Beginner's mountaineering course
with the Gran Paradiso Climb in Italy in 2 days and weekend!

The trip

Mountaineering Course for beginners, in Italy on easy summits!

These two days are perfect for discovering the high altitude world and for learning rope and climbing techniques before the ascent of the Gran Paradiso at 4061 meters.

The via ferrata will have introduced you to rope handling and to this mountain ambiance.

Two days at the heart of the Gran Paradiso National Park, to enjoy its wild nature and improve little by little on an accessible route.

Esprit Montagne also offers a beginner's mountaineering course in the Vanoise National Park (France): an easier mountaineering course if you want to start more gently, without exceeding the 4000 metre bar.

The Program

Programme of the beginner mountaineering course to Gran Paradiso:

Arrival 

Reminder : do not take the motorway at the exit of the Mont Blanc Tunnel otherwise you will lose 20 minutes and 20 euros.

Meeting with the Guide and the rest of the group at 9.00 am in Valsavarenche to start the day on a lovely Via Ferrata.

You will meet your mountain guide, who will give you the equipment for the via ferrata.
We will rent crampons and ice axe at the Chabod hut, which allows us to have a lighter backpack for those who do not have one.

DAY 1
VIA FERRATA IN VALSAVARENCHE - REFUGE CHABOD

We discover the amazing valley of Valsavarenche and its brand new Via Ferrata. You will learn how to use ropes and how to move on a Via Ferrata which will allow you to be at ease on the summit of Gran Paradisio the next day as the summit is accessible by a Via Ferrata at 4000 meters.

We eat at the summit and then quickly ans then reach the path for the Chabod refuge.

We follow a beautiful path in about two hours which allows us to arrive early enough at the refuge to get the crampons and ice axes, with your guide you will learn how to adjust your crampons so that the equipment is ready the next day.

We'll go to bed early tomorrow, your guide will give you the time according to the weather and the shape of the group.

Difference in altitude : + 1250 meters and - 350 meters
Length : 4 hours for the Via Ferrata and 2 hours 30 minutes for the ascent to the refuge.

DAY 2
REFUGE CHABOD - GRAND PARADIS (4061m) - VALSAVARENCHE

Difference in altitude: + 1400 m and - 2000m
LEGTH: about 8 hours

We leave at night to climb the Glacier de Laveciau before arriving on the shoulder of the Grand Paradis where we find the normal route to access the Grand Paradis.

The route by the Chabod hut is more varied with a superb glacier which is bigger than the one on the Victor Emmanuel 2 side with beautiful passages between crevasses.

The North Face of Grand Paradis with its needles is quite impressive.

We go back down by the same route to find our stuff at the hut which allows us to go up lightly, we enjoy a good plate of pasta at the hut, then we go down to the car park with a light bag as we leave the crampons and ice axe at the hut for those who have rented them!

It's the end of the course and everyone goes back to their own way! You can go down to Aosta or Courmayeur to enjoy the Dolce Vita!

End of the tour: at the refuge Chabod, descent from the refuge on your own.

You can then descend to Aosta or Courmayeur to enjoy the Dolce Vita, before returning to Bourg Saint Maurice, Chamonix, Geneva...

OPTIONAL: if you wish, you can spend an extra night at the Refuge Chabod to lighten up the day, then descend the next morning and set off again rested (extra night to be arranged and booked in advance).

Equipement

TECHNICAL MOUNTAINEERING EQUIPMENT

• Mountaineering Goretex shoes suitable to crampons
• Crampons
• Walking poles
• Iceaxe
• Helmet

HOW TO DRESS for climbing at altitude

First layer on the skin:

• (merino wool) thermal/breathable long sleeve
• (merino wool) long thermal/breathable underwear
• woolen warm socks

Second layer:

• warm technical sweater
• waterproof & windproof hiking pants

Third layer:

• thin but warm down jacket

Last layer:

• waterproof & windproof Goretex jacket

Important Additionals:

• sleeping sheet for the hut
• warm winter hat
• buff/head-neckband
• warm winter gloves
• headlamp
• suncream (protection factor 50+)
• sunglasses
• phone

If you have any doubts or simply need clarification on what gear to take for your climb, you can take a look at our Blog page "What gear for mountaineering?"

N.B. Consider a change for when you are back to the hut (you can leave some stuff at the hut).

IMPORTANT: if a person is not properly equipped and dressed, the mountain guide may decide not to allow him/her to take part in the climb. We ask you to read carefully the equipment list provided in the programme PDF and to call us if you have any doubts.

Difficulty

Level needed for the climb of Gran Paradiso

You must be comfortable walking in the mountains. Easy climbing.

If you've already done a glacier trek, that's fine, but it's not compulsory, as long as you're in good physical shape and mentally fit!

