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Please note you will be mailed specific information for your expedition upon registration on participants list. The following are answers for frequently asked questions:
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| What kind of physical condition should I be in? |
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Mountain expeditions require strength & endurance.
Being in sound physical condition is the single most important aspect for climbers to maximize their climbing potential. The better your physical condition, the more likely you are to perform well and have an enjoyable experience. Additionally, inadequate fitness will affect the atmosphere, pace, and overall enjoyment of he trip for all participants. Physical conditioning should be approached on two fronts:
1. Cardiovascular conditioning. Traditionally improved by activity sustained for at least 60-90 minutes. Suggested activities include running, bicycling, swimming, yoga, stepping, etc.
2. Strength conditioning.
Best single type of conditioning for mountaineering: Hike steep outdoor trails with water weight added to your pack. A physical goal for the course should be to ascend 1000 m carrying 30 kg in a 2-3 hour period. Increasing amounts of water in can be carried to vary the workout and slowly work up. Water weight is suggested so that when the climb up is complete the weight can be dumped to save knees on the downhill return. We highly recommend checking with your physician before embarking on strenuous physical activity. We reserve the right to turn away those clients who we determine to be in inadequate physical condition. |
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| How do I sign up for a trip? |
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The best way to reserve your space on a trip is to call our offices and place the deposit. Our trips fill quickly and registering over the phone is the best way to ensure reserving the trip dates you want. Having received the deposit we will forward you an application questionnaire that has to be cheerfully filled up. |
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| What if I prefer single accommodations? |
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For most of our trips, a single room supplement is available for scheduled nights that are spent in a hotel. |
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Our expeditions are provisioned with a blend of high-quality foods and hand picked local fare. If you have any specific dietary restrictions or allergies, there is a place on the application to note this. We prefer vegetarians. |
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| I would like to arrange a private trip, is this possible? |
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We will happy to arrange a private group trip to the destination of your choice. Most of our prices are based on a group size of 4-6 participants. |
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| What is included in the cost of my trip? Does it include airfare? |
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In the descriptions of expeditions we always sate clearly what is included and what is not included in the price. In all cases the price include airfare. This can be changed on request. |
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| What is your safety record? |
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When making decisions or organizing climbs, avoiding injury and sickness is our primary focus. We establish a prevention program for each expedition, and maintain small teams to ensure each climb is as safe as possible. |
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When you sign up for a trip we send a confirmation package, which includes an annotated equipment list detailing each piece of equipment you need to bring. Please read your annotated equipment list very carefully. You will need every item from the list so be as precise as possible when packing. Moreover, we have put 3 lists of personal gear for expedition participants on our web site. We also rent quality technical equipment at reasonable rates. If you have any equipment-related questions please call us at: +48 602 342 585 or +48 606 952 535. You also email us at: info@alpprofessional
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| When do I get my rental gear for my trip? |
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Rental gear for international expeditions is sent to your home or office approximately 10 days prior to your departure date. |
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| Is my rental deposit refundable? |
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Security deposit for Expedition Rentals is fully refundable upon timely (1 week) return of equipment. For equipment returned more than 1 week after expedition, we reserve the right to withhold all or part of your security deposit. |
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| What if I want to extend my trip? |
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For most of our trips, extensions can be arranged. Please call us for details on specific trips. |
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| What is Trip Cancellation Insurance? |
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Trip cancellation insurance is an option that may allow you to cancel your trip without losing the total cost of the trip. We highly recommend cancellation insurance for all of our international trips and many of our domestic courses and programs. We will supply you with information upon signing up for a program. Please consult with the insurance company regarding your specific situation. |
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| What kind of experience should I have to sign up for Mountaineering School? |
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Our courses are designed for beginners as well as advanced willing to improve their skills in rock, ice and glacier climbing. For those with little experience we recommend K1 course. K-1 |
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| Where do I pick up my rental gear for the course? |
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You will pick up your rental gear at our offices during the gear check. |
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| Can I share a tent and stove? |
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Yes. It will significantly reduce weight and bulk of a tent and stove. |
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| How heavy will my pack be? |
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Since everyone purchases different gear and is a different size, it is hard to give you an exact number. For most of our courses, you can expect your internal frame pack (packed with gear and food) to weigh no more than 20 kg. It is likely that you will be asked to help carry some of the group equipment such as ropes and protection, so make sure there is some additional room in and on your backpack for approximately 2-4 kg of gear.
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The mountains are subject to highly variable weather conditions. Pack everything in two layers of sturdy plastic. Bring one large trash bag to completely and easily cover your pack. You should bring at least 4 bags. It is likely that you will be asked to help carry some of the group equipment, so make sure there is some additional room in and on your backpack. |
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| What can I read to prepare for the course? |
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You will get far more out of your course by reading Mountaineering Handbook by Allen Fyffe and Ian Peter, published by Galaktyka. |
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| How many instructors are there per class? |
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On our 3-Day K1 courses, the student to instructor ratio is 4:1.
For our 5-Day K2 course it is 2:1 ratio.
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| I am concerned that the gear I am renting will not fit or work properly. |
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The packs, crampons, ice axes, tents, and other items are cleaned and checked on a daily basis. All of our gear is of the highest quality. |
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| Is this trip going to be physically challenging? |
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Most probably yes. See the training tips above, but... Keep in mind that you are climbing a mountain and it is not easy. If you follow our physical fitness tips and do some training on your own, you should complete the course with no problems. |
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| I have successfully completed your basic mountaineering course. What can I do next? |
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Our introductory technical courses serve as a prerequisite for our international expeditions and courses.
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Our climbers come from a wide variety of backgrounds, interests, countries and skill levels. From those seeking skill development to those seeking assistance with the world's highest mountains, we provide courses and expeditions for every level of climber. |
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| I love the photographs in your brochure and on your website, are they for sale?
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Yes, our images are available for licensing or purchase. We have a photo gallery of images on our website that are available framed and/or mounted. We also have original stock video footage available in digital and Beta formats. |
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| What is the best film for photography in Alpine environments? |
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After returning from an expedition, the glorious colors and depth you saw through the lens somehow did not transfer well to the 2-dimensional image. We recommend the following film to maximize photos: Color Slides 50 Speed Fuji Velvia - high contrast, 100 Speed Fuji Asita - neutral; Color Negatives: 160 speed NC Kodak Portra. Remember photos are wonderful records of your expedition but keep camera gear simple and light to best enjoy the trip you are on. |
