Monte Rosa Massif
Mountaineering school at the Pyramide Vincent
Technical lev. : 4 / 5
FAIRLY EASY MOUNTAINEERING
You should be comfortable walking in the mountains and on varied terrain. Easy climbing.
If you have already done a glacier trek, it is better, but not compulsory, if you have a good physical and mental condition.
Learning the techniques of progression at altitude for fairly easy routes and easy rescue techniques.
Physical lev. : 4 / 5
SPORTY & TRAINED PEOPLE
Programme for experienced and trained hikers.
Effort corresponding to approximately 1200 - 1700m of ascent per day.
You like and practice endurance sports at a good level.
Monte Rosa, the second-highest massif in the Alps, will enchant your gaze with the splendor of its imposing glaciers and peaks ascending to 4,000 meters. This breathtaking backdrop will set the stage for your initial day of crampon school and mastering glacier maneuvers, paving the way for you to breach the 4,000-meter threshold with the summit of Pyramide Vincent on the second day! Join us on this adventure to exceed your limits and explore the wonders of the high mountains.
. Introduction to mountaineering with glacier hiking course
. Small group courses, max 5 people
. Discover the glacial atmosphere of the Mont Rose massif
. Views of the most beautiful 4000 metre peaks in the Alps
. Italian-style welcome in a high-altitude refuge: you won't be disappointed by the cuisine.
Dates & Prices
Trip
We're off to discover the Monte Rosa massif, which with its succession of peaks over 4,000 metres offers a great introduction to mountaineering for experienced hikers who are in search of new experiences. We'll start with a first day of acclimatisation and ice school, where we'll take the time to master the techniques of cramponing and using ice axes to progress safely.
Program
Elevation gain + 400 / - 400m
Meet the Mountain Guide in the morning in Staffal, the last village at the foot of Monte Rosa, in front of the Punta Indren cable car, at 7.30am.
After a quick equipment check, we'll take the first lift, which leaves at 7.30am to climb to an altitude of 3,275 metres. Once up there, your Mountain Guide will take you to the chosen spot for the ice school, where you'll learn the cramponing and ice axe techniques needed for high-altitude climbing. The grandiose setting of the Mont Rose massif shows us the splendour of the world of glaciers.
Depending on the group's fitness and ability, the guide will extend the tour and choose the descent route to the Citta di Mantova hut, where we will be welcomed with Italian hospitality. Dinner and overnight stay at the Città di Mantova hut.
Elevation gain + 770 m / - 1250m
We'll set off early in the morning, at sunrise.
We'll be practising the lessons we learned the day before and climbing up the Indren glacier, which will take us to the feet of the Pyramide Vincent, the day's goal.
Progression will be gradual, and we'll reach an altitude of 4,000 metres. This will give us a chance to explore the unique sensations offered by high altitude, as our bodies adapt to the climb. A spectacular panorama will unfold before our eyes, allowing us to admire the imposing peaks of the Monte Rosa massif: from the Punta Gnifetti / Signalkuppe to the Lyskamm ridge!
To tackle the descent, we might consider stopping off at the refuge to recover our strength. Finally, we'll need to make one last effort to get back down to Punta Indren and catch the cable car back to Staffal.
Equipment
First layer on the skin:
Second layer:
Third layer:
Last layer:
Important Additionals:
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.
Level
FAIRLY EASY MOUNTAINEERING
You should be comfortable walking in the mountains and on varied terrain. Easy climbing. If you have already done a glacier walk before, it is better, but not compulsory, if you have a good physical and mental condition. Learning the techniques of progression at altitude for fairly easy routes and easy rescue techniques.
SPORTY & TRAINED PEOPLE
You need to be experienced and trained hikers, used to long effort days.
Effort corresponding to approximately 1200 - 1700m of ascent per day.
You like and practice endurance sports at a good level.
Useful infos
Meeting with the mountain guide in Staffal (Gressoney) at the departure of the Gabiet cable car at 7:30 a.m.
The programme ends on the second day between 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm in Staffal (Gressoney).
The week before your departure, you will receive a reminder by email with all the information concerning the meeting and the Mountain 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.
French and English speaking local UIAGM Mountain Guides of our team.
The departure point of the bus for the Gressoney Valley is at the train station in the village of Pont Saint Martin.
