What’s a Hochtour?
Alpine mountains offer a spectacular wilderness of snow-covered peaks, icy glaciers and remote mountain huts This is the world of the Hochtour, a high alpine mountaineering journey over snow, rock and ice, typically above 3000m. On an alpine Hochtour you can be scrambling along a steep exposed alpine ridge in the morning and then navigating vast glacial crevasses a few hours later with some wild weather along the way. This is a world of crampons and ice axe, watching a sunrise over the roof of the alps and then sharing a warm meal with your rope team back in the hut at the end of the day.
What’s involved?
Hochtours need Hochtour Leaders, and Sektion Britannia is recruiting! Being a Hochtour Leader requires a wide range of alpine skills and experience, not just as an individual mountaineer, but also in the planning and leadership of a group on a multi-day Hochtour in high alpine mountains. It is a challenging role but also a very rewarding one.
As with all tours this is a voluntary role and tour leaders have their costs covered during a tour.
The Austrian Alpenverein runs excellent training and update courses for Hochtour Leaders, which are fully funded by AAC(UK). However, the syllabus for a Hochtour leader is extensive and there are many skills that need integrating. So this year Sektion Britannia will run a development training tour to support aspiring Hochtour leaders. The week will cover different aspects of the Hochtour Leader syllabus as well as practical scenarios, group leadership and risk management. The aim is to create a peer group that can continue to share best practice and encouragement going forwards.
We are looking for people who:
- Have a solid base of alpine mountaineering experience
- Are motivated to train and learn how to lead high alpine Hochtours
- Are eager to contribute to be part of a team of Hochtour leaders
Dates: 2-7 Sep 2024
Location: Hohe Tauern National Park, Austria
Tour Leader: Ben Clayton-Jolly
If you are an aspiring Hochtour leader, or have already completed a Hochtour Leader course and are looking to get back into leading high alpine tours, then this week could be for you. There are seven places available. If you would like to apply for a place or have questions then please Contact: Ben Clayton-Jolly through the Club Office.
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