka Pass
  • Conclusion: approx. 15.00 in Realp
  • Overnight stay: Albert-Heim hut

  Susten

  We meet at the Steingletscher car park and bus stop and walk together to the Tierbergli hut. We already enter the glacier on the ascent. There are nice scrambling opportunities around the hut to practise rope handling and moving around on the rock. On the second day, we set off early to practise using ice axes and crampons on the glacier and to reach our first small summit. We climb the Vorderer Tierberg and enjoy the magnificent panorama of the Uri mountains from there.

  • Area: Susten Pass
  • Meeting point: 9.30 a.m. at the Steingletscher car park, arrival in car pools or by Alpine taxi.
  • Conclusion: approx. 15.00 at the same location
  • Overnight stay: Tierberglihütte

• Requirements

  • No previous experience is necessary.
  • 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 555.-
  • 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

  • We have for you a detailed packing list with packing tips compiled.
  • For this tour you need the following material from this PDF. We carry our equipment with us all the time. Pack only what is necessary.

Impressions: Taster high tour