The Arc’teryx Alpine Academy, Chamonix Mont Blanc

RECOIL recently sent me to Chamonix, France for a big Arc'teryx Writers' Event hosted by Arc'teryx LEAF. We were there for the launch of their new performance footwear line. We also put some of their LEAF (Law Enforcement Armed Forces) gear through its paces up on le Mer de Glace and spent some quality time with some of the instructors from Le Centre National d'Instruction Ski et Alpinisme de la Gendarmerie.

It was, as you might imagine, an incredible trip.

While we were there, though, Arc'teryx had a number of other things going on, including the Arc'teryx Alpine Academy. The Academy is a recurring event you might look into in the future if you're into climbing, mountaineering and other such activities. This year's Academy hosted around 400 participants from some 20 countries over the course of 3 days. Taking place on and around the Aiguille du Midi, the Arc'teryx Alpine Academy teamed attendees in small groups with guides and mentors from the Association of British Mountain Guides and the Compagnie des Guides de Chamonix, along with numerous Arc'teryx sponsored athletes and other SMEs (Subject Matter Experts).

Among the topics studied – crevasse rescue, navigation and ice climbing. Our crew of writers moved in and around various Academy groups during our stay and it certainly looked like they were enjoying themselves (though I would not have traded our trek up the glacier with the gendarmes for anything). Check out the video below for a better look at what went on.

The official Arc'teryx Alpine Academy website is online here; they have a Facebook page as well. You can check out imagery from the 2014 Arc'teryx Alpine Academy here on Flickr. You can also take a look at Outsider LEAF on Facebook – they have some great images of the training cycles they put their dealers through. You may very well end up planning a Chamonix trip next year.