Program

- Meeting 9.00 in front of the Guide Office
- The first couple of hours the group will get a lesson from the Mountain Guide about the basics of avalanche transceivers: the old analogic and the new digitals
- The lesson will be about the basic rules to follow in case of avalanche situation
- The group will move to a prepared pisted location for a practical demonstration of a search for a person caught in an avalanche with a digital avalanche transceiver
- Probing and digging techniques
- Practical demonstration of a search for two or more people caught in an avalanche
- Final exam

Equipment

- Warm ski clothes
- Warm alpine boots or skitouring gear and helmet
- Security kit: shovel, probe and avalanche transceiver
- Thermos with hot tea

Rates

You can choose to perform the trip in a "Collective Group" or with a "Private Guide"

COLLECTIVE
You'll be added in an a group with other people.
Groups:
- min 4 people
- max 6 people per Mountain Guide
The trip will be confirmed ONLY by reaching the minimun number of 4 clients. If not, the Guide Office will suggest you some alternative ski trips.
Cost per person: 125,00€ 

PRIVATE GUIDE
You can book a private Mountain Guide at disposal of your own group.
Cost for private group:
Group of 1 person: 430,00€
Group of 2 people: 430,00€
Group of 3 people: 465,00€
Group of 4 people: 500,00€
Group of 6 people: 550,00€

The price includes:
- the assistance of the Mountain Guide 
- security kit: avalance transceiver, probe and shovel
The price does not include:
- ski tickets (if necessary for the practice)
- car transfers
- lunch expenses
- the insurance for the activity
- all the other expenses

Note

IT'S REQUESTED A VALID EUROPEAN HEALTH INSURANCE CARD (EHIC) TO HAVE A PERSONAL HEALTH INSURANCE

Multimedia

Photo

Video

Awareness Is Safety

Frequenting the High Mountains is a demanding activity that cannot be undertaken lightly, and requires a whole series of careful evaluations both on one's own physical conditions and on the conditions that will be faced, and therefore also on one's own abilities and skills.
The High Mountains are a magnificent, majestic, sublime environment, but one that hides dangers and requires prudence, attention and expertise.
For this reason, the Courmayeur Guides consider it appropriate to inform, through this small vade-mecum, about all those situations that can occur during the performance of activities in the High Mountains.
Let's look at some aspects that can influence our high altitude trips.

Pressure and High Altitude

Atmospheric pressure decreases as we climb in altitude. At 5,000 m it is half the pressure recorded at sea level. This has direct consequences on our body, which in many of its parts undergoes this depression.

ALTITUDE (m) AVAILABLE OXYGEN (%) 0 m 100% 2000 m 80% 4000 m 60% Matterhorn 5000 m 50% Mont Blanc

The lowering of pressure results in a decrease in the concentration of oxygen in the air. The more the oxygen pressure in the atmosphere decreases, the less our lungs are able to capture it, thus decreasing its concentration in the blood and, consequently, physical performance. The human body, with sufficient training, is however able to adapt and improve its own capabilities in an environment with rarefied oxygen, thanks to acclimatization, which must be more or less long depending on the altitude we will have to face.

Cold and Wind

At altitude, the temperature decreases on average by 1 °C every 150 m. This leads to an increased risk of hypothermia and frostbite.

ALTITUDE (m)	0	1000	2000	3000	4000	5000
TEMPERATURE (°C)	15 °C	9 °C	2 °C	-5 °C	-8 °C	-18 °C

Wind also accentuates the effects of temperature on the body. The body, to live, needs to maintain its own temperature around 37 °C.
To maintain it in the hostile environment of the high mountains, in conditions of exposure to cold temperatures, the body consumes its own energy reserves. It is therefore important to follow some principles:
- drink and eat (therefore provide adequate supplies)
- stay dry (therefore use appropriate clothing and plan a change)
- protect yourself from the wind with specific clothing
- stay active
In the mountains, the wind amplifies its own effects. It has a body cooling power of 0.5 °C per km/h and also contributes to dehydrating the body.

Humidity

It is the concentration of vapor in the air. It decreases with increasing altitude, which leads to an increased danger of dehydration, both through the skin and through respiration.

