Options for Advanced Mountaineering and Mixed Climbing Course (ALPI 3)

Advanced Mountaineering and Mixed Climbing Course (ALPI 3)

Price per person. Group of 2

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Offer! 300,00 € Price per person VAT included

Pirineosur

Options for Advanced Mountaineering and Mixed Climbing Course (ALPI 3)

Advanced mountaineering and mixed climbing in the Spanish Pyrenees

Illustration of a person mixed climbing on ice and exposed rock. Advanced Mountaineering and Mixed Climbing Course (ALPI 3) · 2 days.

ALPI 3 is PirineoSur’s advanced mountaineering course for climbers who want to improve on mixed ground: rock, ice and snow. Over two days, work on technical ice-tool skills, protection and rope management, with an introduction to dry-tooling.

The course is based in Jaca and normally uses the Aragón valley, with the Tena valley also considered according to conditions. Good physical condition and previous mountaineering and climbing experience are required.

What will you practise?

Advanced two-tool technique, vertical ice, thin and hanging ice, and mixed climbing.
Knots, ice and rock anchors, natural protection, pitons, cams and nuts.
Rope belaying, belay construction, double-rope climbing and moving together.
Assessing conditions, reading routes and difficulty grades, and choosing specialist equipment.
Route planning, weather assessment, navigation and responses to falls or accidents.

Technical practice followed by a multi-pitch route

The first day focuses on advanced movement and protection in ice and rock. The second applies the techniques to a multi-pitch mountaineering route, selected according to conditions and participants’ abilities.

Training is offered to one or two participants, allowing the content to be personalised. Ice axe, crampons, helmet and harness can be provided if needed, as detailed in the included-equipment section. Read the requirements and practical information below, then contact PirineoSur with your experience and dates.

Included and not included
Programme
Requirements and course content
Equipment

Included

Two full days with a qualified high-mountain sports technician.
Ice axe, crampons, helmet and harness if you do not have your own.
Avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe if you do not have your own.
Initial assistance insurance.
Civil liability insurance.
Photographs and video.
Technical advice.

Not included

Accommodation and meals.
Transport.

Location and indicative timetable

The programme takes place in the Aragonese Pyrenees near Jaca. The Aragón or Tena valley is selected according to snow and mountain conditions.

Saturday, 06:00: meet at the PirineoSur office in Jaca or the agreed meeting point, then travel to the training area.
Sunday, 06:00: meet at the office or agreed meeting point. The finishing time depends on the outing.

Day 1: advanced ice and rock skills

Advanced ice-tool techniques.
Specific techniques for vertical ice.
Thin and hanging ice.
Specialist knots and anchors in ice, rock and natural features.
Rope belaying systems and belay construction.
Roped climbing with double ropes.
Moving together.

Day 2: multi-pitch mountaineering route

Apply the techniques on a mountaineering route of several pitches. The venue is chosen according to conditions and participants’ abilities.

Experience required for ALPI 3

Good physical condition is important. You should have completed ALPI 2 or be able to lead grade IV rock climbs, and have experience of a snow or ice couloir with sections around 60–70° (AD). Contact us to discuss your experience and choose the most suitable course.

The objective is to practise using technical tools on rock, ice and mixed ground while strengthening mountaineering knowledge and risk-management skills.

Technical content

Advanced two-tool ice-climbing technique, vertical ice, thin and hanging ice, and mixed technique.
Specialist knots and anchors in ice, rock and natural features.
Placing pitons and removable rock protection such as cams and nuts.
Rope belaying systems and advanced belay construction.
Roped climbing with double ropes and moving together.

Conditions, planning and equipment

Assessing the mountain environment and conditions.
Climbing on thin ice.
Advanced difficulty grading, mountaineering route descriptions and specialist equipment.

Other ALPI training levels

ALPI 1: introductory movement with an ice axe and crampons on snow, straightforward ascents and easy snow couloirs.
ALPI 2: introductory ice climbing for those who have completed ALPI 1 or have mountaineering experience.
ALPI 2+: ice climbing and multi-pitch frozen waterfalls for those who have completed ALPI 1 or have mountaineering experience.
ALPI 3: ice and mixed climbing for those who have completed ALPI 2 or have mountaineering experience.

What to bring

Waterproof jacket and trousers, such as Gore-Tex or equivalent.
Trekking trousers, fleece, synthetic insulated jacket, down jacket or equivalent layers.
Thermal base layer.
Rigid or semi-rigid mountaineering boots.
Gloves and a spare pair.
Warm hat, cap, sunglasses and ski goggles.
A 30- to 45-litre backpack.
Two technical ice tools and crampons with at least semi-automatic bindings.
Helmet, harness and personal anchor tether.
Sun protection.
Food for the practical outings and 1.5 litres of water.