ALPINE PROGRESSION

DAYS
6

RATIO
2:1

PRICE
£2,045

Our most popular Mountaineering Course, this is an Intermediate Mountaineering Course for climbers aiming to climb more technical alpine routes up to AD standard.

The week begins with a meeting with your guide to discuss previous experience and aims for the week ahead - we'll have plenty of ideas and up-to-date conditions info. There are lots of choices in the Arolla valley, and many more only a short drive away. eg traverse of Mont Blanc de Cheilon or L'Evêque, West Ridge of the Dent de Tsalion, Besso - Blanc de Moming traverse.

This week can follow on from an Introduction course to make a fortnight. Some previous rock, winter or Alpine climbing experience is essential. The itinerary is totally flexible to suit participants ability and fitness and there are many possible AD graded routes to climb. Climbers aiming to climb the Dent Blanche should book on our Progression Plus, Grandes Courses or Swiss Big 3 trips.

To get more ideas of what's possible see our Blog entries here and here.

DATES / AVAILABILITY
ITINERARY
EXTRA INFO
TESTIMONIALS

DATES	AVAILABILITY	PRICE
28th Jun 2025 - 5th Jul 2025	AVAILABLE	£2,045 £1,895	BOOK NOW
12th Jul 2025 - 19th Jul 2025	AVAILABLE	£2,045	BOOK NOW
19th Jul 2025 - 26th Jul 2025	AVAILABLE	£2,045	BOOK NOW
26th Jul 2025 - 2nd Aug 2025	AVAILABLE	£2,045	BOOK NOW
2nd Aug 2025 - 9th Aug 2025	FULL	£2,045	BOOK NOW
9th Aug 2025 - 16th Aug 2025	AVAILABLE	£2,045	BOOK NOW
16th Aug 2025 - 23rd Aug 2025	AVAILABLE	£2,045	BOOK NOW
23rd Aug 2025 - 30th Aug 2025	AVAILABLE	£2,045	BOOK NOW
30th Aug 2025 - 6th Sep 2025	AVAILABLE	£2,045	BOOK NOW

What's Included?

Guides fees for 6 days
Guides mountain hut and lift expenses
Transport between Evolene and climbing venues
Valley accommodation for up to 7 nights
Valley meals: breakfast, picnic lunch food, afternoon tea, 3-course dinner with aperitif
Free Wifi in valley accommodation
Free Parking in Evolene

What's not Included?

Client’s mountain huts and lifts (c.CHF240)
Dinner in restaurant on Friday night
Travel to Evolene (see “getting here” for info)
Insurance
Supplement for single room (£200, subject to availability)

Having our own valley accommodation means that we can maximise the quality of our mountaineering time by being flexible with itineraries to respond to mountain conditions.

Sample itinerary

Saturday afternoon: Arrival at Evolene accommodation from 2pm. Dinner and guides briefing from 7pm.

Sunday: Walk to Vignettes Hut; snow-craft, crevasse rescue and glacier training en-route.

Monday: Traverse of L'Evêque (3716m) AD; stay at Vignettes Hut.

Tuesday: Traverse of Mont Blanc de Cheilon (3869m) AD- ; return to valley.

Wednesday: Multi-pitch rock climbing at Arolla.

Thursday: Ascend to hut with potential for rock climbing en route or on arrival.

Friday: Climb final technical alpine route and return to valley (eg Tsalion West Ridge).

Saturday morning: Travel home - check out by 9am.

This week is aimed at people who've done some Alpine climbing (at least PD grade) but will also suit people with UK winter (grade 2/3 min) and rock climbing experience. You don't need to have completed an Intro course first! There's time for instruction too - tell your guide what you want to learn. Fitness is important. Many hut approaches will involve 1200m ascents as the Valais doesn't have the easy lift-access of Chamonix.

Running, cycling and gym sessions (in fact, any regular sport) all provide good fitness training for summer alpine courses, but it's hard to beat good days out in the hills. If you don't have easy access to hills, your gym training will need to be carefully planned - mountain days are long, low-intensity exercise, which is hard to replicate in short gym sessions. Strength exercises (squats, step-ups, stair-climbing with a rucksack) are gaining favour over speed exercises (running, spinning).

