one day to discover ice climbing

We welcome you to our premises for a cup of tea or coffee; you get geared up, and we’ll head out to climb some ice
on the site in the best condition at the time. We’ll start this introduction to ice climbing by learning how to move on ice: balancing your body, using crampons and ice axe to climb an ice wall. We’ll teach you how to abseil and belay your rope partner. For children, we have ice climbing very light ice axes adapted to their size so younger children can experience the joys of ice climbing.

End of the session late afternoon at the meeting point.

NB : The programme is intended as a guide only. It could be modified at any time by the mountain guide for safety reasons, weather conditions or regarding the physical and technical level of the participants.

The aim of this introduction day is to help you to develop your ice climbing technique; teach you how to use the top rope belay system efficiently and understand the use of personal ice climbing equipment. We will also introduce you to the basics of ice screw placement and anchor construction.

8 participants maximum. Departure is guaranteed from 3 participants. You will be notified at least 48 hours before departure in the event of cancellation. Where possible, an alternative solution will be offered.

Open to children from 12.

NB : For cancellation conditions for privatised trips (made up groups) please refer to our conditions of sale.

Individual technical equipment is included in the package (boots, helmet, ice axe, crampons, harness), please provide us with your shoe size on the registration form.

The head :

• sunglasses class 3
• a pair of white glasses to protect you from ice impacts
• a beanie hat or a balaclava that fits under your helmet
  a helmet
• sunscreen

The body

• a 30-litre mountain rucksack
• long-sleeved underwear
• a fleece or soft shell jacket
• a warm down jacket
• a gore-tex type waterproof jacket
• a screw-lock carabiner
• a 40cm lanyard.
• DVA, shovel, probe

Hands

• a pair of thin gloves in leather or ceramic for handling at belay stations
• warmer glothes for climbing

Legs

• ideally gore-tex type trousers with long underwear underneath ; ski trousers may be suitable, they must be water-repellent

The feet

• crampon compatible mountain boots , warm and providing good ankle support.
• a pair of crampons in good condition
• specific waterfall ice axes

Miscellaneous

• provide containers for around 2 litres of water, ideally a one-litre thermos plus other smaller plastic bottles to slip into your jacket warm next to your body.
• energy food (cereal bars, dried fruit, etc.)
• a small knife
  camera with strap
• A small first-aid kit adapted to your personal needs, including elastoplast and double-skin dressings for any blisters.

This list is not exhaustive and should be completed with your specific needs.

OUR LITTLE SHOP

ROC ECRINS sells equipment adapted to your activity and your stay DIRECTLY at our premises in L’Argentière-La Bessée where we welcome you on the first day Don’t hesitate to ask us for advice or ask your guide on site.

BRANDS ON SALE :

• BEAL (Climbing and mountaineering harnesses, slings, descenders, carabiners, quickdraws, belay gloves, ice pins, climbing bags, headlamps, mountaineering helmets and climbing helmets, single ropes and abseiling ...)
• CAMP (Climbing and mountaineering ice axes, liquid chalk and chalk,
• SALEWA (Mountaineering shoes)
• CASSIN (Mountaineering crampons)
• ALTITUDE EYEWEAR (Sunglasses category 3 & 4)
• YYVERTICAL (Climbing safety glasses)
• NATURAL PEAK (Technical T-shirts in wood fibre, long and short sleeves and leggings)
• ICEBREAKER (Merino wool technical T-shirts, long and short sleeves and leggings)
• DYNAFIT (Ski touring boots, used and new ski touring skis)
• LES BATONS D’ALAIN (Hiking poles and ski touring)
• LABORATOIRE BIARRITZ (ecological sun cream, body, face & lips)
• COMPEED Double skin plaster to prevent blisters ...
• BOULES QUIESS Earplugs for a good night’s sleep in a refuge...

Nous proposons à la vente du matériel adapté à votre activité et votre séjour DIRECTEMENT dans nos locaux à L’Argentière-La Bessée où nous vous accueillons le premier jour . N’hésitez pas à nous demander conseil ou sur place à votre guide.

