High Life

Intense Ascent

Published on December 5, 2025

Intense Ascent

The cradle of mountaineering, the world capital of the harness and the toned calf muscles: in Chamonix, climbing isn't an option, it's a tradition.

For beginners: Ice climbing school

A first contact with the high mountains, the Chamonix Guides Company's ice climbing school takes you for a good half-day on the legendary Mer de Glace glacier. Up there, you'll learn not only the basics of the activity—walking roped up, handling an ice axe, planting crampons—but also how a glacier lives, moves, and melts (much too quickly). An outing filled with thrills, laughter, and a serious dose of climate awareness.

For the daring: Ice climbing

The concept: glacial climbing, cold-ninja style. With a guide from Evolution 2 or the Chamonix Guides Company, you'll explore naturally frozen formations like stream walls or artificial sites like the Bérard waterfall, above the hamlet of Le Buet. This spot, perfect for beginners, is maintained by volunteers, and thanks to a system of heated pipes, the ice holds up even when the valley thaws in early spring. So, are you ready to stay the course? Because the activity is as fun as it is physical. And it's a lot of fun!

For the truly dedicated: Alpine Trail Running

If your smartwatch is practically an extension of your arm, and you know what 2000m of elevation gain means, and you find it "motivating" or even "fun"... the Alpine Trail Running organised by the Chamonix Guides Company is for you. Starting from the village of Le Tour, you'll climb to the summit of the Aiguille du Tour in a single, exhilarating day. With light gear on your back, you'll run up the moraine of the Glacier du Tour along a steep and sometimes rugged trail. The climb to the Albert 1er refuge is a real slog. Once there, you'll change gear to tackle the mountaineering sections. The final stretch (not a straight line) involves mixed terrain, including rocky sections… 4 to 6 hours of effort later, you'll finally reach 3,542 metres. A short break? Not at all. A U-turn straight into the descent but with small, careful strides, for another 3 to 4 hours of "walking." Exhausted and happy.

For families: hiking on a glacier and sleeping in a mountain hut. For a gentler (and slightly cosy) version of mountaineering, the Compagnie des Guides offers a family introduction to high-altitude mountaineering: a hike on the Glacier du Tour, a crampon and ice axe workshop, a spectacular sunset over the peaks, and an overnight stay at the Albert 1er refuge. All this without stress, but with just enough effort (6 to 7 hours outdoors, after all) to earn the hearty evening meal. Teenagers (14 and up) love it, and parents often ask the guide if it's possible to extend the experience for another night… The answer is yes.

The Guides Company