View Kit List

Download Kit List

View Joining Instructions

Download Joining Instructions

"Two of us had an amazing week with Graham mountaineering and rock climbing in the Alps. We learnt so much from him. Lovely location and accommodation provided in the Evolène, Swiss Alps."

— Rob, July 2022

MORE TESTIMONIALS

DATES / AVAILABILITY

28th Jun 2025 - 5th Jul 2025

£2,045 £1,895

AVAILABLE

BOOK NOW

12th Jul 2025 - 19th Jul 2025

£2,045

AVAILABLE

BOOK NOW

19th Jul 2025 - 26th Jul 2025

£2,045

AVAILABLE

BOOK NOW

26th Jul 2025 - 2nd Aug 2025

£2,045

AVAILABLE

BOOK NOW

2nd Aug 2025 - 9th Aug 2025

£2,045

FULL

BOOK NOW

9th Aug 2025 - 16th Aug 2025

£2,045

AVAILABLE

BOOK NOW

16th Aug 2025 - 23rd Aug 2025

£2,045

AVAILABLE

BOOK NOW

23rd Aug 2025 - 30th Aug 2025

£2,045

AVAILABLE

BOOK NOW

30th Aug 2025 - 6th Sep 2025

£2,045

1 PLACE LEFT

BOOK NOW

What's Included?

Guides fees for 6 days
Guides mountain hut and lift expenses
Transport between Evolene and climbing venues
Valley accommodation for up to 7 nights
Valley meals: breakfast, picnic lunch food, afternoon tea, 3-course dinner with aperitif
Free Wifi in valley accommodation
Free Parking in Evolene

What's not Included?

Client’s mountain huts and lifts (c.CHF240)
Dinner in restaurant on Friday night
Travel to Evolene (see “getting here” for info)
Insurance
Supplement for single room (£200, subject to availability)

ITINERARY

Having our own valley accommodation means that we can maximise the quality of our mountaineering time by being flexible with itineraries to respond to mountain conditions.
Sample itinerary
Saturday afternoon: Arrival at Evolene accommodation from 2pm. Dinner and guides briefing from 7pm.
Sunday: Walk to Vignettes Hut; snow-craft, crevasse rescue and glacier training en-route.
Monday: Traverse of L'Evêque (3716m) AD; stay at Vignettes Hut.
Tuesday: Traverse of Mont Blanc de Cheilon (3869m) AD- ; return to valley.
Wednesday: Multi-pitch rock climbing at Arolla.
Thursday: Ascend to hut with potential for rock climbing en route or on arrival.
Friday: Climb final technical alpine route and return to valley (eg Tsalion West Ridge).
Saturday morning: Travel home - check out by 9am.
EXTRA INFO

This week is aimed at people who've done some Alpine climbing (at least PD grade) but will also suit people with UK winter (grade 2/3 min) and rock climbing experience. You don't need to have completed an Intro course first! There's time for instruction too - tell your guide what you want to learn. Fitness is important. Many hut approaches will involve 1200m ascents as the Valais doesn't have the easy lift-access of Chamonix.
Running, cycling and gym sessions (in fact, any regular sport) all provide good fitness training for summer alpine courses, but it's hard to beat good days out in the hills. If you don't have easy access to hills, your gym training will need to be carefully planned - mountain days are long, low-intensity exercise, which is hard to replicate in short gym sessions. Strength exercises (squats, step-ups, stair-climbing with a rucksack) are gaining favour over speed exercises (running, spinning).

View Kit List
Download Kit List
View Joining Instructions
Download Joining Instructions
TESTIMONIALS

"Two of us had an amazing week with Graham mountaineering and rock climbing in the Alps. We learnt so much from him. Lovely location and accommodation provided in the Evolène, Swiss Alps."

— Rob, July 2022

MORE TESTIMONIALS

SHARE THIS TRIP