Alpine summer
A trip to the Alps in the summer never disappoints.
Alpine starts leaving the cosiness of the mountain hut with bright head torches on, walking on crunchy snow and 360-degree summit views of one of the World’s most fantastic playgrounds.
Whether you’re into long treks up peaks with snowy arêtes or have your eyes set on a more challenging summit, Ibex Mountain Guides are here to share your adventures with you. We also cater for aspiring alpinists who would like to learn the ropes and take on their own adventures; if that sounds like you, get in touch for some crevasse rescue training and ropework and movement on alpine terrain strategies.
When to go
The summer alpine season usually runs from early June to late September. Ascents of Mont Blanc are usually recommended towards late June and into July, or towards the back end of August into the 3rd week in September. The season for the Matterhorn tends opens in August, though it very much depends on how dry a summer it’s been.
How difficult is it?
There is something for everyone to do during the summer Alpine season. Whether you are a first-timer to the Alps, or have ticked your way through most 4000ers, Ibex Mountain Guides can help you explore the Alps further. We’ll take into account your level of fitness and mountaineering background to create the best experience in this incredible landscape.
How fit do I need to be?
Overall fitness in the Alps is more about endurance than pure strength. If you’re into running or long distance walking in the UK, then chances are your fitness is good enough. Alpine days are long days, with a minimum of some 8 hours on the go on actual summit days. You will need to be able to carry a ruck sack weighing over 5kg throughout the day. Over the course of the day, your ascent rate should be around 300m/hour.
What equipment do I need?
In the Alps light is right! Your 30-35litre rucksack should include spare clothes (thermals usually), warm belay jacket, waterproof/windproof top and bottoms, spare gloves, sunblock (minimum factor 40) and lip protection, room for your crampons, harness (with belay plate, 4 screwgate karabiners, one 120cm sling and 2 prusik loops) and helmet, overnight bag for the hut (toiletries, earplugs, blister kit, money, insurance, EHIC card, liner), sun hat, woolly hat and headtorch. You should wear long-sleeved light-coloured tops for when travelling on glaciers, soft-shell trousers, gaiters, stiff-soled boots (B3), crampons (C3) to fit boots, category 4 sunglasses. You’ll need an ice axe and a telescopic pole is useful. Bring along your rock shoes too…and don’t forget your camera/smartphone! Ibex Mountain Guides can provide you with the equipment that’s in italics.
How much?
For a guided trip with Ibex Mountain Guides, our daily rate is £340 on a 1:1 basis plus £20 per extra person. On a trip with maximum ratio of 1:6, the daily rate is £440. This fee is for guiding services and safety equipment. All guide’s and trip expenses, including travel, nights in valley/huts and food, need to be covered by the guests. Mont Blanc, Matterhorn and similar objectives summit day rates are £380/day.
Swiss 4000ers
The classic amongst classics, a trip into the Valais will see you at the foot of some of the most imposing yet accessible 4000ers in the Alps.
Saas Grund provides a great valley base from which to access the highest number of 4000ers in the Valais. If you’re a first-timer to the Alps and all its intricacies, it will be a treat to learn the ropes on such high-quality summits. Some of the summits we can climb include the Weissmies, the Lagginhorn, the Alphubel and the Allalinhorn, amongst others.
Mont Blanc
If the highest mountain in the Western Alps is in your line of sight, let Ibex Mountain Guides help you make this experience a most memorable one.
Based from Chamonix, we can access other training peaks to get us fit and ready for the main event. We recommend a training weekend in the UK, usually in North Wales some time in the Springtime. This allows you to find out how fit you need to be, what equipment you’ll need and generally answers a lot of the questions you will have about what it takes to climb up to 4.810m and down again!
Matterhorn
A technical climb if ever there was one, an ascent of the mighty Matterhorn up the Hörnli ridge is always a great achievement.
Steeped in history, with its first ascent in 1865 marking the end of the Golden Age of Alpinism, the Matterhorn is not a mountain to be underestimated. If you have some rock climbing experience and a good base of fitness, including some altitude experience, the Matterhorn could be your next challenge. A good combo could be to attempt the Mittellegi Ridge on the Eiger as a way to acclimatise for the Matterhorn.