In the middle of the July/August Swiss climbing season , Grant and Gary spent a week in the Swiss Alps working on developing Grants intermediate and advanced climbing techniques/skills for smooth, efficient ascent and descent of big peaks.
Climbing on Mt Blanc de Cheilion, Switzerland
Matterhorn skyline, Swiss Alps
Learn , develop, extend you Alpinism skills in Switzerland this 2016 season. Join IFMGA Mountain Guide Gary Dickson for a week during July or August this 2016.
Switzerland has brilliant terrain for delivering excellent, high quality climbing courses, and you can take advantage of the knowledge that Gary has gained over the last 15 seasons doing such courses.
Contact us now to work out when you can head into the Swiss Alps for your tailor made Swiss climbing course ….
Early April saw IFMGA Mountain Guide once again head back to the head of the Tasman Glacier for a 1:1 ratio alpine climbing instruction course for a chap from Sweden.
Mountain Guides Qualifications
Tasman Saddle hut, your base for a mountaineering instruction course
Matt from Australia, January 2013:
“I absolutely enjoyed my time with Alpinism and Ski. The TMC course was an excellent course which provided much of the training I was hoping to attain. Gaz’s knowledge was incredible, and he taught me a great deal which I could not learn in Australia. Though, those crevasses are bloody dangerous, and it was nice to get an introduction to them. Both Gaz’s and Iris’s hospitality in Wanaka was a welcome attribute, and I enjoyed the charm of the town. Also, Ziggy is an awesome dog. Reminds me of my Samson. I will be recommending Alpinism and Ski to anyone who is interested in learning any of their courses or looking for guiding. I’m sure I’ll be back soon. Thanks again!”
Matt roped up for glacier travel coming down the Fox Glacier
January had Gary instructing Matt from New Castle Australia the skills required for alpine climbing for NZ and global mountains (Matt having aspirations of international peaks in the future). The course was based at Pioneer hut at the head of the Fox Glacier. A storm in the middle of the 7 day course had very strong winds – the weather forcast was predicting 150 kmph winds at 2000m and 3000m elevations. The team and the hut weathered it well. Fresh snow made for some interesting glacier travel and use of a pre prepared navigation plan was needed for the first part of the journey from Pioneer down to Chancellor hut.
Before driving back to Wanaka, Matt enjoyed using his Alpine climbing skills on the blue ice of the lower Fox ice.
Ever been interested in an alpine climbing instruction course in New Zealand? learn, refresh and upgrade your skills with this:
This will be our one and only scheduled course summer season 2012-13 for individuals keen to share cost and adventure. Get in touch now for more information.
Top instructor Gary Dickson in person will run this course, be prepared to get challenged in the Southern Alps. Good fitness level and some previous climbing experience is expected as this is more for intermediate mountaineers then total beginners.
learning to place ice screws on a climbing course
End of the month, two fit fellas will be arriving from Aussie to go on an intermediate-advanced climbing course with mountain guide Gaz. The NZ weather looks to have settled into a more settled state of play and alpine conditions look excellent for the 10 day specialized mountain training.
If you are looking for a climbing course we have two sceduled courses comming up:
If you are an individual or a group looking to have a week of private mountaineering instruction, just get in touch and we can see if we can fit around your schedule.
Michael and James, a week with ISM, here on Tête Blanche
August last year, Thanks for the feed back and photos Michael:
“Dear Gary,
On behalf of James and myself, thank you very much for an excellent week at the Orny and Dix huts. It was an ideal mix of instruction, rockclimbing, snow and ice experience, and mountaineering on mixed terrain. Mt Blanc de Cheilon was a great way to end the week – a beautiful mountain and a superb, satisfying climb. Thank you especially for your patience and for not only ensuring our safety but taking the time at every stage to explain clearly what we were doing and why. We also greatly appreciated your steady pacing, which provided several first-hand examples of the hare and tortoise principle in practice; I can’t speak for James, but do not underestimate the achievement of getting me to the top of Mt Blanc de Cheilon in (just) under guide-book time, still breathing comfortably and with an acceptable pulse-rate.
Many thanks again.” Michael Firth
James enjoying the views from the summit of Mont Blanc de Cheillon, Matterhorn in the background( above his helmet) - well done team!
Winter mountaineering skills in the Southern Alps; training for a Patagonia adventure
September 2011
“We’ve had a great trip as part of our training for our Patagonia trip. We loved being taken up to the Tasman Glacier and improving our off piste skiing skills and we appreciated the expertise Gary showed in extending our skills slowly but surely. We came away refreshed and more informed and skilled for future ventures. Great food, great fun, great location, great weather.
The hospitality back in Wanaka is exceptional – thanks for feeding us beautiful food and making us so welcome.”
Linda, Kerryn, Rob – here a link to their Patagonia adventure and more
Snow and ice techniques on a mountaineering course
crevasse rescue on an instruction course
pitching up a ridge on an alpine instruction course
The New Year is approaching fast and the last few weeks have brought us excellent weather for adventures in the Southern Alps.
We have two mountaineering courses on the program, one for beginners and the other for intermediate to advanced mountaineers keen to brush up, renew and confirm their alpine climbing skills to stay safe in the mountains while having fun, here the details:
One of those mountaineering instruction courses could be just right for you, so don’t hesitate and get in touch for more details.
For now:
HAPPY NEW YEAR