Getting started with high-altitude touring | Introductory course with practical tour Clariden

• Course content and procedure

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

    Approximately 9 a.m. Urnerboden, Fisetengrat cable car car park

    We meet in Linthal to arrange carpooling or directly at Urner Boden. After a brief welcome by the mountain guide, we start the first day of training together.

  • Day 1 - Approach to the hut and training

    We start off gently and take the cable car up to the Fisetengrat ridge, then hike to the idyllically situated Clariden Hut. We begin the course by explaining the exact procedure and going through the course content. On the first day, we will learn the basics of high-altitude touring near the hut. Around the hut, we will find perfect rocks for practising rope techniques.

    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 finish the course together back in the valley.

• 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 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

  • 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: Clariden taster tour