Gran Paradiso Climbing Expedition 6-12 July – Chamonix & Italy

New in 2022 this exciting mountain sports and alpine climbing week 6-12 July aims to culminate with an ascent of Gran Paradiso in Italy. There are 5 days of guided mountain activities and training. We start in Chamonix with 3 days of fun and intense preparations including rock climbing, via ferrata and glacier skills. The final 2 days take us to the magnificent Gran Paradiso National Park with an overnight mountain refuge stay and an alpine start to climb the glaciated Gran Paradiso 4061m (13,323ft). By the end of the expedition participants will have gained a broad range of mountaincraft skills that will equip them to operate more autonomously in technical, high altitude mountain terrain. (Please note: there is no medical training component to this event.)

Any questions?

Please contact WMT by email if you have any questions not answered below if you are considering joining us.

The main glacier leading up to the summit of Gran Paradiso (taken late August ’21)

Gran Paradiso 4061m

Set in a national park of the same name, Gran Paradiso 4061m is the only 4000m+ mountain solely within Italian territory. It is a beautiful peak that is ascended via a long glacier approach and a final exposed, short rock ridge (that is easily protected by the guides). The climb is graded F+ (F= facile / easy) but the sting in the tail is the exposed final rock scramble to the summit. This provides a stunning and exciting finish to the route. Descent down the snow slopes is usually rapid, then it’s back on the trail back to the rifugio to change into lightweight footwear/trainers for the final walk down to valley. Gran Paradiso is a worthy mountain objective but not to be underestimated because of its height. It is a satisfying, introductory technical alpine climb in its own right and also great preparation for a future ascent of Mont Blanc or similar. Read this BMC article about climbing Gran Paradiso.

Via ferrata (translates as “iron way”) high above Chamonix.

Who should participate?

This expedition is open to anybody withm ambitions to develop their mountain skills and prowess, gain confidence to execute their own adventures and climb Gran Paradiso under the expert supervision and leadership of mountain guides. You must be hill walking fit and covid jabbed to participate but you don’t need any technical climbing experience. The expedition is limited to 8 participants.

Via ferrata – a mountain climbing sport that opens up great potential

Outline itinerary – dates

The expedition dates are 6 – 12 July inclusive of travel days.

6 July – day 1: Arrive Chamonix. Accommodation available from 4pm. Early evening briefing.

7 – 9 July – days 2-4: These 3 adventure filled days devoted to mountain training to gain skills and confidence in preparation for Gran Paradiso. Activities may include rock climbing, via ferrata and glacier training using crampons. WMT’s local knowledge (and mobility with course vehicles) ensures our flexibility to move around to optimise your experience whatever the weather. No formal evening activities.

10 July – day 5: Drive to Pont at 1960m (Valsavaranche) in Gran Paradiso National Park (about 1.5 hrs) and trek to the Rifugio Vittoria Emanuel II at 2738m, an ascent of just under 800m that takes about 3 hours. At the refuge we’ll rest, rehydrate and prepare for an early start. The rifugio sleeps 120 in shared bunk rooms. Half board is included.

11 July – day 6: Rise at 4am and ascend Gran Paradiso. Initially the route follows a good path, then there’s a rock scramble before reaching the glacier and snowline where we rope together and don crampons. The final challenge awaits us at the very top where there’s an exposed rock scramble to complete the climb. Return to the rifugio, re-fuel, and descend to the vehicles. Return to Chamonix with perhaps a celebatory pizza stop in Courmayeur before driving through the Mont Blanc Tunnel and home to a hot shower and final drinks together.

12 July – day 7: Check out of the accommodation by 10am. Depart Chamonix under own arrangements.

Guide Luc Bellon – on the left

The Expedition Team

Luc Bellon IFMGA Mountain Guide
Luc is an internationally qualified high mountain guide and ski instructor with an extensive background in mountain rescue as a member of the PGHM, the Chamonix helicopter rescue service. He has worked extensively with WMT and contributes to all the Chamonix winter and summer medic courses. Luc will guide the expedition throughout. A second guide will join us for the Gran Paradiso phase.

