Technical Level required to climb Mont Blanc
Climbing Mont Blanc is a big challenge, mountain conditions are becoming more and more difficult every year due to the global warming (lack of snow, high temperature). Therefore, it's very important, for your safety and to put all chances on your side to summit, that you are used to walk regularly in mountain as well as on rough terrain and even better having some rock climbing knowledge. If you have never been in high mountain, we highly recommend, that you do one of our alpine introduction course or Grand Paradis, before committing yourself to book the Mont Blanc course. These courses open up the doors of the Alps and also give you a strong experience of high mountain technics.
Keep in mind that walking with stiff boots change the way you walk, you are constantly searching for balance, and walking with crampons it si not as easy as you would think. The Mont Blanc 5 days course will give you the basic skills of alpinism technics but your fitness, your ability will make a big difference on the terrain!
If you take more than 2h30 to climb to the Albert 1er hut, 950 m of difference in altitude, your physical level is insufficient and you will not be able to do the Mont Blanc. If possible, a substitute program will be offered on your charge. The interruption or modification will not be subject to any refund or financial compensation.
The guide’s decision is final and he’s the sole judge of whether you are capable of can attempting to climb Mont Blanc or not.
Reaching the summit of Mont Blanc, 4810m, is just half of the effort. You will need enough energy to do the walk down.
Climbing snow and ice up to 40 degrees. Basic rock climbing (grade II and III) in some sections.
The climb to the Goûter hut can be described as a rock scramble.
Equipment List to climb Mont Blanc
Please click here to see the required equipment list, with the rental price list.
Fitness Level required to climb Mont Blanc
There will be 6 - 8 hours of walking per day, 10 - 12 hours for Mont Blanc summit day, with vertical climbs of between 800 and 1500m.
Excellent fitness is therefore required for this Mont Blanc 5 day course.
Please arrive fit and mentally prepared. Your guide will not allow you to summit if you do not have the minimum level of fitness required and you will not be eligible for a reimbursement.
High Mountain Guide :
He is responsible for your safety. That's why you hire him. Therefore, his authority is unquestionable and must be accepted. Turning back is frustrating, but if the guide feels that the level of the participants or the conditions on the ground do not allow for the safety of the group, he must make this decision. No refunds or financial compensation will be given for the interruption.
Your guide will do his best to ensure that you reach the summit. He has an obligation of means, but not of result.
You will be roped up with another Client. At the end of the preparation days, the guides form the ropes by level or affinity. If a participant is technically and/or physically weak, your guide will anticipate by asking him to wait at the refuge. But if the failure occurs beyond the Goûter hut, the team will have to turn back.
The advantage of the collective formula is financial. But if this notion of roped party does not suit you, we advise you to take a private guide.
Changes to the program
Beginning and end of the season :
If Albert 1er and Torino hut not opened yet:
Day 1 - rock climbing in Chamonix, night in Chamonix
Day 2 - Glacier training on the Mer de Glace, night in Chamonix
Cable cars
* If le Tour cable car closed : cable car from Vallorcine / Col de Posettes : count + 340 m (1h extra walk)
or walk up from le Tour car park : + 410 m (1h30 extra walk)
* If train TMB stop at M Lachat : + 300 m (1h extra walk)
* If train Bellevue cable car not opened yet, 4x4 taxi up to Bellevue from "Crozet parking" St Gervais valley will be booked : + 580 m (2h extra walk). In this case you will have to go to this parking by car or taxi which is not included in your price.
Options in case of bad weather forecast predicted on day 4:
Day 3: sleeping in Tête Rousse hut
Day 4: ascent towards Goûter hut and sleeping up there
Day 5: Mont Blanc ascent and descent towards Tête Rousse and Chamonix valley
If bad weather forecast for the Mont Blanc Range: in accordance with you and your guide you have the choice of:
- climb Gran Paradiso (4060 m) or Monte Rosa (4563m) in Italy (no money refunded) :
Change in the program which implies travelling to Italy, for Gran Paradiso and Monte Rosa : we get organized in between clients and guide's car for traveling. If there is not enough space for all the participants, we must book a taxi, which requires extra costs to be paid by the participants
- stop the course after the first two days, If you are in a group, this decision needs to be unanimous. In this case we will give you a credit proportional to the number of days lost to be used for your next attempt.
- postpone the summit attempt 1 or 2 days until better weather. This is dependent on availability of spaces in the huts, the guide and the availability of the clients in the group
Accommodation
In mountain huts DAY 1, 3, 4 , and a 2 or 3* hotel in Chamonix center DAY 0, 2 (usually the Pointe Isabelle depending availability). In the hotel you share a twin room with another participant.
If you require accommodation the night before or after your tour, just let us know.
There is no tap water in the huts, so please budget for the purchase of bottled water (6 € per bottle)
For the Gouter and Tête Rousse huts, due to intense demand the accommodation needs to be reserved in advance.
We may have to be flexible with regards to sleeping arrangement depending on when the booking is made (e.g. 2 nights at the Tete Rousse if the Gouter is full).
Bring a silk sleeping-bag liner for the huts. Blankets and pillows are provided.
Meals
Half board (dinner and breakfast) provided in the huts.
Packed lunches are provided, which you carry yourself. Vegetarian options available on request.
You can bring your own extra snacks in addition, e.g. energy bars, dried fruit and nuts. Don't bring anything heavy, or food which might squash, leak or spoil.
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