For the bus timetable: https://www.vitagroup.it/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/estivo-gressoney-2022.pdf
If you are coming only for the climb, we can organize you a taxi to pick you up or the mountain guide can come to pick you up on the road nearby Aosta (organization upon booking).
For those who wish to sleep in Staffal in the evening before meeting with the Guide we recommend the Walsertal Residence, a very nice and cozy hotel, two minutes from the cable car departure.
You can rent equipment at Ermanno Sport in Staffal, directly at the departure of the cable car: remember to contact the shop in advance to book your equipment.
Regarding mountaineering boots, here is the type of boots you should have: Scarpa Triolet GTX
You can rent them at Gal Sport in Aosta, at the Pilier du Sport in Morgex (AO) or at Ravanel or Snell in Chamonix.
Cancellation and repatriation insurance is mandatory, as well as a mountain search and rescue insurance (minimum cover of 10,000 Euros).
Esprit Montagne offers the following insurance: https://www.assurance-multi-sports.com.
Italy is in the Eurozone, so the currency is the Euro (€).
The shelter has a credit card terminal, however, we strongly advise you to bring cash!
Be aware of the usual bank charges when purchasing goods or services with your credit card.
When you register online, you can choose whether or not you wish to take part in the car-sharing scheme to get to the starting point of your course. Once you have made your booking, you can log back into your Esprit Montagne account to access a section dedicated to carpooling. Here you will find the contacts of the other participants who are interested in car-sharing, so that you can contact them directly.
. The guiding of our team's UIAGM High Mountain Guide and his accommodation and meal expenses.
. Half-board at the refuge (dinner and breakfast)
. Cable car from Staffal to Punta Indren (round trip)
. Collective equipment (ropes, lanyards, karabiners).
. Personal technical equipment: crampons, helmet, ice axe and harness (hire available from the cable car departure point; specify in the booking if you need to hire equipment).
. Drinks and personal expenses
. Lunch, so that you can eat as you wish at altitude
. Your travel insurance (cancellation and mountain rescue compulsory)
. All that is not mentioned in the "Price includes" section.
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Before you start mountaineering, it's essential to prepare yourself properly. To begin with, choose an activity suited to your level of fitness. Mountaineering is a demanding endurance activity, so you need to be in good physical condition.
In addition, initial mountaineering training such as the ice school is recommended. Taking a beginner's mountaineering course is an excellent way of familiarising yourself with basic mountaineering techniques, such as using crampons and ice axes. Progressing on snow and glacier requires practice and training.
Finally, it's crucial to be well equipped. This includes appropriate clothing for changing mountain conditions, as well as safety equipment such as a helmet, harness and rope.
Esprit Montagne also offers beginner mountaineering courses in the Vanoise to introduce you to the Alps at altitudes of between 2,000 and 3,500 metres, and alpine courses in the Grand Paradis.
Choose a summit suitable for beginners, such as Pyramide Vincent in the Swiss Alps. It's an excellent choice for a first 4000m as it offers a relatively easy ascent surrounded by the splendour of the high mountains. Mont Rose is one of the best mountain ranges in the Alps for learning the basics of mountaineering, with a gradual acclimatisation to altitude. The massif is made up of a series of peaks of varying degrees of difficulty, so you can go from initiation to mountaineering all the way up to autonomy with the ascent of the Castor, the Pollux or the Nez de Lyskamm.
Mountaineering can be practised in many mountainous regions around the world. Here are just a few of the popular destinations for mountaineering; the Alps, the Pyrenees, the Caucasus Mountains (Europe), the Andes Cordillera (South America), the Himalayas (Asia), the Rockies (North America), the Atlas Mountains (Africa). But it's important to note that the list is not exhaustive, and that each region offers a variety of unique challenges and landscapes.
Snow-covered mountains, ice, vertical rocks, glaciers and high peaks are the elements that make mountaineering a very special physical activity that you have to tame little by little. Beginner's mountaineering courses allow mountaineers to learn and progress, while autonomous mountaineering courses allow you to progress safely without the supervision of a professional.
Le sommet de la Pyramide Vincent, dans le massif du Mont Rose est de 4.215 mètres. Au pied de ce sommet on trouve le glacier de la Punta Indren. Même si l'ascension commence par des remontés mécaniques comme le téléphérique Punta Indren franchir la barrier des 4.000 mètres n'a rien d'anodin est le corps aura besoin du temps pour s'acclimater.