LES MARQUES EN VENTE :

• BEAL (Baudriers escalade et alpinisme, sangles, descendeurs, mousquetons, dégaines, gants d’assurage, broches à glace, sacs d’escalade, lampes frontales, casques d’alpinisme et casques d’escalade, cordes simples et rappel ...)
• CAMP (Piolet cascade et piolet alpinisme, magnésie liquide et chalk)
• SALEWA (Chaussures d’alpinisme)
• CASSIN (Crampons d’alpinisme)
• ALTITUDE EYEWEAR (lunettes solaires catégorie 3 & 4)
• YYVERTICAL (Lunettes d’assurages escalade )
• NATURAL PEAK (Tee-shirts techniques en fibre de bois manches longues et courtes et legging)
• ICEBREAKER (Tee-shirts techniques en laine de mérinos manches longues et courtes et legging)
• DYNAFIT (Chaussures de ski de rando, skis de rando d’occasion et neuf )
• LES BATONS D’ALAIN (Bâtons de randonnée et ski de rando )
• LABORATOIRE BIARRITZ (crème solaire écologique, corps visage & lèvres)
• COMPEED (Pansement double peau en prévention d’ampoules ...)
• BOULES QUIESS (Bouchons d’oreille pour bien dormir en refuge...)

Ice climbing, as all mountain activities have some level of risk particularly falling rocks/ice, falling to the ground (failure to belay), etc.
To reduce the hazards that they are exposed to, climbers must wear their helmet at the foot of the cliffs, while climbing and belaying, and follow the safety instructions given by the instructor.

You must be aware of these risks and accept them when booking.

By state-certified mountain guides or trainees mountain guides (aspirant guides) from the Roc Écrins team. They will have a VHF radio connected to the emergency services, a satellite phone or a mobile phone. They will also have a collective first-aid kit.

*A trainee mountain guide is a guide in training who is authorised to work and supervise climbs from their third year of training. They are not beginners, as it takes several years of practice and training to build up a list of routes and have the experience and technical level required to enter the mountain guide training course.

As a travel agency, we have our own professional liability insurance.
To take part in one of our stays , you must have individual civil liability insurance, covering you in the event of damage caused to others. In addition, you must be properly insured for the chosen activity and covered for (rescue and repatriation costs) in the event of an incident or accident occurring during the course. It is your responsibility to check the cover offered by your personal insurance policy. If you do not already have such insurance, you can take out one of the policies we offer:

-* ASSISTANCE’ insurance, covering repatriation, rescue and search costs and interruption of stay, represents 2.6% of the price of the holiday. 
-* ‘MULTIRISK’ insurance covering rescue and search costs, repatriation, cancellation, loss of luggage and interruption of holiday, represents 5.6% of the price of the holiday. 
-* For non-European residents, ‘ASSISTANCE for non-European Union citizens’ insurance, covering rescue and search costs and interruption of stay, represents €10 per day.

Transport from the meeting point to the starting point of the climb by car pooling with participants’ vehicles.

To join us: Make sure your vehicle is equipped with the right equipment (snow tyres or snow chains), [compulsory on some of the roads used during your stay]->https://www.hautes-alpes.fr/evenement/1634/1639-actualites.htm]

That’s the CO2 produced by our travels during your stay!

To join us :

Why not car pool or take the train ?

For information:

• Paris - L’Argentière-La Bessée (710km) by overnight train !

1. By train : 2,53 kgCo2
2. By car : 137 kg CO2
3. By electric car : 14,1 kgCO2

• Lyon - L’Argentière-La Bessée (250 km)

1. By train : 1,22 kgCo2
2. By car : 48,4 kg CO2
3. By electric car : 4,96 kgCO2

• Marseille - L’Argentière-La Bessée (259km)

1. By train : 0,88 kgCo2
2. By car : 50,1 kgCO2
3. By electric car : 5,13 kg CO2

Carpooling ? We can put you in touch with other participants. Contact us by email or telephone. https://www.blablacar.fr/

Offset your carbon emissions !

For every tree planted, 150 kg of CO2 are stored !
https://www.reforestaction.com/plan...

The Pays des Ecrins region has excellent transport links.

If you’re coming by train,

The SNCF provides direct daily services from Paris, Marseille and Grenoble to L’Argentière-la-Bessée station.
PLEASE NOTE: the Pays des Ecrins station is called "L’Argentière les Ecrins". You must specify the full name of the station when booking, otherwise you may receive a ticket for "l’Argentière" station in Savoie.

