ALPS GRAND TRILOGY CLIMB OVERVIEW

The Alps are the birthplace of alpinism and mountain climbing. On this French & Swiss alps climbing odyssey, we climb the three most fabled of the European Alps - the famous Matterhorn, the imposing Eiger, and the highest, Mont Blanc.

An alps climbing trip can be the trip of a lifetime for any alpine climber. The climbing is spectacular on wildly exposed terrain among iconic peaks. The moves are never too difficult but the challenges are the routes in their entirety in which speed and efficiency is the key to success. The climbing culture in the Alps is unlike anywhere in the world.

We begin our journey in the alpine climbing mecca of Chamonix, France under the shadow of Mont Blanc. We venture high into the French Alps with a few spectacular warm up climbs before climbing Mont Blanc, the highest point in Western Europe.

We then Journey to the quaint Swiss mountain town of Zermatt for the Matterhorn climb, one of the world's most recognizable mountains. Our Matterhorn climb is via the Swiss Hornli Ridge, the first and most famous route on the Matterhorn. We also will sample at least one other climb in the Zermatt area.

Then it's on to the Swiss village of Grindelwald in the Berner Oberland in the shadow the famous Eiger's North face. After a train journey through the inside of the Eiger, we climb the Spectacular Mittellegi Ridge (east ridge) of The Eiger. The Eiger climb is a long and challenging day of climbing with the massive North Face of the Eiger below on our right. A fitting end to the Alps trilogy trip.

Our itinerary is designed to ease into the more difficult peaks. We begin with the easiest of the three, Mont Blanc and then move on to climb the Matterhorn and then then the most difficult of the three, The Eiger climb. Choosing Mont Blanc first also provides acclimating before attempting the more technical peaks.

IAG owner/director and IFMGA internationally certified mountain guide, Dave Miller, personally leads the Alps trilogy climbs. He has refined the itinerary over many years of guiding in the Alps to ensure an efficient and enjoyable climbing trip. He is dedicated to provide you with an enjoyable trip with the best possible chance for summit success. Dave will travel with you thorughout the itinerary and show you around the Alps.

All along the way we will sample some of the rich and historical climbing culture of the Alps. The Matterhorn and Eiger climbs are run at a 1:1 guide-to-guest ratio due to the nature and seriousness of the climbing, the other climbs are at a 1:2 ratio.

We guide both a scheduled trip and we also guide custom dates for private or group Alps trilogy trips.  Or, have some special routes or peaks in mind? Give us a call...we guide all over the Alps.

We offer our Alps climbing trips as all inclusive private trips that include all lodging, ground transportation,
lift tickets and some food. This is an exceptional value unmatched by other companies.

“Thank you Dave and Bernd for an amazing Alps climbing trip!”
— Eliot H.
 
 
 
 

ALPS TRILOGY CLIMB SKILL & EXPERIENCE LEVEL

Climbers on the Mont Blanc, Matterhorn and Eiger climbs should have previous ice axe and crampon experience as well as the ability to efficiently and quickly follow 5.7 rock climbs. The climbing is not exceptionally difficult and can be compared to US 4th class and easy 5th class. However, you are climbing very exposed terrain in lightweight mountain boots and there is the need to move quickly and efficiently all day. Excellent physical shape is required.

ALPS TRILOGY CLIMB GROUND TRANSPORTATION & LODGING

We will arrange and include all the hotel reservations for you with breakfast included in comfortable 3-star hotels. Your guide will travel with you from town to town and we will include travel expenses such as trains and all lift tickets. At the alpine huts, we include all hut fees with breakfast and included. This all allows you to have a worry free trip at an exceptional value.

 

DATES 2024:

Custom dates in from July 10th till Sept 10th

COST: 

All inclusive (includes all lodging, some food and all transportation & lift tickets):
$14,695 for one
$9995 each for two

INCLUDES

  • IFMGA/UIAGM guides and all the guide's expenses

  • Logistical support throughout the trip

  • All lodging:

    • 9 nights hotel with breakfast included

    • 4 nights alpine huts with breakfast and dinner

  • All lift tickets on the normal itinerary.