Sun and Radiation

Radiation is produced by ultraviolet rays (UVA/B/C) and by infrared rays (IR).
UVA and UVB are the most aggressive for the skin and eyes. The intensity of radiation increases by about 1% for every 100 m of altitude. Snow and ice increase and accentuate its effects. It is therefore necessary to provide adequate protection for the skin and eyes.

For all these reasons, it is important to be aware of the risks one faces when frequenting the high mountains, and of our physical conditions.
It is necessary, before facing an activity, to have sufficiently prepared physically, on long-duration efforts, and possibly at altitude.
It is also necessary and extremely important to make as honest and objective an examination as possible of one's own technical abilities, and to be aware that one is going into a hostile environment that also involves unforeseen events to which one must react.
A good evaluation of our technical abilities and our physical state will allow us to face more serenely the environment of the high mountains and the dangers inherent to it.

Evaluate your Level

Physical condition levels

TIME REQUIRED	HEIGHT GAIN PER HOUR	MAX HEIGHT GAIN
1 From 1 to 2 hours	100m	100 / 300 m
2 from 3 to 4 hours	200m	400 / 600 m
3 from 4 to 6 hours	250m	700 / 1000 m
4 from 6 to 9 hours	300m	1000 / 1300 m
5 from 9 to 12 hours	400m	1300 / 1800 m

Skiing and ski-touring Technical Ratings

LEVEL	INFO
1	Introduction to off-piste skiing. On-piste skiing level required: red piste.
2	Skiers with basic off-piste experience. On-piste skiing level required: black piste. Routes on max. 30 degree slopes, SM/BS difficulty, possible short climbing passages with crampons.
3	Expert off-piste skiers, able to ski in all snow conditions on steep slopes. Routes on max. 40 degree slopes, BSA/TBSA difficulty, climbing passages with crampons and ice axe.
4	Excellent skiers on steep slopes, with climbing experience.

Alpinism and ice-climbing technical ratings

LEVEL	INFO
0	Walking on marked trails. Multi-day hikes or glacier walks.
1	First ascents at altitude, use of crampons and ice axe, basic rope work, rock and ice climbing techniques, and via ferratas.
2	"F easy ascent". Snow or ice slopes, 40 degrees max. Easy rock climbing with sections up to grade III max.
3	"PD slightly difficult ascent". Snow or ice slopes, 45 degrees max. Rather easy rock climbing with sections up to grade IV max.
4	"AD Fairly hard ascent". Snow or ice slopes, 60 degrees max. Rock climbing with sections up to grade V max.
5	"D sustained and difficult ascent". Snow or ice slopes, 70 degrees max. Rock climbing with sections up to grade 6a (French grades).
6	"TD/ED extremely difficult ascent, with sustained climbing and high commitment". Snow or ice slopes up to 90 degrees. Rock climbing with sections from 6a further on (French grades).

Booking

Bookings must be made by email at info@guidecourmayeur.com indicating:

• participant's name and surname;

• telephone number, address, date of birth;

• technical skill level;

• date and program of your choice;

• parental consent for underage participants.

For any questions the Mountain Guide Society can be contacted by phone at: +39 0165 842064.

After having made arrangements with our main office is required the TOTAL payment of the price for all the activities (by INSTANT wire transfer).

No booking will be accepted before the requested payment has been received.

Bank details:

Heading: SOCIETA' GUIDE ALPINE E MAESTRI DI ALPINISMO DI COURMAYEUR COOP.
IBAN: IT10N0858731560000200100250
BIC: CCRTIT2TVAL
Banca di Credito Cooperativo Valdostana Scrl
Viale Monte Bianco, 30
11013 Courmayeur (AO)

The wire transfer must be made with CURRENCY OF THE SAME DAY OF EXECUTION and not postponed.

Bank transfer fees + Bank currency conversions fees must be debited to you. If not, these fees have to be refunded at our office before the start of the selected trip.

Administrative expenses, the amount of which is fixed at 5% of the activity price, are never refundable.

Reservations can be made until 6pm the day before of the activity.

