Let's learn mountaineering right in the Alps!
LAST AVAILABLE SPOT!
Would you like to go to the mountains, but lack the knowledge?
Here is the solution for you. Come to a 7-day training in the Swiss Alps, which focuses on learning technical skills in a real mountain environment. The goal of this trip is not to climb famous peaks, but to master mountaineering techniques in the high Alps. During the day we go to the mountains and at night we stay in a tent. In the evenings we learn theory at the campsite, which we try out in practice the next day near the snow line (of course in controlled and safe conditions). We visit glaciers, via ferrata, trails as well as rock routes. A good way to combine vacation, mountain hiking, and acquiring and practicing useful knowledge.
The training takes place in the beautiful Saas Valley in Switzerland, a popular ski area in winter and a favorite destination for mountaineers in summer. The Saas Valley has trails leading to the summits of several technical and less technical mountains. The area is also well-equipped with gondolas to get you up to the top for convenient training.
During the training, we will learn and practice, among other things, how to move on a glacier and rescue from a crevasse, as well as building stations, belaying on a rock route, and descending on a support and double rope. We will also get an idea of how to rock climb with a backpack and mountain boots. Exciting, right?
The mountaineering camp is intended for everyone who feels like their heart is calling them to the mountains, but doesn't know where to start acquiring the necessary skills. No previous climbing or ropework skills are required to come to the camp. However, acquiring the material will go more smoothly if you have already studied a few things at home. There is also the opportunity to participate in an introductory study day in Estonian nature before the trip. The camp is also suitable for those who have already acquired some knowledge of mountaineering, but who don't feel confident enough to start climbing in the mountains on their own. In any case, you will gain good experiences from the camp!
But what kind of mountaineering camp is this if we don't go to any peaks?
Yes, let's go to the summits. During the trip, we will still climb several 3000+ meter peaks during training, and we will also try to exceed the 4000 m mark during glacier training. In addition, we will keep an eye on the weather and snow conditions and climb at least one 4000+ m peak during the trip. The more detailed plans all depend on the participants - how much motivation they have, how physically fit they are, and how effectively they will absorb what they have learned.
Overview - short & sweet
Objective: Learning mountaineering skills in the Swiss Alps
Dates: 09.-17.07.2023
Activity: mountain climbing, mountain hiking
Adventure guide: Kaarel Kuslap, assistant guide Kelli Kuslap
Technical difficulty level: 2/5 (suitable for beginners)
Physical difficulty: 2/5 (lighter physical exertion)
Group size: 12 (including 2 locomotives)
Early bird ticket (until 19.04.2023) — €795
Less dizzy chicken (from 20.04.2023) — 895€
Please note: For community members discount of -5% applies
(I.e. If the training is canceled due to circumstances caused by the pandemic, we will refund the advance payment in full!
Cost of training
Price includes
Training fee (training is conducted by 2 experienced Elamus+ locomotive)
Stylish sports shirt with a special design
Ropes and other climbing equipment for groups
Glacier education training material in paper form
Overnight stay in a tent camp throughout the trip
Gondolas and local transport
Good/bad weather
Photographic material
Group pharmacy
Certificate proving completion of training
Price does not include
Transportation to and from the training venue (airfare ~350€ + train tickets ~100€)
Food (price according to everyone's taste preferences)
Insurance (travel insurance and MANDATORY sports insurance suitable for mountain hiking)
Personal hygiene products and medications
Personal hiking and climbing equipment (can also be rented if needed) Elamus Pluss)
Personal hygiene products and medications
Tents and cooking equipment at the campsite (we will fold the tent up)
Unscheduled excursions, transportation, etc. (or if you want to do something extra)
Registration for training
Before registering, please read travel conditions. To secure your place on the trip, a deposit (20%) must be paid within 3 business days of receiving the confirmation and invoice by email; if there are less than 30 days left until the trip, the total cost (100%) must be paid. Read more: frequently asked questions ja package tour information sheet.
Schedule
Day 1: Arrival
All participants must gather on Sunday, July 9, 2023 in Saas-Grund. Campingplatz am Kapellenweg to the campsite. There are four options for getting there:
Fly to Geneva, then take the train to Visp, from where you can take the bus to Saas-Grund.
Fly to Bern, then take the train to Brig, from where you can take the bus to Saas-Grund.
Fly to Milan, then take the train to Visp, from where you can take the bus to Saas-Grund.
Stack a car on top of the participants and take a road trip to Switzerland
Swiss trains are more expensive than Estonian ones, but you don't have to worry about catching the train. Trains run every 20-30 minutes. In addition, the train price includes unforgettable views of Europe's highest mountain range. The most convenient way to buy tickets is from a machine at the train stop.
The accommodation is a classic European campsite (camping area) with amenities, including toilets, washing facilities, Wi-Fi, electrical outlets in the common room wall, etc.
On the first evening, we will meet and set up a detailed schedule. We will also map the skills of the participants and, if necessary, create separate groups for advanced and beginners.
Days 2—4: Rock routes
We'll start by getting to know the rocky terrain. We'll review how natural belaying works on low-tech rock routes without using stations and anchor points. We'll learn about potential dangers on a scree slope.
We continue learning the stations and climbing from station to station in a double connection. We will try this via ferrata, on the track, where we use extra security via ferrata, sets. The goal is to learn to climb with a rope on a somewhat more technical route.
To reinforce the theme, we climb to the top of Jegihorn (3206 m) or Mittaghorn (3143 m).
