If your New Years resolution is to take up a new challenge, then how about a once in a lifetime trip to the Eiger?
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This four day trip (dates throughout June) involves climbing part of the north face of the Eiger, via a short section of Via Feratta (a section of cables and ladders) in the Swiss Alps. It is not one for the faint hearted but if you do take up the Eiger challenge it is an experience which will stay with you forever.
Climbing has always been regarded as one of the most physically demanding and difficult sports, however it is also one of the most rewarding and with rising numbers of female climbers it is becoming increasingly attractive to women. On this trip there are only 15 places per weekend, which means you will be able to benefit from a good ratio of staff to participants – and feel totally supported if it is your first experience of climbing.
In order to be considered for the trip, Mark Garland (MIA, IML) and Dr Andrew Middlebrook from Exercise Science Consulting Ltd run a training programme to assess your fitness levels and ensure they are at the level required to participate.
Following this a full training programme will be developed for each participant to develop the personal and technical skills needed for the trip. This makes it a perfect new year project - an opportunity to get fit with a specific purpose in mind.
As part of this programme there is also a training weekend in March which will give you the opportunity to meet fellow participants, but also enable you to set new targets for your fitness that may be required to take on the climb.
And during the trip in June there are other activities aside from the Eiger climb. You will also have the opportunity to experience the heights with a unique train journey through the middle of Eiger to the highest station in Europe - Monch Hut. You will stay here to climb the Monch and Jungfrau mountains before returning for a celebratory evening in Grindelwald.
Fact File: Touching the Eiger.
Time Table:
Day 1: Fly to Zurich. Climb the North face of Eiger on the Via Ferrata.
Day 2: Climb Mönch 4,107m. Stay overnight in the Mönch Hut.
Day 3: Climb Jungfrau 4,158m. Return to Grindelwald to celebrate!
Day 4: Return flight to UK
Dates:
• 4 - 7th June 2009
• 11 -14th June 2009
• 8 - 21st June 2009
• 25-28th June 2009
Pre event training:
This is all included in the price and will be run over the weekend of the 14-15th March in North Wales which all participants must attend. Training will include:
• Fitness and training
• Rope work
• Crampon familiarisation
• Equipment briefing
• Safety on the slopes
Equipment:
Keela clothing are supporting breathingspace and are able to offer all equipment at competitive prices. These will be available for viewing at the training weekend.
Cost:
£1500pp (+VAT) flight not included.
NB: This does not include personal equipment or the celebration dinner in Grindelwald.
Further details:
www.breathingspace.uk.com
Eiger photo: Image©Jungfrau Marketing
Danielle Sellwood, Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine
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