Featured Courses
Summits & Skills 4000m
Level 1: Instructional Course
Our six-day 'Summits and Skills 4000m' course is our Level 1 introduction to summer alpine mountaineering. This course is the first in our series of instructional courses giving you the opportunity to walk in crampons, use an ice axe, experience being on a glacier and learn the basic skills to enable you to climb your first alpine summits.
This course then naturally leads into any of our classic level 2 courses, such as our Monte Rosa 4000ers or perhaps the Classic 4000ers where you'll get the chance to consolidate and practise the introductory skills you have learned, whilst gaining experience climbing classic peaks in the Alps.
Having practised the skills from the Summits & Skills 4000m course, we also offer our Classic AlpinISM course (level 2 instructional course) which is a great progression and where you'll refresh and develop your skills and experience and work towards becoming an independent alpine mountaineer.
Monte Rosa 4000ers
Level 2 : Guided Climbing
Our Monte Rosa 4000ers week links together the ultimate traverse of both 4000m summits and high mountain huts offering an amazing week based entirely in the highest mountains of the Alps and culminating in a stay at the highest hut - the Margherita Hut at 4559m.
This high mountain journey is a fantastic 'next step' for those who have completed out Summits and Skills 4000m course or similar, having learned the basic skills of summer alpine mountaineering and wishing to develop and practise these skills, or those who are experienced and who wish to enjoy a week of great mountaineering, whilst staying in high mountain huts, and climbing 4000m peaks.
There are few high mountain traverses like this one in the Alps. Centred in the Monte Rosa Massif, staying each night in a high mountain hut and then climbing one or more of the snowy 4000m peaks that make up this chain of high summits. The massif sits high above Zermatt with incredible views across to the Matterhorn, the Dent Blanche and Mischabel range in stark contrast to the flat plains of Italy to the south.
More Info
Ice Climbing Skills
Level 1 : Instructional Course
Our 5 day Ice Climbing Skills Course is designed to give you the best possible introduction to climbing the frozen waterfalls that form in the Italian and Swiss Alpine Valleys in winter.
More InfoWhy Choose ISM?
Our pedigree speaks for itself
Founded in 1965, ISM is a prestigious English speaking climbing and mountaineering school based in Leysin Switzerland. We are by far the longest established provider of Alpine mountaineering courses to English speaking clients and attract clients from all over the world.
More About Us
Sharing Our Knowledge
Visit Our Knowledge Base
On-sighting - Tips and Techniques
Verb - To climb a route that you’ve not climbed before, leading it from bottom to top without resting or…
Read More
Red-Pointing - Tips and techniques
Verb - To climb a route from bottom to top cleanly without any artificial rests such as sitting on the…
Read More
New Routes in the Canadian Rockies
Every day’s a road trip, as we thread our way through the beautiful mountains of the Canadian Rockies in search…
Read More
Which Boots do I need?
Boot and footwear choice represents perhaps the single most important decision of all when considering your mountaineering equipment.
Read More
Some thoughts on rope choice linked into decision making
So, as a BMG IFMGA Mountain Guide and climber what ropes do I use?
Read More
Traditional Climbing on a Single Rope
So, traditional climbing on a single rope - old school or maybe just a modern take on things?
Read More
The Art of Making Traditional Kyrgyz Bread!
Reflecting on a special day in the Pamir Mountains, Kyrgyzstan 2019
Read More
