Mont Blanc Ascent

Mont Blanc Ascent 7 Days

From $2717 USD

Trip URL: www.adventurelink.com/

1 reviews

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Overview

Highlights

Duration: 7 Days
Comfort: Budget%
Language: English
Rating: 100%
Trip ID: 70231
Start Location: Chamonix Mont Blanc, France
End Location: Chamonix Mont Blanc, France

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Primary Activities: Mountaineering
Other Activities: Hiking, Glaciers, natural environment
Activity Level: Intermediate, Intermediate

Any fit and experienced adventurer contemplating a more active visit to Europe could not resist the proposal of climbing the highest peak in the Alps, Mt Blanc (4807m / 15,771 feet).Whilst the range has attracted the attention of world class alpinists worldwide for its challenging routes for centuries, there are also many options available to the novice climber under the guidance of our experienced guides.

Acclimatization and basic technical training are our main focus of the first 3 days. This trip is designed with the beginner mountaineer in mind and these days are spent learning or brushing up on the basics of travel on snow and ice to help prepare you for the tough climb ahead. You will also discover many aspects of the amazing Mont Blanc range during these training days as we venture into the mountains.

Our summit strategy Days 5 to 7 are for the ascent of Mont Blanc itself – allowing us the advantage of 2 chances of reaching the summit. If inclement weather conditions prevent us from making a summit attempt on our scheduled day, we have the flexibility in our program to make a summit attempt from the lower Tete Rousse hut, staying overnight in the Gouter hut on the descent. This flexibility gives our groups a significant advantage.

Itinerary

Day 1: Join Chamonix: Please make your way to the group hotel which will be advised in your final documentation (any airport transfer service will take you direct to the hotel reception). A group briefing will be held at 6pm at the hotel reception, it is essential that you attend and bring your equipment with you; you will then proceed to the gear hire shop, Snell Sports, with your guide. Please ensure that your travel arrangements will have you in Chamonix at this time.

Overnight at the group hotel.
Meals: NIL
Day 2: Introduction to mountaineering: The day will be spent learning mountaineering basics on the Tour glacier, including the use of crampons, ice axe and ropes on the glacier, and rope management skills. We hike up to the Albert 1er refuge (2702 m with 700m of those on telepherique) for our nights accommodation.

Overnight mountain hut.
Schedule: 3-4 hours. Vertical: +570m.
Meals: B,L,D
Day 3: Ascend Petite Fourche: The superior pass of Tour (3289m), and ascend Petite Fourche. Technical focus is on belaying on steep snow slopes and efficient movement on snow and ice. Return to Albert 1 hut and down to the valley via the cable car.

Overnight Chamonix hotel.
Schedule: 6 to 7 hours. Vertical : + 820 m and -370 m.
Meals: B,L
Day 4: Transfer to Les Houches. Hike to Tete Rousse Refuge: Transfer to Les Houches. Our guide will organize the telepherique and train trip to take us to the Plan Lachat. From here, a 3 hour hike brings us to a short, and at times exposed and steep path leading to the Tete Rousse Glacier and hut. As we climb higher above the valley we enter an alpine environment of snow, ice and rock.

The views as we approach the Tete Rousse Refuge are breathtaking. The Tete Rousse is a new hut perched on the edge of the glacier in a stunning mountain setting. Today is not a long day, but still quite challenging due to the increasingly rugged terrain. We can expect to reach the hut by mid afternoon, giving plenty of time to recover for the climb to the Gouter Hut the next day. It is important to keep well hydrated. Meals at the hut usually begin with soup accompanied with bread and cheese and followed with hearty and tasty meat casseroles and dessert of fruit puree or similar, normal served around 6:30 pm.

Our summit strategy
If inclement weather conditions prevent us from making a summit attempt on our scheduled day from the Gouter, we have the flexibility in our program to make a summit attempt from the Tete Rousse hut, staying overnight in the Gouter hut on the descent. This flexibility gives our groups a significant advantage.

Schedule: 3 to 4 hours.
Meals: B,L,D
Day 5: Ascend to Gouter refuge: By utilising both the Tete Rousse Refuge and the Gouter hut, we give ourselves the best chance of making a successful summit bid. The route today is steeper and more demanding, and we will be roped up when we leave the Tete Rousse. We soon come to the Grand Couloir and after safely crossing over we continue up through steep terrain.

The majority of the route this afternoon involves rockscrambling and we will travel roped up until we reach the hut. The Gouter is an older hut and usually very busy, however it’s closer proximity to the summit puts us in the optimum position for our summit attempt. The evening meal will be served around 6pm allowing for an early night in order to get some sleep before an early rise for our climb to the summit.

*PLEASE NOTE: Throughout the season there are times when the Gouter Hut is overbooked. Availability is controlled by French Alpine Club and allocation of beds is on a random basis and released in mid April each year. Please note that booking in advance is highly recommended but still does not guarantee a bed in the Gouter Hut.

If we are unable to secure beds in this hut we will use the Tete Rousse Refuge. Although this makes for a slightly longer summit day, a better nights sleep is likely at this lower altitude, as well as a wider variety of good quality food. Your World Expeditions reservations consultant or travel agent will advise with your final documents if the Gouter Hut is not available for your group.

Meals: B,L,D
Day 6: Attempt Mont Blanc Summit: An alpine start this morning (3am), over snow and ice slopes and traversing ridges we ascend to the summit of Mont Blanc. First we will reach the top of the Dome Du Gouter at 4300m. We then pass the Vallot shelter and hike up the Les Bosses ridge and finally after 4 - 5 hours, the summit of Mt Blanc.

Weather permitting we savour the stunning mountain views for only a short time before making our descent.The long descent requires concentration and endurance to reach the Nid d’Aigle where we can allow an intermediary rest and quick snack before continuing on to the Bellevue and then by cable car to Les Houches.

Overnight at Chamonix hotel.
Schedule: 8 to 12 hours, Vertical: + 1000 m / - 2400 m
Meals: B,L
Day 7: Trip concludes in Chamonix: The trip concludes after breakfast in the hotel.
PLEASE NOTE: The above route and estimated times must be seen as a guide only. This itinerary may change at any time due to weather, snow conditions, group fitness or other reasons. Your guide will always make a final decision after assessing the situation and liaising with the group members.

Meals: B

Nuts & Bolts

Trip Includes

7 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 3 dinners
3 nights accommodation in a 3-star Chamonix hotel on a twin-share basis
3 nights accommodation in mountain huts
Qualified high altitude mountain guide (ratio of 1 guide to 2-6 climbers from Days 2-4 and 1 guide to 2 climbers on Days 5-6)
All common climbing gear (ropes, carabiners etc)
Telepherique and lift transfers
Internal transfers
Pre-departure guide to assist you with preparing for the climb

Trip Excludes

Any flights
Dinners in Chamonix
Rental of climbing gear or clothes (to be paid directly in Chamonix)
Bottled water
Aerated or alcoholic beverages
Travel insurance
Visas
Airport and departure taxes
Items of a personal nature such as phone calls, laundry, etc.

Trip ID#: 70231

CANCELLATIONS: 20% cancellation fee applied if cancelled 60 days prior to departure. Cancellations within 60 days are 100% non-cancelable

Reviews (1)

J Kamming

Firstly may I just say I absolutely loved the Mont Blanc trip, and when talking to the other climbers who had gone with other agencies, our trip had the best mix of mountain huts, walks and training, so thank you, it really was superb. J Kamming | United Kingdom
- Overall Rating
  100%
- Guide Rating
  100%
- Value Rating
  90%
- Itinerary Rating
  90%
- Accomodation Rating
  90%

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