Ice Climbing and Mountaineering

Courmayeur has a long tradition as a base for serious mountaineering. The Mont Blanc massif offers routes of every grade, from straightforward snow walks to extremely technical mixed climbing on the Grandes Jorasses and the Peuterey Ridge. The local guides' society — Società delle Guide Alpine di Courmayeur, one of the oldest in Italy — can arrange guided ascents and climbing courses for all levels, including introductory days on rock and ice for those with no prior experience.

Ice climbing is available in winter on the frozen waterfalls of Val Veny and the surrounding side valleys, and the town supports a community of experienced guides who run half-day and full-day courses. If you want to do something more ambitious than skiing on groomed runs but are not ready for a Himalayan expedition, a day with a Courmayeur guide is one of the best ways to engage with the mountains seriously. Contact the guides' office on the main square.

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The north face of the Grandes Jorasses, visible from the upper reaches of the Skyway Monte Bianco, contains one of the hardest routes in the Alps — the Walker Spur. First climbed in 1938 by a team that included Riccardo Cassin, it remains a serious undertaking requiring exceptional skill and commitment. Courmayeur guides have been leading clients on Alpine routes like this for well over a century.

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