• TGV connection, Paris-Turin. Get off at Oulx then take the shuttle to Briançon and l’Argentière.
• TGV connection, Paris-Valence or Paris-Grenoble with bus connections
• Night trains from Paris and the East of France. Information www.sncf.connect.fr
• from Nice, Marseille or Gap, regular bus services (www.autocars-scal.fr - 04 92 51 06 05)

If you are coming by car,

• From the north, take the A48 motorway to Grenoble, then the Col du Lautaret (RN91). Drive through Briançon towards Gap. You enter the Pays des Écrins at Saint-Martin de Queyrières.

• From Italy, take the A43 Maurienne motorway through the Fréjus tunnel, then the Col de Montgenèvre. Drive through Briançon towards Gap.

• From the south, take the A51 motorway to La Saulce, then head for Briançon (RN 94). You enter the Pays des Écrins at La Roche de Rame.

• Supervision by a mountain guide
• the technical equipment: boots, crampons, ice axes, helmet, harness, safety kit (avalanche transceiver, shovel, probe) if necessary

• We welcome you to our premises for a cup of coffee or tea and equip you on site
• Free parking is available at the meeting point
• You can have a shower at the end of your stay
• You have free access to a relaxation area with Wifi, toilets, microwave, etc. while you wait for your train (5 minutes’ walk from the station)
• You can leave a bag with your personal belongings on the ROC ÉCRINS premises during your stay
• You will receive a 10

Lorsque nous allons en montagne, nous sortons de la société que nous connaissons pour nous retrouver dans un milieu encore un peu épargné par les activités humaines.
La montagne est singulière puisqu’elle est le symbole d’une liberté. En effet c’est un lieu où quiconque peut s’exprimer, gravir, sauter, glisser, vivre, partager et plus encore. Que notre objectif soit un sommet, une ligne ou simplement la découverte des paysages, nous profitons tous d’un moment privilégié avec la Nature.
Pour garder cet espace de vie aussi beau et le conserver, il faut aussi en prendre soin et savoir vivre avec tous les acteurs de la montagne.

UN ENVIRONNEMENT FRAGILE. Pour le préserver quelques simples règles de bonne conduite : rester sur les sentiers, ne rien prélever, ne rien jeter et se faire discret tant vis à vis de la faune qu’à l’égard des autres randonneurs et alpinistes. La montagne est l’un des derniers lieux silencieux, et ce silence est un trésor à chérir, à respecter et à partager !
EN MONTAGNE, vous ferez cordée avec votre guide, vos amis ou d’autres personnes que vous ne connaissez pas, tous unis par un même objectif.
L’entre-aide est de mise, au sein du groupe mais aussi vis à vis de quiconque aurait besoin d’aide. Pensez au sens de « circulation » : Ceux qui descendent laissent passer ceux qui montent.
EN REFUGE aussi, il est important de respecter certaines règles de savoir-vivre pour garantir une cohabitation harmonieuse. Vous devrez vous déchausser pour monter dans les dortoirs, des crocs sont prévus à cet effet. N’oubliez pas que les réveils sont en général très matinaux alors soyez discret. Au réveil, il est d’usage de plier sa couverture.
Au moment du DÉBRIEFFING de la journée, il est d’usage d’offrir un verre au groupe pour apaiser les moments de doutes, de peurs, et/ou fêter le sommet, revivre les moments forts, drôle et joyeux de la journée. Et si le cœur vous en dit, à la fin de votre séjour, vous pouvez remercier votre guide avec un petit pourboire, une tradition ancienne mais bien sûr non obligatoire.

To book your trip :

• complete the pre-registration form online
• You will receive a booking contract by email. It sets out the details of your booking as well as the schedule and payment terms.
• On receipt of this contract, the deposit of 30% must be payed within 4 days in accordance with the terms and conditions set out in the contract. Your registration can only be confirmed when the deposit has been payed.
• The balance must be paid 45 days before the departure. Please note that any balance not paid within 45 days of departure will be considered as a cancellation of your booking. Financial withholding would therfore be applied in accordance with our terms and conditions of sale.
• For a of a booking made less than 45 days before departure, the total amount of the booking must be paid on receipt of the booking contract in accordance with the terms and conditions set out therein.