Mont Blanc Ascent

7 days (Chamonix)

Destinations visited: France, Chamonix, World

Grading:

Entry level Mountaineering/Exploratory Trek

Grading Definitions

Discovery & Cruising

These are our least demanding trips. These journeys of discovery and cruises involve little or no extended activity and are suitable for people with a basic level of fitness and good health. The itinerary may take place in remote areas (with basic facilities) and may involve long travel days on various types of transport. Sightseeing may be conducted on foot and all participants should be capable of carrying their own luggage from vehicle to hotel rooms. These adventures do not go above 2500m and rarely involve camping.
Suggested preparation: Once or twice a week, we recommend you walk on undulating terrain for an hour, for at least 2 -3 months prior to departure.

Adventure Touring

Suggested preparation: Two or three times a week, we recommend you walk on undulating terrain for an hour or more, for at least 3 months prior to departure.

Introductory

These trips involve trekking or walking, cycling, rafting or sea kayaking for up to five or six hours a day at a slow but steady pace and should never be misinterpreted to mean they are easy trips. These trips do not spend time at altitudes above 4000m and are usually a week in duration. You will need a reasonable level of fitness and good health.
Suggested preparation: 30 minutes of aerobic type exercise, (either cycling or jogging) three times a week for three months leading up to your trek. For trekking, hill walking with a daypack in variable weather conditions is also recommended. For a cycling adventure, road cycling twice a week for three months prior to departure is recommended.

Introductory to Moderate

These trips involve a combination of what is described in our INTRODUCTORY and MODERATE levels. The emphasis is on introductory activity with several moderate stages

Moderate

These adventures involve trekking, cycling, rafting or sea kayaking for up to 6 or 7 hours a day at a steady pace. These trips may spend successive days at altitudes not generally exceeding 5,500m and are usually between 10 and 15 days in duration. You will need a good level of fitness and be in good health.
Suggested preparation: 45 minutes of aerobic type exercise, three to five times a week for the three months leading up to your trek. Hill walking with a pack in variable weather conditions or road cycling is also recommended depending upon the activity you plan to undertake.

Moderate to Challenging

These adventures involve trekking, cycling, rafting or sea kayaking for up to 6 or 7 hours a day at a steady pace. These trips may spend successive days at altitudes not generally exceeding 5,500m and are usually between 10 and 15 days in duration. You will need a good level of fitness and be in good health. Suggested preparation: 45 minutes of aerobic type exercise, three to five times a week for the three months leading up to your trek. Hill walking with a pack in variable weather conditions or road cycling is also recommended depending upon the activity you plan to undertake.

Challenging

These adventures involve trekking, cycling or rafting in remote areas in variable weather conditions for up to 8 to 10 hours a day (possibly more subject to weather conditions and altitude). This may include spending successive days at altitudes not generally exceeding 6000m. These trips may often be over three weeks in duration. You will need an excellent level of fitness, be prepared to carry a daypack weighing up to 8kgs (and in some cases a full pack) and be completely comfortable in adverse weather conditions.
Suggested preparation: One hour of aerobic type exercise, four to five times a week for three to six months prior to departure. Hill walking with a pack in variable weather conditions or on/off road cycling is also recommended.

Entry Mtn/Exploratory Treks

These adventures are classed as expeditions. They involve either extreme trekking and or basic mountaineering. Expect remote and poorly defined trails in variable weather conditions for up to 12 hours a day (possibly more subject to weather conditions and altitude). This may include a number of demanding high pass crossings and evacuation may be difficult from remote areas. Suitable for first time mountaineers wishing to take the step from trekking into the realm of mountaineering. Prior experience trekking at altitude is preferable but not essential and you should be comfortable in adverse weather conditions. Prior technical mountaineering experience is not necessary. Terrain will involve low angle snow slopes. Ropes may be used during treks for glacier travel and steeper sections of ice and snow. When mountaineering, basic mountaineering instruction is given by our mountaineering guides.
Suggested preparation: For grade 8-10 mountaineering expeditions you will need to be very fit and healthy. A minimum of 1 hour of aerobic exercise per session, four to five times a week is essential. Running and cycling in hilly areas is particularly beneficial as are multi day walks on the weekends. This is the ideal time to try out your boots and other gear to make sure you are prepared and ready for your expedition. If you are considering Intermediate or advanced level trips, you will need to discuss your preparation leading up to the trip with our expert staff.

