Upgrade your rock and ice climbing skills with Swiss Alpine Guides

Central Switzerland’s diverse landscape, soaring Alps, and rugged terrain offers travelers a wide selection of adventures, including rock climbing. Interlaken is a small, picturesque town located within reach of the Bernese Alps and bordered on either side by Lakes Thun and Brienz. It serves as a springboard for outdoor enthusiasts looking to explore all that the area has to offer. For those who plan on rock climbing in Switzerland, Interlaken is a favorite starting point for many expeditions.

If you’re hoping to spend some time scaling the mountains, you’ll want to be as prepared as possible for the rugged terrain of the peaks. Given their high altitudes, the rock faces are frequently covered in—or corroded by—ice. Learning how to utilize safety equipment can expand the possibilities for your travels and provide you more independence during your exploration.

The Swiss Alpine Guides are a group of certified mountaineering and adventure guides. The company offers a wide array of classes and tours, including avalanche safety courses, paragliding trips, helitreks, and snowshoeing excursions. Their rock and ice climbing course lasts two days and can be booked privately or as part of a general group. 

At the beginning of the first day, your guide will pick you up from your lodgings or the Interlaken Ost train station. Alternatively, you can choose to meet at the Swiss Alpine Guide’s building in town. The initial day will cover all the basics of rock-climbing. You can expect to learn how to attach and adjust your own harness, ropes, climbing boots, and helmet. Afterward, your guide will show you how to negotiate rock faces to climb successfully and how to utilize equipment to rappel back down. Everyone in your group will have a chance to climb up the mountainside with a guide ensuring your safety and providing helpful tips. At the end of what was likely an exhausting and fun first day, you can head back to your lodging for a good night’s sleep.

The following morning, you will again be picked up by a Swiss Alpine van or you meet at their base. The group will drive to a nearby glacier, where you’ll have several hours to practice ice climbing. Here, you’ll strap on crampons, or spiked soles, and learn how to use ice picks to secure yourself while climbing the slippery rock face. Depending on the weather and location of the glacier, you may find yourself climbing up a large, frozen waterfall that would otherwise cascade down the steep mountainsides. In addition to learning about ice climbing itself, the guide will also provide education on how to accomplish a crevasse rescue, more advanced rope skills, and important considerations for weather and navigation when climbing. At the end of this two-day experience, you’ll be well-prepared to start tackling bigger adventures with independence and confidence. 

But what if you’re already well-versed in rock climbing technique or want a one-on-one lesson? Starting in May 2020, Swiss Alpine Guides will offer private classes for advanced students. These rock and ice climbing courses will focus on more in-depth and advanced skills, including additional climbing techniques, advanced rope handling, and knot skills. 

This 2-day class is offered during the summer months, from May to October. When snow begins to fall in earnest during November, there aren’t any bare rock faces to practice basic climbing. However, the ice climbing course is available through the winter months, with expanded sessions. The equipment for the course is provided as part of your class booking, and includes boots, a helmet, ropes, harnesses, crampons, ice axes, hat, gloves, and a backpack to transport your gear. A full list of what to bring and what is provided can be found when booking a course. 

Choosing to partake in this class fuels an excellent learning and bonding experience for families, friends, and teams. Together, you can learn to climb safely and successfully on the various types of terrain you may encounter. When you’re ready, there are plenty of opportunities for you to put your new skills to use. Consider trekking across any of the numerous glaciers in the area, such as Stone Glacier or Aletsch Glacier. Take a shot at climbing the south face of the Eiger, or the north face if you’re an advanced climber looking for a real test of skill. When you travel around Interlaken, you’re invariably travelling around mountains, so why not learn to climb them?