{"id":7983,"date":"2016-05-14T20:18:02","date_gmt":"2016-05-14T20:18:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.activeazur.com\/?page_id=7983"},"modified":"2017-12-18T14:36:25","modified_gmt":"2017-12-18T14:36:25","slug":"mont-blanc-ascent","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.ultimatefrance.com\/mountaineering\/mont-blanc-ascent","title":{"rendered":"Mont Blanc Ascent"},"content":{"rendered":"

The mighty Mont Blanc has captured the imagination of climbers for centuries and each year continues to draw mountaineers from all over the world.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Climb the Mont Blanc in France!<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n

At 4810 m the Mont Blanc is Western Europe’s highest mountain. It’s nearly 200 m higher than Switzerland’s Monte Rosa, the second highest mountain in the Alps. Dominating the climbing mecca of Chamonix<\/a>, a successful ascent is a hugely rewarding experience and the Mont Blanc should be on every keen climber’s bucket list.<\/p>\n

Mont Blanc summit climbing trips can take anything from 2 to 6 days depending on your fitness, level of acclimatisation and high altitude mountaineering experience.<\/p>\n

For most people a 5 or 6 day trip works well and gives you the best chance of reaching the summit. You spend a couple of days acclimatising and practising ice axe and crampon techniques on the Mer de Glace. The summit is then attempted over 2 days, usually via the Gouter or Cosmiques routes, with the best weather window chosen for the final push.<\/p>\n

To build confidence and help with acclimatisation, some mountaineering companies<\/a> will also include a warm-up peak like the T\u00eate Blanche<\/em>. The traverse via the east and north-west ridges provides a good introduction to PD Alpine mountaineering. <\/p>\n

Rated PD on the Alpine Grades scale, the Mont Blanc via the Normal Route<\/strong> isn’t a very technical climb, but it does require sustained effort at high altitude. Summit day can be as long as 13 hours, so you need to be in good shape to enjoy the climb. The first few hours in the dark are very tough. Until the sun comes up, you’ll be walking in freezing temperatures with a head torch. The guides take it slowly, but with strong winds, your backpack weighing you down and the steep terrain, be under no illusion, it’s seriously hard work.<\/p>\n

The key to success is preparation and acclimatisation. Although the normal route to the summit isn’t technical, it does require sustained physical effort. Make sure you get plenty of training walks in before your trip and aim for one or two longer days in the mountains during the month before your trip. Despite the fact that a 5 day trip will include some ice and snow climbing practice, guides can’t cater for complete beginners in that time-frame and it’s recommended that you have some high altitude mountaineering experience and know how to use your kit prior to joining a Mont Blanc expedition.<\/p>\n

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Book a Mont Blanc mountaineering trip<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n

Our mountaineering partners offer Mont Blanc summit ascents from 2 to 6 days depending on your level of experience and acclimatisation. If you want to stand the best chance of conquering the summit, it’s a really good idea to employ a high altitude mountain guide. All the companies listed here use fully qualified UIAGM mountain guides<\/strong>. They’ll be able to vary the route and rate of ascent to your ability, navigate in bad weather and keep you safe on steep snow and ice. <\/p>\n

Different packages are available from 2 day straight ascents to 5 and 6 day mountaineering courses that include snow and ice climbing instruction and acclimatisation. Whichever package you choose, the guides all have one goal, to get you to the summit and back down again safely. Typically, a 5-day Mont Blanc trip will cost upwards of 1200 \u20ac per person, including accommodation, food and guiding, and excluding insurance, drinks, and personal equipment. Take a guide, you\u2019ll be safer and you\u2019ll have a lot more fun.<\/p>\n