1. Withdrawal and cancellation due to unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances

The Customer decides to cancel the tour/activity, or to ask to modify the date of the same, they will have the possibility to do so in accordance with the following indemnity scheme:

• 100% refunded, if the cancellation is notified to the Mountain Guide Society, in writing by specific email to info@guidecourmayeur.com, up to 60 days before the first day of the tour/activity (departure day). The Mountain Guide Society will retain the 5% of the total amount of the booked activity, as an administrative expenses, non refundable and the eventual non-reimbursable expenses in order to organize the tour/activity.

• 75% refunded, if the cancellation is notified to the Mountain Guide Society, in writing by specific email to info@guidecourmayeur.com, between 59 and 30 days before the first day of the tour/activity (departure day). The Mountain Guide Society will retain the 5% of the total amount of the booked activity, as an administrative expenses, non refundable and the eventual non-reimbursable expenses in order to organize the tour/activity.

• 50% refunded, if the cancellation is notified to the Mountain Guide Society, in writing by specific email to info@guidecourmayeur.com, between 29 and 15 days before the first day of the tour/activity (departure day). The Mountain Guide Society will retain the 5% of the total amount of the booked activity, as an administrative expenses, non refundable and the eventual non-reimbursable expenses in order to organize the tour/activity.

• 0% refunded, if the cancellation is notified to the Mountain Guide Society in writing by email to info@guidecourmayeur.com, less than 14 days before the first day of the tour/activity (departure day).

2. In the event of withdrawal by the Customer, or in the event of request to change the date of the activity already booked and confirmed, the non-refundable fees that will be deducted from the refund include the following items:

• administrative expenses: 5% of the total price (or tariff);

• the eventual non-reimbursable expenses paid by the Mountain Guide Society in order to organize the tour/activity (expense booking huts, administrative expenses, organization costs, transfert costs, purchase cable car tickets, rental equipment expenses etc.), to be defined at the moment of the Customer's request for cancellation;

• credit card fee, corresponding to 5% of the total amount paid via credit card by the Customer.

3. Considering the unpredictability and variability of weather conditions and their impact on outdoor activities, particularly in mountainous environments, in the days immediately preceding the trip, the leading Mountain Guide or the Hiking Guide (AMM) provides accurate information about the weather forecast and the itinerary conditions (temperatures, wind, snow conditions, etc.).

4. In order to guarantee the maximum safety during their professional guiding working, it's always and only at the Mountain Guide or the Hiking Guide (AMM) (not the Customer) to decide to cancel the trip due to bad weather forecasts, environmental or weather conditions and/or specific contingent situations not deemed suitable to carry the activity on the planned itinerary.

5. In particular for Stage Mont Blanc of 6 days and the ascent of Mont Blanc in 2/3 days if the mountain conditions or weather conditions do not allow the program planned, the alternative activities will take place in the Mont Rosa massif or in the Gran Paradiso massif.

6. In case of bad weather resulting in the cancellation of the activity (except for Heliski, Freeride High Mountain, Freeride and Snowshoeing) for safety reasons, the Mountain Guide Society offers the following options to the Customer:

OPTION 1: delay the trip and move it to another date, depending on the accompanying professional's and the client's availability;

OPTION 2: propose an alternative option with a similar technical level and physical effort to the one cancelled, to take place in the original dates, but in a different area with better conditions and forecast, where this option is possible and preferable, to ensure greater safety to the Customer;

OPTION 3: issuance of a voucher, to be spent for one among all outdoor activities (private or group trips, courses or training stages) promoted by Guide Alpine Courmayeur, valid for 1 year from the date of issue. By the expiry date of the voucher, the Customer shall be entitled to use it if registered for one of the scheduled activities or a private trip; in the event of cancellation, the possibility of using the voucher shall be automatically cancelled and the Customer shall not be entitled to claim any reimbursement.

OPTION 4: as a last resort, the contract may be terminated without any additional costs and with a refund of all the payments already made, with a deduction of the non refundable fees mentioned at 2.

7. In case of cancellation by the Mountain Guide Society due to unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances, the following costs will not be, however, refundable:

• the 5% of the total amount as an administration fee, to which will be added (even in case of postponement of the activity, with the issue of a voucher) the 5% of the total amount for the booking costs of extra services (such as accommodation facilities, ski lift tickets, transfers and similar) and the eventual non-reimbursable expenses paid by the Mountain Guide Society in order to organise the tour/activity;

• the extra services not-refundable costs paid by the Mountain Guide Society provided by third parties (e.g. booking service assistance, mountain huts/accommodations reservation charges, tickets cable car, transfer fee, cost of hiring) in reason of any applied penalties by third parties.

