Can I join alone or do I need a rope partner?

A fixed rope partner is not a requirement. Many participants arrive in pairs, and individuals are paired up into rope teams of two on the first day. Since leading is trained in rotation throughout the course, you switch roles anyway: sometimes at the front with the responsibility, sometimes at the back as the protected partner. With a maximum group size of 6 people per mountain guide, everyone gets plenty of time at the front of the rope.