Climb Mont-Blanc

Introduction
Standing at 4808 metres above sea level, Mont Blanc is the highest mountain in Western Europe.

Permanently topped by its white glacier, Mont Blanc is perhaps one of the most desirable mountains to have climbed in Europe.  It is not especially technically-challenging – which means with the aid of a high-mountain guide, it can be summited by most with an appropriate level of fitness.  Indeed, it is climbed by an average of 20,000 people per year.

The Mont Blanc and Aiguille du Midi from Grands Montets

How long does it take?
The fastest ascent of Mont-Blanc from Chamonix took an incredible 5 hours 10 minutes and 14 seconds by the Swiss alpine runner Pierre-André Gobet on the 21st July 1990.

However, most people take two days to climb the mountain and stay overnight in one of the mountain refuges.

When is the best time to climb it?
The summer months are the busiest time to climb Mont-Blanc - however the summer often provide the best weather.  September is often best as the conditions are often warm and very stable.

Even in summer though, whilst Chamonix may be basking in +30 degrees Celsius, the summit could well be -20!!

How safe is it?
Mountain climbing is a dangerous activity, and climbing Mont-Blanc is no exception.

There is always an element of risk, even with a mountain guide. However, guides have the experience and technical skills which help reduce these risks to a minimum. Every year, ill-equipped, and unaccompanied have-a-go climbers get injured and killed trying to climb Mont-Blanc.

Routes to the summit

The Goûter Route
This is the most popular and least difficult route to climb Mont-Blanc. It starts in Saint-Gervais, where the Tramway du Mont-Blanc is ridden up to the Nid d’Aigle (Eagle’s Nest). From there, the ascent passes through the Goûter corridor up to the refuge on the Dome du Goûter where you stay overnight. Then by 3am, the climbers will depart for the summit.

If you take the Bellevue lift from Les Houches up to the Col de Vosa, where you can catch an early tram up to the Nid d’Aigle (2372m). From there, you will be able to climb up to the Tete Rousse hut (3167m) in the cool of the morning, and arrive at the Goûter hut (3817m) before the hut fills up in the late afternoon. You will then set out at 2-3 am and make the climb up the Dome du Goûter with a headtorch. You should then arrive on the Bosses ridge in the first light of dawn and be on the summit at dawn. This then leaves time to descend and catch the last tram back to the Col de Vosa from where you can walk down the Tour du Mont Blanc track back to Maison Jaune.

The Goûter Route

Advantages
  “only” 990m of height gain on the second day
  technically the easiest route
  the route by which the greatest number of people reach the summit.

Disadvantages
  very popular in summer
  the hut can be crowded and uncomfortable
  risks of rock fall in the Goûter corridor
  the bosses ridge is steep, exposed and can be icy
  the route by which the greatest number of people reach the summit

The Grands Mulets Route
This is an excellent but very long route which is used much less now. It is the original route used by Jacques Balmat, and Docteur Marie-Gabriel Paccard in 1786, and also the route taken by Pierre-André Gobet in his amazing 5hr 10 mins round-trip between the Place d’Eglise in Chamonix and the summit.

There are a number of ways to reach the Grands Mulets hut (3051m). You can ascent from above the Mont-Blanc tunnel, or from the télésiège des Bossons. Or alternatively, take the Aiguille du Midi cable car, and traverse from the mid-station above the Glacier des Bossons. On the second day, you pass through the Petit Plateau as quickly as possible to avoid seracs, before ascending Les Grandes Montées, the Grand Plateau before joining the Gouter route between the Col du Dome and the Vallot shelter for the last summit section

The Grands Mulets Route

Advantages
  Original route by Paccard and Balmat
  Route is not crowded
  Comfortable night at the Grands Mulets hut
  Ambiance of the traverse of the Les Bossons Glacier

Disadvantages
  Lot of height gain (1780m) on the second day
  Very long route
  Exposure to serac fall during the traverse between the Jonction and the Petit Plateau

The Three Monts Route
This route is both more physically and technically demanding than the Goûter Route. However, with easy access from the Aiguille du Midi cable car, this aesthetic route has become the second most popular route to climb Mont Blanc.

It starts in Chamonix, where the Téléphérique de l'Aiguille du Midi is ridden upto the Col du Midi. Here you either stay the night at the Cosmiques hut, or camp on the glacier itself, before ascending Mont-Blanc via the Mont-Blanc du Tacul (4248m) and Mont Maudit (4465m).

From the Aiguille du Midi cable car (3842m), it is only 45 minutes walk to the Cosmiques Hut (3613m), where you can watch the sun set over the Tacel – Maudit – Mont Blanc chain. Then at 2am, you set out to ensure that you have enough time to reach the summit, and descent back to Nid d’Aigle to catch the tram back to the Col de Vosa.

The Three Monts Route

Advantages
  Comfortable and modern hut - built 1990
  Possible to do it in one day by taking the first cable car in the morning

Disadvantages
  Lot of height gain (1425m) from the Col du Midi
  Requires stable snow condition on the Mont Blanc du Tacul and Mont Maudit
  No easy escape route after Mont Maudit
  Need to move quickly to do it in one day

Costs

Guide:
A qualified high-mountain guide will cost 760 euros for the two days.
Please note though that there are a maximum of 2 persons per guide.

Equipment:
In Chamonix, you can hire crampons, ice axe, harnesses, boots and all the gear necessary to climb Mont-Blanc in safety, security and comfort.

Equipment required
  Rucksack (40 litre)
  Mountaineering boots (suitable for crampons)
  Gaiters with a strap under the boots
  Ice axe
  Crampons
  Telescopic ski poles
  Descender belay
  Climbing harness and screwgate karabiner
  Lightweight Helmet
  Head torch
  Warm clothing - eg. down jacket
  Waterproof jacket with hood and over-trousers (Gore tex)
  Hat/balaclava
  Scarf
  Sunglasses/ski googles
  Lightweight gloves
  Warm gloves/mittens
  Lightweight washkit
  Lightweight first aid kit
  Water bottle (1 litre)
  Pocket knife
  Snack food
  Sheet sleeping bag (for overnight in the hut.)

Also - split between the group...
  50m rope
  selection of slings
  8 karabiners
  ice screws (x4)
  compass/altimeter/1:25000 map
  survival blanket