8. In the event of change on the dates of the booked activity, the Mountain Guide or the Hiking Guide (AMM) can be replaced by one of the staff members of the Mountain Guide Society.

9. Assignment of a subscription to third parties

In the event that you are not able to attend the program you have booked, the Mountain Guide Society, allows you to assign your subscription to a specific program to third parties (that meet the requirements provided), prior notice must be made to Mountain Guide Society at least 7 days before the start of the trip and a payment of 50,00€ of administrative expenses.

10. Insurance

During the carrying out of the outdoor activities, the Customer is covered by the liability professional insurance of the Mountain Guide or of the Hiking Guide (AMM) professional in charge. This insurance covers any damages incurred by the Customer and caused by the negligent conduct of the professional. In view of the above, the Mountain Guide Society suggests the Customer to conclude a personal insurance contract, to cover any damages that could incur during the planned activity, with possible additional health and welfare cover in case of necessity, to be activated at the complete discretion of the Customer.

For the days of carrying out the outdoor activities (daily trips, stage or tours) the Mountain Guide Society suggests to the Customer to activate a specific rescue insurance for the research and rescue in case of emergency. This temporary research and rescue insurance IMPACT MULTISPORTS is recommended by the Mountain Guide Society and can be activated directly by the Customer, a few days before the departure, at the following link. The Customer must fill out a form with their personal information and select the duration of cover, depending on the planned tour, by personally taking out the policy with the insurance company by credit card payment. In the event of a rescue call, the Customer without this kind of insurance can be liable for all costs that may incur. The Mountain Guide Society recommends the Customer with personal private insurance to check in advance whether rescue services are already included in their policy and covered in case of need.

The Mountain Guide Society suggests also to the Customer an insurance coverage for cancellation of the planned outdoor activity.

11. Heliski

If the planned flight cannot take place because of: strong winds, bad weather, risk of avalanches and technical problems, the Customer will be entitled to a refund of unused flight services.

The booked Mountain Guide services are not refundable, the Customer will do a day of freeride or ski touring on the same day of the booked activity.

12. Freeride High Mountain

In case of cancellation (due to prohibitive conditions, bad weather, strong winds, risk of avalanches) of the freeride activity in the high mountain, the booked Mountain Guide services are not refundable. The Customer will do a day of freeride or ski touring on the same day of the booked activity and with the same number of Mountain Guides.

13. Freeride

In case of cancellation of the freeride activity accessible from ski lifts, the booked Mountain Guide services are not refundable and an alternative freeride activity will be offered in another ski area. In the event that it will be impossible to organize an alternative activity, the booked Mountain Guide services will be reimbursed.

14. Summer and winter activities

For all the activities, there is no reimbursement in case of illness, accident, physical unfitness, insufficient skiing skills, late arrival and interruptions during the day.

15. Pregnancy

In case of pregnancy, the Customer will be able to participate of the following activities (mid-mountain snowshoeing and trekking) only with a medical certificate.

16. Equipment

For those who come at the morning appointment with inadequate footwear or equipment, they will not be able to participate at the activity and will not be refunded.

17. Private negotiation trips

A test trip, chosen by the Mountain Guide, is mandatory.

18. Incentive and team building

There will be no reimbursement even in case of bad weather but an alternative activity will be proposed.

19. Tête Rousse hut and Goûter hut

The Mountain Guide Society will ask at the Customer the payment of the deposit paid to book places in the hut. In case of bad weather, the amount paid is not refundable.

20. Gift voucher

The Mountain Guide Society can issue gift vouchers, wich can be used for all outdoor activities (private or group trips, courses or training stages) promoted by Guide Alpine Courmayeur. The voucher is valid for 1 year from the date of issue.

By the expiry date of the gift voucher, the Customer shall be entitled to use it if registered for one of the scheduled activities or a private trip.

After the expiry date, the gift voucher can no longer be used and the Customer shall not be entitled to claim any reimbursement.

The gift voucher can be given to another person in accordance with the terms indicated above.