Courmayeur Summer Meet 2025
28 June - 5 July 2025
Join Women's Alpine Adventure Club in Courmayeur this Summer
FULLY BOOKED
If spaces become available we will contact those on the waiting list first (email jenny@womensalpineadventureclub.com) and then reopen if available.
Courmayeur in the Italian Aosta Valley is at the foot of Monte Bianco and provides us with plenty of alpine routes as well as lower level rock routes in case of less than perfect weather (which has been known on a WAAC meet!!). Courmayeur is a beautiful town with plenty of ice cream and aperitvo options, and the Val Ferret and Val Veny leading off from the town offers access into high mountain crags as well as trails for hiking and running. The Skyway gondola from Courmayeur accesses the glacier by the Torino Refuge, with some great entry level and mid grade alpine options that can be done in a day, or with a stay at the refuge. Further down the Aosta valley there is more cragging or an option to go into the Gran Paradiso range.
Lou Reynolds, British Mountain Guide, is coordinating the Guide team and will be taking booking for courses through her website. Please make sure you read all the information and follow instructions to make sure your booking works!
We are providing 2 course options with English speaking IFMGA Guides to aim to introduce those that are either brand new or still beginners to alpinism, or give a chance to refresh and gain confidence in skills.
You can also come along unguided for the week and meet partners and go off climbing independently. I ask that if you are doing this you sign up for a 1 day skills check on the Sunday with one of our Guides. In this way we make sure that everyone is happy before heading off into the mountains and you get to pick the brains of our fab Guides about weather, routes and conditions.
You will need to book your own accommodation separately and ASAP. We will be based in the Grand Jorasses campsite in the Val Ferret. You will also need to arrange your travel - there will be a Whatsapp group where you can share your plans. Courmayeur is easily reached by public transport and there are excellent transport links within the valley.
Suggested Kit List here
Please make sure you read everything carefully.
registration - CURRENTLY ONLY 1 SKILls CHECK PLACE AVAILABLE
Everyone needs to fill in a registration form and pay £35 - you will then have access to the booking form for the courses.
You are not guaranteed a space on any course until you have filled in the course booking form on Lou’s website and paid your deposit. Please make sure you read the booking terms carefully when you book and pay for your course.
In order for us to continue to run these meets where both Guided/Instructed courses and peer led independent activities are possible, we need to be affilated with the British Mountaineering Council (BMC) as a club. This covers all of us with liability insurance, including the meet organisers. If you already have BMC membership you will automatically be refunded your other payment. If you are not a British resident we still need to register you with the BMC as part of our club, but we advise that you are part of your own national mountaineering club in addition.
This club membership fee does not provide medical/travel/alpine insurance and everyone should ensure you arrange this separately.
This £35 will cover your membership to WAAC and includes your BMC affiliation fee (£29.33). The rest of the money will go towards the admin fees of running the club (GMail, Website etc). You will only need to pay this once for the year so if you go on any other peer led meets then you are covered. The BMC clubs membership runs for a calendar year.
Please transfer £35 to our WAAC Starling Bank Account when you complete the registration form
Women’s Alpine Adventure Club CIC
17686101
60-83-71
IBAN: GB66SRLG60837117686101
SWIFT: SRLGGB2L
1 day Skills Check for INDEPENDENT Alpinists
SOLD OUT
£100, Sunday 29th June, 1:6 ratio
This one day valley based skills check is for those coming along unguided for the rest of the week. I feel it’s important that everyone has a chance to go through essential crevasse rescue ropework and have a safe space to sense check and ask questions before partnering up and heading out. You will get to pick the brains of a knowledgeable Guide who knows the area well and be able to check on routes, conditions and what to do in the week. The Guide will facilitate discussion and skills checks, and you can chat with others and share objectives and plans.
5 Day Intro to Alpinism Course
SOLD OUT
£760
4 spaces available - the remaining 2 are being offered to the Black Girls Hike community to build on our partnership and try to do our bit in improving diversity in mountaineering.
Saturday - Arrivals day into Courmayeur
Sunday - Orientation Day. Local peer led walk or touristing!
Monday and Tuesday
1:6 ratio.
Start looking at the techniques and equipment used for summer alpinism. This will include wearing and moving in crampons, using an ice axe, glacier travel, crevasse avoidance and rescue, using Guidebooks and maps, looking at weather and conditions, moving on rock, snow and ice. This will likely involve using the Skyway Gondola to access the glacier (not included in course price).
Wednesday - Friday
1:3 ratio.
Put your skills into practice on appropriate alpine routes which will be decided upon depending on conditions and weather. There may be the option to stay in a high alpine refuge overnight and access a peak from there (not included in course price). Your Guide will discuss options with you to ensure you maximise learning and develop your knowledge.
Saturday - Departures day
2 Day Alpine Improver Course
SOLD OUT
£560
4 spaces available
Both days will be at a 1:2 ratio. This will likely involve using the Skyway gondola to access the glacier (not included in course price).
Saturday - Arrivals Day
Sunday - Orientation Day. Local peer led walk or climbing depending on preference
Monday - Refreshing and recapping alpine skills such as glacier travel, feeling comfortable moving in crampons, alpine rope work, using Guidebook and map
Tuesday - Taking these skills onto a route under the supervision of your Guide
Wednesday - Friday - Independent adventures
Saturday - Departures day
What's Included
The services of an IFMGA International Mountain Guide
Guide travel and meal expenses
Guides hut fees (where applicable)
Organisational Fee
What's Not Included
Travel and Accommodation - you will need to book your own. We will be based in the Grand Jorasses campsite https://www.grandesjorasses.com/en/ There are tent pitches, van pitches and also small cabins (2/4 person). I recommend booking these very soon. There is an enquiry form on the website you can request a reservation through.
Personal equipment - can be hired from local shops
Cable cars - the Skyway is about 60 euros
Hut overnight - this will likely be one night on the Intro course - half board will be around 80 euros
Personal Insurance - travel and alpine
Food
Drinks
Maps/Guidebooks