  • All group climbing equipment

 

For more info on this trip please fill out the form below:

ALPS TRILOGY CLIMB ITINERARY

Day 1:
Arrival in Chamonix. The closest airport is Geneva, Switzerland. There are easy shuttle services from the airport directly to our hotel. We meet in the evening at our hotel in Chamonix and go out for dinner to discuss the upcoming adventure and do a full gear check.

Day 2:
An easy warm up climb in the Chamonix area, probably in the Aiguille Rouge area such as the Crochue Traverse to stretch the legs, start the acclimating process and get used to the style of climbing in the Alps. Overnight in Chamonix.

Day 3:
Another acclimating climb in Chamonix to further our acclimating, probably the classic Cosmiques Arete on the Aiguille du Midi. Today we will step it up a bit in altitude and technicality to help prepare for the more challenging Matterhorn and Eiger. Overnight in Chamonix.

Day 4:
Travel to the Tete Rouse Hut or the Cosmiques Hut on Mont Blanc. This is a easy day with a chance for some rest in the afternoon. Overnight at the hut.

Day 5:
Summit attempt of Mont Blanc via either the Trois Sommets Traverse or the normal Gouter Route, depending upon conditions and group goals. Either route is long and we get an early start, but probably not too early since we are not descending all the way back to town today. This way, we avoid some of the crowds on the summit and avoid the afternoon objective hazards on the descent below the hut. There are spectacular views from the top of Western Europe. We descend back to the Gouter Hut. Overnight at hut.

Day 6:
Descend to Chamonix for some well deserved rest. The late afternoon is free is explore more of Chamonix. Overnight in Chamonix

Day 7:
Travel by a spectacular cog wheel train ride in the morning to the quaint Swiss town of Zermatt. There will be time to explore Zermatt in the afternoon. Overnight in Zermatt.

Day 8:
Training for the Matterhorn via a day climb of the Breithorn Half Traverse, a knife-edge technical, mixed ridge traverse or alpine rock climbing on the Riffelhorn, a traditional Matterhorn training ground. Overnight in Zermatt.

Day 9:
After a free morning, we travel to the Hornli Hut in the afternoon, an easy hike with great view of the Matterhorn. Overnight at the hut.

Day 10:
Early morning pre-dawn wake up for the summit attempt of The Matterhorn via the Horni Ridge. Starting by headlamp, this is a very long and athletic day. The climbing is never too difficult but it is unrelenting and always very exposed. Mostly a rock climb, we do put on crampons near the top. In some sections, there are fixed lines to assist. Descent back down the same route all the way to town. Overnight in Zermatt.

Day 11:
Travel by train to the Swiss resort town of Grindelwald, under the shawdow of the North Face of The Eiger. Overnight in town.

Day 12:
Travel up the famous Jungraujoch Railway that tunnels through the middle of the Eiger North Face to the Eismeer station where we exit via ventilation tunnels to the East Face and right onto the Glacier. After some technical rock climbing and scrambling, we arrive at the spectacular Mittellegihutte perched on the Eiger's East Ridge. Overnight at the hut.

Day 13:
Climb the Eiger via the Mittellegi Ridge, a technical alpine rock climb with the North face of the Eiger below on the right. The climbing is slightly more diffucult yet more aesthetic than the Matterhorn. The exposure is tremendous with over 9000 feet of vertical relief on our right side as we negotiate the ridge. We then descend the South Ridge via rappels and scrambling to the Eigerjoch Col and then up part of a ridge of the Monch with some more exciting technical climbing. After an easy glacier hike, we eventually end up at the Jungfraujoch station where the train takes us back to Grindenwald...once again inside the Eiger. Another long spectacular day. Celebration and overnight in Grindenwald.

Day 14:
Travel by train to your airport (either Geneva or Zurich) or on to your next Europe destination.

Itinerary subject to change