Learning the Ropes. My Alpine Intro Course in Chamonix

Three years ago I decided to start again with mountaineering after a long pause. Actually I did never really quit alpinism altogether but reduced my alpine activities to backcountry skiing for more than a decade. However, I soon realised that I would need at least a quick refresher course.

The famous Chamonix in the French Mont Blanc region seemed a good start for such an endeavour. Often characterised as death sport capital of the world it offers enough appeal to the adventurous parts of our souls. After a bit of googling I was successful in finding a suitable alpine introduction course organized by a Swiss guiding bureau.

And soon I was on my journey to Chamonix involving some night-train sleeping and the usual hazzle with changing trains. Arriving in Chamonix I was immediately stunned by the sheer awesomeness of the surrounding mountains. In the midday sun the mighty Mont Blanc was guarding the pretty picturesque town of Chamonix with its typical belle epoque buildings.

I loved the busy streets, the nice little cafès and the numerous gear shops, all stuffed with the latest mountaineering gear.

Even before we started our very first lessons of the alpine introduction course I was happy for choosing Chamonix as my learning playground. After all, where would be a better place than in the town where the history of modern alpinism got started in the late 18th century? The first ascent of the Mont Blanc was as early as 1786 (by Jaques Balmat and Michel Paccard) and initiated the ‘golden period’ of European mountaineering.