This is technically easy mountaineering, but the course is still aimed at sporty, well-trained people: effort corresponding to around 1200 - 1700m of elevation gain per day.

You must enjoy endurance sports and be at a good level.

For more details: take a look at the Esprit Montagne level scale!

Useful infos

Useful information for the mountaineering programme :

Meeting point on DAY 1

Meeting with the Mountain Guide in Valsavarenche valley at 9:00 a.m in the village of Degioz, in front of the bar Lo Fourquin : https://maps.app.goo.gl/P4vk9e2bKK6DzQdh8

You will meet your guide, who will explain how to pack your backpack and will check the technical equipment for the two days.

End of the mountaineering trip 

End of the tour: at Refuge Chabod, descent from the refuge on your own.

OPTIONAL: if you wish, you can spend an extra night at the Refuge Chabod to lighten the day's effort. The following morning, you can head back down to the mountain well rested.

For those who find the 2,300-metre descent too long, it is possible to book an extra night at the Chabod refuge and descend the next day by your own means and return by car. Depending on the length of your journey, we recommend planning accommodation in the valley for greater comfort, such as the https://www.rifugiotetraslyre.it/.

Insurance

Cancellation and repatriation insurance is mandatory, as is mountain search and rescue insurance (minimum cover of 10,000 Euros).

Esprit Montagne offers the following insurance: https://www.assurance-multi-sports.com. You must get the “impact evasion multirisque” insurance. Other insurance policies may not cover you as well, so read your insurance policy carefully.

Organisation

The week before your departure, you will receive a reminder by email with all the information concerning the meeting and the guide in charge of your group.

Esprit Montagne / Esprit des Guides SA takes care of the hut reservation, you do not need to think about it.

Booking

Once you have booked your place online, we will confirm the hut booking for you (places for online dates have been pre-booked in advance).

Equipment

Goretex mountaineering boots of very good quality, cramponable (type Scarpa Triolet GTX, possible to rent at Sport Du Pilier in Morgex, at Gal Sport in Aosta or at Ravanel or Snell in Chamonix and at Intersport in Bourg Saint Maurice)
crampons, ice axe and harness (can be hired at the Refuge Chabod, book in advance directly with the refuge)

Accommodation

Night in a refuge, in a room or dormitory depending on availability.
Remember to bring a sheet bag.
The refuge provides duvets.

Food

• Picnic lunch on day 1 is not included in the price
• Dinner, breakfast and meal on day 2 at the refuge, you can taste the famous Italian pasta or other local specialities
• Remember to bring some groceries according to your tastes before departure (cereal bars, dried fruits, chocolate, etc...)

Parking

You can park in the car park of Valsavarenche at the start of the path for the Chabod hut.

Supervision

French speaking UIAGM mountain guide from our team.

Budget and currency

France and Italy are in the Euro zone, so the currency is the Euro (€).
Also, the refuge has an electronic payment terminal (TPE) but we advise you to bring cash anyway.

How to reach Aosta Valley

• Via Chamonix Mont Blanc – you can reach Chamonix by train from the main French airports or from Geneva airport – then you can reach Courmayeur – Aosta Valley through the Mont Blanc Tunnel (there are buses connections from Chamonix to Aosta Valley, but if you would like to be free to move it is advisable to rent a car). IMPORTANT: when you exit the Mont Blanc tunnel, do not take the highway in direction of Aosta, but do stay on the normal road (blue signs) that goes to Courmayeur, you will avoid a 20 min additional drive and 20 € of highway;
• Via Geneva or Martigny – you can easily reach Martigny by train from Geneva airport - then you reach Aosta city center via the tunnel of Grand Saint Bernard (there are buses connections from Martigny to Aosta Valley, but if you would like to be free to move it is advisable to rent a car).
• Via Milan/Turin airport – rent a car directly to reach Aosta via the highway;
• Or via Bourg Saint Maurice (73700, France) - Col du Petit Saint Bernard - you can reach Bourg Saint Maurice by train from the main French airports. Once in Bourg Saint Maurice you will need to rent a car to reach the Aosta Valley via the Col du Petit Saint Bernard (2 hours drive). It's a slightly longer trip but you can save the toll at the Mont Blanc Tunnel.
• By train: https://www.trenitalia.com/en.html

Public transport in Aosta Valley

• Bus transport within the Aosta Region: https://aosta.arriva.it/en/timetables-and-routes/
• Bus transport from Chamonix to Courmayeur: https://aosta.arriva.it/courmayeur-chamonix/
• Bus transport from Courmayeur to Aosta: https://aosta.arriva.it/en/line/aosta-courmayeur-2/ (to directly take the bus to Valsavarenche, stop in the village of Villeuneuve)
• Bus transport from Milan to Aosta: https://aosta.arriva.it/en/aosta-milano/