Free Alpine Courses - Calling Young Members!
Have you ever dreamed about scrambling at 3,400m in the Austrian Alps, skiing through jaw-dropping glacial landscapes, conquering snow-capped summits and hiking through alpine meadows? The generous 100% AAC funding can make these dreams a reality. With full grants available for members aged 18 to 22, the AAC fulfils the mountaineering ambitions of young people every year and opens up a world of adventure. Two young recipients of these grants described their experiences.
Jake Jones -
'Introduction to Klettersteigs'
Klettersteig at Stuiben Waterall
Photo by Jake Jones
"This summer I was one of the lucky members to have a fully-funded alpine adventure. I attended the AAC 'Introduction to Klettersteigs' course, also known as 'via ferratas', where I was able to scale fantastic vertical routes using the protection of metal wires, involving crossing a wire bridge above the 159m Stuiben waterfall, exploring many of the stunning Tyrolean valleys such as Ôtztal and climbing the Kaiser Max big wall near Innsbruck. I was in a friendly group of six from a variety of backgrounds with a broad range of age and ability, but all were keen, friendly and passionate about the mountains. All course transport was provided by the AAC and we were treated to excellent service, delicious breakfasts and dinners, and a stunning view over Innsbruck in Gasthaus Rechenhof. We were led by Robert, the same guide as on the Alpine Skills course, who demonstrated how to use the Klettersteig gear, supervised our progress and told us lots of interesting information about the areas we visited."
Klettersteig 3 at Stuiben Waterall
Photo by Jake Jones
Lorna Nun -
'Introduction to Alpine Skills'
"I applied for one of the free places for young members in order to learn the basics required for alpine mountaineering such as being able to use an ice axe and crampons, crevasse rescue and other important skills. I was thrilled when my application was accepted!
Linker Fernerkogel and Braunschweiger Hütte
Photo by Allan Hartley
I was pleased to discover that everyone else on the course was in the same boat as me; we had mountaineering experience, but were no experts on the glacier - yet! Our guides were patient and taught us in a way that was easy to understand, so that soon we had all grasped essential skills. We worked together when we practised crevasse rescue on the glacier: dangling on the end of a rope in a deep crevasse surrounded by glassy walls of ice was certainly a unique experience and one I'd rather not repeat in a real accident! The realisation of the dangers and difficulties that glacier crossing imposes gave us all a new found respect for the mountains.
Descent from the Wilder Freiger towards the Fernerstüber
Photo by Jereny Robbins
My favourite day of the trip was when we climbed a 3,000m peak called the Linker Fernerkogel, where it was great to put our new found skills into practice. The views from the summit were stunning, particularly that of the Wildspitze, the tallest peak in the region.
I would really recommend this course to other young members of the Austrian Alpine Club who are keen to get a taste of alpine mountaineering. For me, it was an action packed week with lots of fun and laughter. It was great to meet so many like-minded people with a passion for the outdoors. Many of us are now considering the Intermediate Alpine Skills Course next year, in order to consolidate our knowledge and enjoy another week in the beautiful Austrian Alps."
Grants are open on all beginner AAC(UK) courses, including alpine skills, climbing, Klettersteigs and off-piste skiing. The costs of the guides, accommodation, food and course transport are all covered, and you are only required to pay for your travel to the course starting point. Travel to Austria from the UK typically costs about £160 in total including a return flight to Munich and train to Innsbruck.
To find out more about these amazing grants and courses offered by the AAC just visit the website, www.aacuk.org.uk where you can find out about the application process. Candidates simply have to write a brief rèsumè of their relevant experiences and explain how the grant would benefit them. Don't miss out on these incredible opportunities. See you in the Alps.
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