Barry Roberts, WMT Commercial Director
Barry will manage the expedition throughout. He has developed, managed and instructed on WMT courses and expeditions since 1990. He was a Director of Raleigh International and has 40+ diverse international expeditions under his belt, mostly as the leader, and mainly to the high mountains in East Africa and Asia. He has journeyed, climbed and skied in many fabulous mountain regions including Canada, Pakistan, Nepal, Tibet, Morocco, Greenland, Norway and Europe. Expedition highlights include taking young cancer survivors to climb Mt. Kenya, climbing Everest and guiding the first winter ascent of the highest mountain in the Arctic (Gunnsbjornsfjeld in Greenland) from which he paraglided off.

Glacier skills training on the Mer de Glace – a stunning & accessible place

Fitness to participate

We have graded this trip as physically HARD because participants must be capable of a long, sustained mountain day to reach the summit of Gran Paradiso and walk down to the car park afterwards (a descent of 2000m). Suitable participants would be those who exercise regularly, hill walk or cycle and can carry a pack that contains your personal cold weather hill walking kit and clothing, water, snacks and crampons, ice axe, harness and helmet. If you are in doubt about your fitness or have any health concerns, please discuss your interest with WMT before you book.

Chamonix apartment accommodation

A shared apartment in central Chamonix is included. This is an intensive trip with a small group so you need to be a sociable person to enjoy this experience. The apartment is large but there are no single occupancy rooms. There are 3 bedrooms including twin bedded rooms, a couple of bunks and a futon. We can’t promise single gender rooms. The last person to book might be on a mattress in the living room! It has 2 full bathrooms and a separate WC. The apartment is fully equipped for self-catering or participants can eat out. Linen and towels are provided. The apartment is available for the duration so participants do not have to pack up when we go to Gran Paradiso.

What’s included in the fee?

  • All instruction/tuition/guiding for 5 days
  • 6 nights apartment accommodation with linen/towels
  • Loan of mountain boots, crampons, harness, helmet and ice axe as required (you’re welcome to bring your own)
  • Use of group technical equipment as required (ropes, via ferrata kit)
  • In-resort Chamonix and Gran Paradiso transportation
  • 1 night rifugio accommodation with half board (dinner & breakfast)
  • 1 day of mountain uplift (cable car or mountain train)
  • WMT Certificate of Attendance

What’s not included?

  • Personal clothing and mountain equipment: you’ll need UK winter hill walking clothing/waterproofs, a good sized daypack, headtorch and other items. A full kit list will be provided. (Note: you don’t need camping kit or any climbing equipment.)
  • Aside from 1 night half board at the rifugio, NO meals, drinks, snacks, lunches or apartment food is included
  • Flights, travel insurance, Geneva airport transfers
  • Additional mountain uplift (cable car or mountain train) if we deem this necessary
  • Anything not expressly mentioned is not included

Pre-course dossier

We’ll issue a comprehensive pre-course dossier with travel notes (flights/transfers/insurance), detailed kit and clothing advice and a Whatsapp invitation to join the course group. Fly into Geneva so that you’ll arrive in Chamonix by late afternoon 6th July.

Terms & conditions – read before booking

Please appreciate WMT’s terms and conditions related to deposit payments, cancellations and covid BEFORE you book. Balance payments are due 60 days before the expedition. We require a minimum of 4 participants to run the expedition. If we don’t achieve this in good time and we cancel the trip, a full refund will be given. During the expedition, the lead guide has total discretion to decide what mountain activities are undertaken with respect to weather, hazards, the capabilities of the participants, local infrastructure and other safety factors outside of WMT’s control. WMT will always endeavour to provide relevant substitute activities.

Travel insurance

You must have adequate travel insurance to attend and you should take this out as soon as you book to protect yourself if YOU have to cancel. Insurance should include cover if you get covid before or during the trip. We recommend SNOWCARD mountain sports specialist insurers. However, ultimately YOU must satisfy yourself that their insurance is appropriate for your needs and includes climbing to 4061m on a glacier with a guide. Consult WMT anytime.

Alternative mountain based courses

Adventure Medicine in the Lake District (8-12 June and 20-24 July) is hill walking and canoe based with medical training. The Morocco Mountain Medicine Expedition 26 Sept – 2 Oct is a brilliant cultural experience with medical training that culminates with ascending Mount Toubkal 4167m, a non-technical, strenuous hike. These courses can accommodate up to 24 delegates each.