Tel/Fax: 01479 831583
Messages: 01479 831325
Mobile: 07711 570211

E-Mail: craigowrie@aol.com

Here are a few suggestions – contact me to discuss your requirements:    

Alpine Climbing:  
French, Swiss, Italian Alps
Introductory Alpine Skills
Ascent of Mont Blanc, Monte Rosa, Matterhorn,    Eiger, Jungfrau, Zermatt or Bernese Oberland 4000 metre Peaks
Haute Routes, hut to hut tours
Alpine training in Scotland

Ski Mountaineering:
      French, Italian, Swiss Alps
      The Classic Haute Route and the Italian Haute Route
      4000 metre Peaks on Ski
      Scotland, Greenland, Spitzbergen
      Off piste Skiing
      Alpine Day Tours and Hut to Hut
      Scottish Munros on Ski
      Introductory Training

Arctic Journeys:
      24 hour sunlight in Spring and Summer
      Greenland, Spitzbergen, Alaska
      On Foot or ski
      Polar Bears, Arctic Fox, Seals

Scottish Winter Climbing:
      Cairngorms, Ben Nevis, Torridon, Glencoe
      Snow, Ice and Buttress Climbing
      Classic Ridges
      Introductory training, use of ice-axe and crampons
      Navigation masterclass
      Munros

Scottish Summer
Introduction to rock climbing
Mountain rock climbing
Sea cliff climbing
Skye
Classic ridges

Outdoor Safety Consultancy:
     Expert advice and opinion
     Safety systems
     Training
     Safety Audits
     Accident Investigation and Reporting
     Risk Assessment

Costs
When we discuss your proposed itinerary, I will give you an inclusive price which will cover my fee and all my expenses so there will be no additional charges to you for my services. The fee will cover all guiding, advice and group safety gear, including ropes.   For Alpine mountaineering you need to allow about £25-£30 per person per day for your own expenses (mainly huts and cable cars).  Advice on travel, equipment and hotels can be found elsewhere on this site. 

Where to stay
In the Alps the Hotel Le Dahu in Argentiere, the Hotel Roby in Saas Grund and the Hotel Weisshorn or Hotel Bahnhof in Zermatt give excellent value and all are used to the particular requirements of alpinists. 

In the Cairngorms in Scotland there is a wide range of hotels. I can also recommend the good quality hostel accommodation at Fraoch Lodge.

Travel
Getting to any destination in Switzerland is easy with a highly efficient train and postbus service from Geneva or Zurich airports. It is possible to buy a special return ticket which gives you good value on any journey from the airport and any journey returning to the airport (can be bought at the airport or from the Swiss Centre in London).
To go to Chamonix or Argentiere, it is best to fly to Geneva and then travel on by coach or door to door transfer bus (Andy Cleaver, Phone and Fax 0033 450 53 63 97) 
With advance booking, Easyjet flights to Geneva or Zurich are excellent value.
Easyjet also fly from Luton to Inverness.

Equipment
I normally provide all safety equipment such as ropes, hardware, first aid, bivi sac, map, guidebook. You will be expected to provide your own clothing and personal equipment such as harness, ice-axe, crampons and skis. I can often hire out specific items such as helmets,  but excellent hire services are available in Aviemore and all the main alpine resorts.  I recommend Snow and Rock for the hire of equipment for ski-mountaineering and off piste skiing. 

Typical gear list for classic climbs in the Alps is: 
Sac  about 40-50 L 
Stiff boots Not too tight
Gaiters
Crampons - clip on are best - must fit well
Anti ball plates for crampons 
Warm but flexible layered clothes - not too heavy.  It can be very hot or very cold on the same day, generally heat is the problem.  Ideally some of this doubles up as hut wear/spares.  It can be very cold indeed early in the morning on Mt Blanc or Monte Rosa.
Storm jacket and light overtrousers
Gloves - 1 pair lightweight, 1 pair warm
Sunhat plus warm hat
Goggles  
Axe 55 cm minimum - general purpose with curved pick and removable wrist loop
Helmet - white and ventilated is best
Compass, whistle
Water bottle at least 1 litre.  Some swear by Camelback/ Platypus carriers
Good Sunglasses and sunblock plus lip cream - at least F 15
Head torch with alkaline battery + spare bulb 
Earplugs for huts
Harness and locking karabiner
Ultra-Lightweight wash kit
A few plasters and headache pills 

Despite this list, weight is the enemy.  Leave behind that copy of Lord of the Rings!

If in doubt call me for advice.