Icicle Mountaineering or Jagged Globe

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 Katzina.W 03 Sep 2021

Hi

I'm looking to try and summit Mount Blanc in 2022 hopefully, but as I have no experience in Alpine climbing and sadly no mountaineering partner as well, I was thinking of signing up for the trip with either Jagged Globe or Icicle mountaineering... Did anybody use them before? Which one, if any, would you recommend? 

 robhorton 03 Sep 2021
In reply to Katzina.W:

I've done a couple of skiing courses with Icicle. The guiding was excellent on both occasions, which, in the end is what you're really there for. The main downside is that the flats they use for valley accommodation in Chamonix are a little "basic"/"tired". To be fair, they are entirely open about this, it is reflected in their prices and you don't have to vacate them when staying in huts which is handy.

I've no experience of Jagged Globe but they would probably put you up in a 3* hotel, although they probably use the same actual guides.

Icicle are fairly specialised in The Alps and Chamonix in particular whereas Jagged Globe run stuff globally, I don't know how much difference this really makes though.

I'd be happy to use either and it may just come down to dates / availability. Whoever you use I'd be wary of parting with any cash until it's confirmed the trip will go ahead (although that's probably less of an issue with something like Mont Blanc which I think needs 2:1 guiding).

 ERNIESHACK 03 Sep 2021
In reply to Katzina.W:

I have no experience with Jagged Globe but have been fortunate enough to summit both the Eiger and Matterhorn on 2 separate weeks in 2018, 2019. The base in Chamonix is in a great place, but is pretty tired and in need of updating, but remember you'll not always be there you'll be in a hut to get acclimatised. The rooms are right next to a Spar, bakery and a short walk to the town centre and the cable car too. They also a do training courses in the lakes and I think you need to get out on a course and your own to get some winter experience of using an ice axe and crampons. Although you will be taught this I would not try and climb a mount like that without any experience beforehand. Look at the reviews of both and it would do no harm to call them direct to talk it over and get advice to make your choice. 

 SouthernSteve 03 Sep 2021
In reply to ERNIESHACK:

Consider https://www.frostguiding.co.uk/course/16/Climb_Mont_Blanc.html also

Its been a while, but the proprietor seemed very personable on the Local Moran Mountaineering courses

 Hooo 03 Sep 2021
In reply to Katzina.W:

I've used icicle a few times and while I always had fantastic guides (which is the most importantly thing) and would use them again I have a few reservations. I'm not bothered about the Chamonix flats, although the one without a useable shower was a bit much, but I don't think they were entirely honest with me in changing the arrangements on one trip. In the end the trip was great and I'm glad I did it, but it wasn't what I had booked! Also their rental boots were shit. If you do go with Icicle (and I still think they are good value, given their prices), use the money you've saved to buy your own boots.

 paulmck 05 Sep 2021
In reply to Katzina.W:

The Jagged Globe one looks to spend more nights at altitude before attempting Mont Blanc so that should give it a slight advantage over the Icicle one.  

From personal experience, Icicle act as middle men who will get you fixed up with a local (French or Italian) guide.  When I've used Jagged Globe, they have a UK leader on the course and then supplement this with UK or local guides.  It really depends on the quality of the guide you get but I've had no problems with either company.

I shared a flat in Chamonix with someone doing the Icicle MB course in 2013.  In the end there was too much snow on MB so they did Gran Paradiso instead.  He still thought it was fantastic, even though they didn't get up MB in the end.  Possibly even better as the route was a bit more technically challenging and wasn't as crowded as MB would have been.

It's not a difficult route (assuming you're doing the Gouter) so if you can find someone to learn the basic skills with, doing it with a mate or two is by far the best way to do it.

Good luck.

Post edited at 23:27
 bonebag 05 Sep 2021
In reply to Katzina.W:

I've been with Frost Guiding on Monte Rosa in 2014 and can thoroughly recommend them. I haven't used Jagged Globe or Icicle but did make an enquiry with Icicle last year just before Covid hit.  They did put a lot of emphasis on fitness attained by lots of running which I don't do so I was put off by this. It sounded like they thought my fitness level wouldn't be high enough. Instead I went back to Frost Guiding again but the trip was a casualty of Covid unfortunately. 

 jjone797 25 Sep 2021
In reply to Katzina.W:

I've used Jagged Globe once and they were excellent. Maybe not the cheapest but you get what you pay for.

 downsouth 26 Sep 2021
In reply to Katzina.W:

I have been on trips with both these excellent companies.  For Mont Blanc though I would go with Icicle.  They are more focused on the Chamonix area and have excellent courses.  JG will put trips together there but for this one I think Icicle will be better for you.  Their price points were generally quite a bit lower.  You might get higher grade accommodation with JG if that is particularly important to you.  


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