The Patagonia Mountaineering School

Course Description

An expedition unlike any other. For 42 days, your home will be the remote Campo Hielo (Ice Cap) of Patagonia, Chile. Here, surrounded by virgin peaks, sheer rock faces, crystal blue lakes, and the unpredictable Patagonian weather, you will acquire the skills needed to thrive in the mountains, and ultimately to feel confident planning your own mountaineering expeditions in the future. Skills range from route planning to crevasse rescue, expedition leadership to preserving the precious landscape you are living in.

"The days were challenging, but the rewards were simply amazing. It was great learning so much and putting it into practice. I would definitely recommend the trip to anyone who wants a challenging and incredible experience." - Victoria C., 22, England Click Below to Hear what Victoria Said About the Mountaineering School

The Patagonia Mountaineering School Mountaineering courses are expeditions in the truest sense. From the time we leave base camp until the time we return five and a half weeks later, we will be completely self sufficient in wilderness. Each expedition has a strong exploratory component; where we are creating our own way, not following in someone else's footsteps. Together with your instructors, you will experience the continual journey of discovery that can only come from setting your own route. There will be days of triumph and days of disappointment but you can be sure every day will be an adventure. You will be fully involved in the frequent discussions about route selection, risk management and goal setting. This intense involvement in all aspects of the trip means that what you learn, you will learn fully, so you can translate these skills into your own adventures later on.

No previous mountaineering experience is necessary for this course. Just a willingness to learn and desire for adventure and challenge. We start at the beginning, teaching you the basic day to day skills of mountain life: moving with a heavy backpack, selecting and securing a campsite, and staying warm and dry in inclement weather. As the course progresses, you will take an increasingly active role in the running of the expedition, ultimately having the opportunity to develop your leadership skills by taking on the role of group leader. (With close support from your instructors).

What makes this course so special, is not just what you learn, but where you learn it: In the most amazing classroom in the world. Patagonia has a magical reputation and deservedly so. It is a place of breathtaking beauty and remoteness. Here you can stand on a mountaintop encircled the wilderness and feel like you are the only person in the world.

A mountaineering expedition with The Patagonia Mountaineering School will be a rich and rewarding experience. We will go to places few other people go, see things few other people see and face challenges you might once have thought you were not capable of.

You Can Do Extraordinary Things.

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