Discussion
Has anyone on here climbed to its dizzy heights of 4810m?
I am thinking of going down there with a couple of mates to climb it, and wondered if anyone on here can tell me of their experiences?
Do you need a guide? What was the weather like? How many days did you take to get from here to the top and back again?
Cheers
I am thinking of going down there with a couple of mates to climb it, and wondered if anyone on here can tell me of their experiences?
Do you need a guide? What was the weather like? How many days did you take to get from here to the top and back again?
Cheers
Ok, I have never climbed it but I have been there a couple of times. However, my brother climbed it but had an unfortunate accident with a crevass and spent a couple of days in hospital.
1. The weather, even in Summer, can be crap. I have stood on the Aguille du Midi in a blizzard in June.
2. Get a guide, or join a group that is being guided.
3. If you haven't done anything at that altitude before, while many may say it's only a bump, in comparison to other mountains, it's quite surprsing how altitude can affect some people. Be prepared for a good workout.
HTH
1. The weather, even in Summer, can be crap. I have stood on the Aguille du Midi in a blizzard in June.
2. Get a guide, or join a group that is being guided.
3. If you haven't done anything at that altitude before, while many may say it's only a bump, in comparison to other mountains, it's quite surprsing how altitude can affect some people. Be prepared for a good workout.
HTH
A friend of mine did it a few weeks ago, if you want to mail me I will forward it on.
CanAm-TT said:
Do you need a guide? If you need to ask, then yes What was the weather like? Unpredictable. The friend I mention above went for two weeks. In the last week he did no climbing cos the weather was so shite.
Its not a case of do i need to ask, therefore shouldnt!
Im not a prospective Rolls Royce owner asking about the fuel economy!
Im getting lots of differing advice, and mainly the ones that run the tour companies are saying dont do it without a guide and we will supply one for $xxx per day!
I have been above that height, having climbed Toubkal in the Atlas
This is a little different though.
If you would email me your friends email then that would be great, and if humpbackmaniac fancies leading a group then even better
Im very jealous of the everest thing! One of my dreams is to go to Base camp of everest
>> Edited by CanAm-TT on Friday 15th July 13:30
Im not a prospective Rolls Royce owner asking about the fuel economy!
Im getting lots of differing advice, and mainly the ones that run the tour companies are saying dont do it without a guide and we will supply one for $xxx per day!
I have been above that height, having climbed Toubkal in the Atlas
This is a little different though.
If you would email me your friends email then that would be great, and if humpbackmaniac fancies leading a group then even better
Im very jealous of the everest thing! One of my dreams is to go to Base camp of everest
>> Edited by CanAm-TT on Friday 15th July 13:30
CanAm-TT said:
Its not a case of do i need to ask, therefore shouldnt!
Im getting lots of differing advice, and mainly the ones that run the tour companies are saying dont do it without a guide and we will supply one for $xxx per day!
Ah, I see. Fairy snuff.
CanAm-TT said:
I have been above that height, having climbed Toubkal in the Atlas
One of the more disappointing mountains I've climbed. And as you say, somewhat different to Mt Blanc. (And IIRC about 4100m?) CanAm-TT said:
If you would email me your friends email then that would be great
I'm reluctant to send a friend's email address to a stranger. I'll happily forward your mail though, and he can decide whether to reply or not.
Haven't done it myself, but a former colleague climbed it a few years ago (50ish, fairly fit, and determined). From what he described it was hard work but not very technically challening ... i.e. an absolute novice could do it so long as they were accompanied by someone who could show them how to use the equipment (crampons, mountaineering axe, etc) and get them out of trouble if there was an accident. I think he climbed it in the summer. He was certainly using full-blown rigid mountaineering boots coz they dug big holes in his shins.
Not climbed Mt. Blanc myself but climbed a few of the mountians in the Mt. Blanc Massif and have a few friends who have done it.
If you're all very fit (half marathon 1.5 hours, 25 mile walks in hills in 8 hours, 100 miles on a bike 6 hours not a problem) and you use a guide you need virtually no experience to do it (a mate of mine used to take Venture Scouts up it
) You can hire guides and gear in Chamonix.
Most of the routes take 2 days. Day 1 to hut day 2 summit and walk back down to valley.
But.
The weather in high mountains can change very quickly it could be lovely down in Chamonix and howling blizzard at the top.
It's unlikely you'll find a British Guide at Short notice so you'll take pot luck at the guides bureau.
The normal route crosses a couloir which is a veritable 'bomb alley' on the first day. Word on the street is that this is getting more and more dagerous year by year.
100 people die every year on the mountain. Most of the risks are from 'objective danger' ie. out of your control. Climbing in big mountains can't be made virtually risk free the way it can in te UK.
Some people however fit don't acclimatise well and really suffer.
Consider
Using a guide over several days to give you instruction/training routes
Extending your stay to do a few easier days in the Aiguilles Rouges and lower peaks.
Spending a few nights in hut doing lesser climbs (Aiguille du Tour from Albert 1er Hut, Aiguille d'Argentiere from Argentiere Hut - sleeping at altitude is a fairly painless way of acclimatising)
Using Argentiere as a base - smaller, friendlier, cheap bunkhouse (the Belvedere) and 'British' campsite at Les Chosalets. Oh and the Office of course.
Good job you didn't ask about skiing!!
T
If you're all very fit (half marathon 1.5 hours, 25 mile walks in hills in 8 hours, 100 miles on a bike 6 hours not a problem) and you use a guide you need virtually no experience to do it (a mate of mine used to take Venture Scouts up it
) You can hire guides and gear in Chamonix. Most of the routes take 2 days. Day 1 to hut day 2 summit and walk back down to valley.
But.
The weather in high mountains can change very quickly it could be lovely down in Chamonix and howling blizzard at the top.
It's unlikely you'll find a British Guide at Short notice so you'll take pot luck at the guides bureau.
The normal route crosses a couloir which is a veritable 'bomb alley' on the first day. Word on the street is that this is getting more and more dagerous year by year.
100 people die every year on the mountain. Most of the risks are from 'objective danger' ie. out of your control. Climbing in big mountains can't be made virtually risk free the way it can in te UK.
Some people however fit don't acclimatise well and really suffer.
Consider
Using a guide over several days to give you instruction/training routes
Extending your stay to do a few easier days in the Aiguilles Rouges and lower peaks.
Spending a few nights in hut doing lesser climbs (Aiguille du Tour from Albert 1er Hut, Aiguille d'Argentiere from Argentiere Hut - sleeping at altitude is a fairly painless way of acclimatising)
Using Argentiere as a base - smaller, friendlier, cheap bunkhouse (the Belvedere) and 'British' campsite at Les Chosalets. Oh and the Office of course.
Good job you didn't ask about skiing!!
T
I climbed to the top of Mont Blanc last year in August with my GF.
PM me if I can be of any help for advises, but:
- Defo get a guide (Most are English speakers.) If not only for safety (It is dangerous), but also to make sure you get a spot in the refuges which are crowded.
- The descent is as tough as the climb.
- About the death rate, and objective dangers, the number one cause of accidents in Mont Blanc is stupidity and ignorance.
- We started in summer gear (27 degree at the bottom), and ended at the top in full gear, with temperatures of minus 38, bright blue sky and sunny. Equipment is key, make sure you get good gear (Particualrly gloves.....).
- Most of the technical gear (Crampons, axes, helmets) can be rented for cheap in Chamonix.
- It was a fantastic buzz, we are so glad to have done it.
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