Intermediate Mtn Expedition

Participants should be competent and self sufficient in the outdoors and have experience in multi day trekking at altitude. Prior experience on an entry level mountaineering expedition is highly recommended. The terrain will involve low to moderate angle snow slopes and traveling on crevassed glaciers. Experience using ice axe and crampons is preferred but not essential.
Suggested preparation: For grade 8-10 mountaineering expeditions you will need to be very fit and healthy. A minimum of 1 hour of aerobic exercise per session, four to five times a week is essential. Running and cycling in hilly areas is particularly beneficial as are multi day walks on the weekends. This is the ideal time to try out your boots and other gear to make sure you are prepared and ready for your expedition. If you are considering Intermediate or advanced level trips, you will need to discuss your preparation leading up to the trip with our expert staff.

Advanced Mtn Expedition

These are our most challenging expeditions. Clients must have prior mountaineering experience. Most are participatory expeditions & involve load carrying, setting up of camps, cooking and campcraft. Altitude is generally greater than 6500m. Some of these expeditions also involve “technical” climbing and are for experienced alpine climbers / mountaineers only. Technical expeditions involve steep climbing at high altitude (including rock climbing). Participation on one of these expeditions is subject to acceptance by one of our high altitude mountaineering guides.
Suggested preparation: For grade 8-10 mountaineering expeditions you will need to be very fit and healthy. A minimum of 1 hour of aerobic exercise per session, four to five times a week is essential. Running and cycling in hilly areas is particularly beneficial as are multi day walks on the weekends. This is the ideal time to try out your boots and other gear to make sure you are prepared and ready for your expedition. If you are considering Intermediate or advanced level trips, you will need to discuss your preparation leading up to the trip with our expert staff.

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A classic climbing ascent of Mont Blanc, the highest peak in the Alps

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 (4810m / 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. Acclimatisation and basic technical training are our main focus of the first 2 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 4 to 6 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.

Highlights

Opportunity to climb to the summit of Mt Blanc, with 2 opportunities for a summit attempt with our carefully planned itinerary
Learn basic mountaineering skills and acclimatise on our 2 day instruction course prior to the climb
Time to experience Chamonix, the world capital of mountaineering
Exhilarating walking in the French Alps

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. Snell Sports 104 Rue Paccard-74400 Chamonix Mont Blanc Tel. +33 (0) 4 50 53 02 17 Note: Hotel details subject to change, your final documents will confirm the group hotel.

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 accom modation. Overnight mountain hut. Schedule: 3-4 hours. Vertical: +570m.

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.

Day 4 Transfer to Les Houches. Hike to Tete Rousse Refuge

Transfer to Les Houches. Our guide will organise 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, normall served around 6.30pm. Our summit strategy If incliment 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.

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. Schedule: 3 to 4 hours, Vertical: + 700 m. *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.

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

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.

Additional Information

Inclusions

6 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 3 dinners
3 nights accommodation in a 4-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

Summary

7 day trip
3 days mountaineering ascent
2 days instruction in basic mountaineering techniques
3 nights mountain huts
3 nights hotel

Trip Main Activities

Mountaineering

Group Size Min

Group Size Max

Accommodation Summary

Our accommodation in the mountain huts is dormitory style with blankets and sheets provided and dinner is usually served by 6.30pm. It is simple but wholesome, and drinks are available for purchase. Please note that drinking water is not available for free so please bring some money with you to buy some where appropriate. Meals supplied are wholesome and adequate but not all dietary requirements are easily catered for. Lights are usually turned out by 9.00pm. Also please be aware that despite our booking of accommodation at the Gouter Hut , there will often be 3 people for every 2 mattresses.

Equipment Required

Whilst we strongly recommend you bringing your own climbing equipment and clothing, there is a considerable range of gear available for hire in Chamonix prior to the climb. This may suit you better if you are travelling on elsewhere and want to keep your baggage to a minimum. Personal clothing and equipment is not included in the trip cost. This would include warm layers and waterproof clothing, and clothing for both hot and cold conditions. You will need to take or hire climbing equipment including ice axe, crampons, harness with belay device, leather or plastic mountaineering boots & helmet. A sleeping bag is NOT required. Our Pre-departure information document for this trip details all clothing and equipment required for the trip and will be provided on booking your place.

What You Carry

Because you will be carrying all your own equipment plus a share of food for yourself and guide, it is essential to keep the weight down. A heavy rucksack will diminish your pleasure and make the climbing a struggle; especially day after day. The rucksack should be about 45 litres maximum (it is possible to rent this in Chamonix). Everything should be pared down to the bare essentials with a change of clothes in case you get soaked. No cotton clothing should be taken as it dries slowly. Inside the huts footwear is provided. Boots should accept step-in crampons and be warm enough for hiking in snow. There are many good models out there. Wear two pairs of socks and road-test them well before the trip. Make sure that the crampons are correctly adjusted to the boots. Your guide will check and make recommendations while in Chamonix and because we are commencing and returning to Chamonix any extra gear can be stored.

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USD$2,990

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