Mission Explorer
Artu x AGS Alps Challenge Chamonix is a four-day Italian Alps expedition where you learn the skills and techniques of alpinism - culminating in an extraordinary 4,000 summit climb of Italy's Graian Alps Gran Paradiso peak.
Arrive at Geneva airport in the heart of the French Alps, where the Artu team and your AGS guides will greet you. An hour's transfer takes you to Chamonix, to the hotel, which will be your base for the Challenge.
Once everyone’s settled in, there will be an equipment check and kit fitting, followed by an introduction to your mountain guides, and you will be given a briefing on the following day's activities.
Rise and shine for an early breakfast, and then it’s straight into the day: kit checks and then drive to Italy into the Gran Paradiso National Park. Today you will walk up to the Chabod Hut at 2750m. The walk-up will take between 2.5-6 hours.
We will start the 1300m climb to the summit of Italy’s highest mountain, Gran Paradiso 4061m. The route follows steep snow slopes and glaciers, culminating in the traverse of an exposed rocky ridge to finally reach the Madonna at the summit with stunning vistas across he Western Alps and the Aosta Valley. (If the weather isn’t favourable for a summit attempt, we will head onto the glacier to conduct Glacier safe movement training and crevasse rescue training).
After a more relaxed breakfast, return to Chamonix for lunch and rock climb or relax in the afternoon. We will stay at the Hotel and have a celebratory dinner. (If bad weather on Day 3, there is a second summit attempt).
Say goodbye to the peers you’ve made, the instructors who’ve taught you lifelong skills and this iconic location over a leisurely breakfast. Your transfers will then take you from the hotel to Geneva airport for your flight home.
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Artu and the AGS Foundation are pleased to invite you to join their inaugural alpine training event.
AGS will conduct mountaineering training exercises in Chamonix culminating in a summit attempt at Italy’s highest mountain Gran Paradiso.
The challenge is an exceptional opportunity to join the Artu xAGS community, develop world-class mountaineering skills, attempt a summit of one of Europe’s grandest mountains and support AGS beneficiaries.
The challenge may be used as an introduction and training exercise for members looking to participate in the Artu xAGS alpine series.
The Adaptive Grand Slam (AGS) – Be Inspired
The AGS project selects, trains and prepares members of the disabled community to attempt physical challenges, often expeditionary in nature. Our challenges provide a clear focus for our beneficiaries (supported through the AGS Foundation, registered charity number 1173076, which is a powerful tool in rehabilitation and provides access to a support network.
“Through our endeavours, we can demonstrate that one can still achieve great things. If one has the support, drive and determination, a debilitating injury should not stop you from reaching your goals” – Martin Hewitt.
The AGS Guides
Our guides are nothing short of world-class and continue to accompany the AGS team across all our challenges and preparation, Harry Taylor has broken climbing records from the Andes and the Alaska Range to the Himalayas, and was the second Brit to ever summit Everest without oxygen. As you reach higher altitudes and test the limits of your experience, the value of our experienced, IFMGA-qualified AGS Guides cannot be understated, ensuring your safety and maximising our chance of success.
Fitness. This expedition is open to all active people but adequate physical endurance is required and it will be physically demanding carrying up to 20kgs at altitudes of up to 4,200 m. If you have any questions please contact us. We are happy to talk through requirements with you and provide a suggested training programme.
On this expedition you will be:
a. Climbing and trekking up to 30km a day.
b. Terrain will be rocky trails and scrub with snow and ice at higher altitudes. At times it will be very steep. The max daily altitude gain is 1330 m.
c. Altitude maximum altitude is around 4,200m. Above 2000m you might feel slight effects from altitude and above 3500m you may be prone to altitude sickness.
d. Temperature will be around 27 oC at the beginning, reducing to around -15 above 4000 m
e. Weight you will be required to carry your own rucksack weighing 20kg.
f. Equipment list will be provided to all team members through joining instructions once deposits have been paid
• Four nights of accommodation
• Exceptional mountaineering experience
• World class guides and support team
• Transfers(from Geneva and subject to schedule flights)
• Exceptional accommodation
• Food (and wine for celebratory dinner)
• Prices include AGS beneficiary member costs to join the event
• Flights
• External restaurants and drinks
• Insurance
• Gratuities
Below, please take a look at the various room types available, as well as the payment options. If you decide to pay a deposit, the entire payment needs to be made 60 days prior to your arrival.