Days 5—8: Glaciers
We will learn how to tie into a rope harness before going to the glacier. We will answer questions about what to do with the excess end of the rope? Why does the rope need to have enough free end? We will also discuss the dangers lurking on the glacier, how to choose the optimal route between crevasses, and how to avoid hidden crevasses. We will learn what to do if someone from the harness falls into a crevasse, and how to retrieve them.
Once the theory is learned “dryly”, we go to the glacier and test what we have learned in practice. New problems arise: the rope gets stuck under our feet, the cats get caught in the bootlaces of the other foot, the partners are too fast/slow, etc. This twisted dance with the rope takes a lot of getting used to.
On the snow, we can also try self-braking with a pickaxe, which is necessary if you stumble and start sliding down the slope. Again, practice on a real glacier is more important than theoretical knowledge here.
At the end of the trip, we will climb to the top of one of the 4000+ m mountains, the choice is: Allalinhorn (4027 m), Alphubel (4206 m) and Weissmies (4017 m). Our choice is based primarily on glacier conditions, based on which we can make a joint risk assessment of which summit route is most appropriate for our achieved skill level.
Day 9: Home
We will hand out certificates proving that you have completed the training and everyone can continue their journey back home. Or do you have to go home now that you have already reached the Alps? Why not take a few days now and put the skills you have learned into practice. If you are particularly enthusiastic, you can continue with the locomotives next week. Dufourspitze (4634m), which is the highest mountain in Switzerland and the second highest in the Alps (after Mont Blanc). You can learn more about this challenge here hereIf you register for these two trips at the same time, we offer a 5% discount on both trips.
NB! There may be minor (or major) changes to the schedule and planned activities — for example, due to weather and conditions or passenger requests.
Don't worry, let's do it!
My altitude record is Munamägi. Can I still do it?!
Of course! However, it is important that your body is used to regular exercise and that your muscles have seen dumbbells at least briefly before.
But I don't have any travel gear, who can afford to buy it?
You still have to spend a little money, but not much. Hiking and climbing equipment can be rented at a very reasonable price and, of course, borrowed from friends. In addition, you can use any kind of existing clothing — for example, a ski jacket is also very good for the mountain. The more resourceful can manage almost without additional expenses. If you still feel like you would like personal equipment, but you can't find exactly the right one in Estonia, there is an opportunity to get more specific equipment locally (in Saas-Grund) from the InterSport store.
I've heard that Switzerland must be terribly expensive?
Depending on what and where you buy, Switzerland can be very expensive. This opinion can actually be misleading. There is a Denner grocery store in Saas-Grund, which has surprisingly cheap prices (we have even bought cheap things from there when we went to Estonia by car). When shopping, you just have to make sure that you buy local goods. Switzerland has imposed such high taxes on imported goods that foreign goods are 3-4 times more expensive. However, eating in a restaurant is expensive. However, eating in a restaurant is expensive - the cost of dinner should be around 30-50€/person.
NB! In Switzerland, payments are made in Swiss francs (1 CHF = 1,03 €), but many businesses also accept euros. However, card payment options are quite widespread in the country. Before your trip, we will inform you in more detail whether and how much Swiss francs you should bring with you as a minimum in cash.
But can I make an Insta story from the top of the mountain?
When going to Switzerland, you have to consider that it is not a member state of the European Union and mobile data with an Estonian package is extremely expensive. To upload videos taken during the day, you just have to use the free WIFI at the campsites in the evening. If someone really needs to be constantly connected to the internet, then please note that local calling cards can only be purchased for Swiss francs, not euros.
Will I survive?
It's an extreme sport/hobby, but don't be too afraid. Of course, there are certain dangers in the mountains and you have to take that into account. The most important thing for the group leader is to ensure the safety of the participants - to do this, we learn and use correct mountaineering techniques and turn around if the weather gets too bad. The point is still to have an enjoyable experience and not let the mountain go away. ;)
Okay, I registered. Now what?
Well, theoretically you could just vanish into thin air and show up on a plane, but then you risk discovering “oops, I have the wrong cats and should I have brought a tent?” on the spot. That’s possible, but we highly recommend participating in preparatory events – it’s part of the fun. We organize preparatory hiking training, give advice on suitable insurance and equipment, where to rent cheaply, what to train for, etc. We will definitely review the equipment you have collected just before the start of the trip and send reminders about important things.
Read more also frequently asked questions.
Travel documents and footnotes
The participant is responsible for the validity and condition of their travel documents. For this trip you will need:
ID card/passport;
sports insurance suitable for mountain hiking (read more on the FAQ page). A suitable sports insurance policy must be carried and is a prerequisite for participating in the mountain hike;
travel insurance.
At least one month before the training, we will make a decision whether the trip is possible under Covid-19 conditions. If the trip is canceled due to circumstances caused by the pandemic that make the trip impossible (e.g. closing of national borders), we will refund the advance payment in full.
Plan your training early and start training for it. We will organize several trial trips, training sessions and recommend training plans beforehand. It would be a shame if you couldn't participate in the practical part just because of your physique. It's also a good opportunity to get in shape. ;)
Summits are not guaranteed. As you might expect, weather is king in the mountains. So it is entirely possible that weather or dangerous conditions will prevent us from even attempting the summit. Nevertheless, it will definitely be an awesome experience!
Although at the end of the day everyone is still responsible for their own actions and consequences, we do our best to mitigate the risks associated with mountaineering. As a result, the group leader has the right to make ongoing decisions about the competence of the participants, the suitability of their equipment, physical/mental capacity, etc. and, if necessary, for example, to prohibit participation on summit day if it endangers the health of the group or the participant themselves. Hopefully, of course, there will be no need for this.
Read also travel conditions.
