Four-thousanders
Mont Blanc
Normal route - Bossesgrat (PD, I)
Südtirolalpin
Certified Mountain Guide
IFMGA - Mountain Guides Associations
Mail suedtirolalpin@gmail.com
Prices from
1.500,- €
ABOUT THE TOUR
Standing on Mont Blanc via the classic normal route is a great mountain moment on the roof of the Alps.
3 days · Difficulty PD, I
Mont Blanc - normal route: the highest summit in the Alps. This title alone gives Mont Blanc a very special status for mountaineers and alpinists. The White Mountain has always cast its spell over climbers. Nearly every possible ascent on all sides of the mountain and in every conceivable grade seems to have been done. Chamonix at its feet is considered Europe’s mountaineering mecca. Top alpinists mingle with the many recreational alpinists and amateur mountaineers. Added to this are numerous cable car tourists who ride comfortably to almost four thousand metres to admire this immense scenery of rock and ice up close.
Yet even more beautiful is actually standing on the roof of the Alps. The route offers a number of technical challenges, but overall it is very manageable for well-acclimatised mountaineers who already have alpine glacier experience. The mountain guides take care of the ropework and safety-related challenges, so you can approach the ascent of the highest summit in the Alps with confidence and peace of mind.
Important info: The booking situation on the highest mountain in the Alps is catastrophic. The huts on the normal routes are hopelessly fully booked and, for us as non-French mountain guides, it is unfortunately also very difficult to reserve places in the huts. So how can it still work?
1. Early booking: The huts’ reservation portal opens at the beginning of December for mountain guides. Bookings for the normal route on Mont Blanc must therefore be received and confirmed by us by the end of November for the following summer.
2. Tour date: Dates in June and July are almost impossible to reserve. These dates are completely booked out just a few minutes after the portal opens. Dates toward the end of the season, i.e. late August and September, are easier to arrange.
3. Alternative route: If you still want to climb Mont Blanc from June to mid-July, the normal route via the Italian side would be a good alternative. However, it is significantly longer and also more demanding, and is therefore recommended only for mountaineers with very strong fitness.
INFO
Services
Included in the price:
- Entire organization and guidance by a state-certified mountain guide
- All necessary reservations are made in advance
Additional costs:
- 2x half-board accommodations (Tete Rousse Hut and Gouter Hut)
- Cog railway (Nid d'Aigle)
- Mountain guide expenses (hut, cog railway)
- Individual tips
* Rental equipment (€10 per piece of equipment)
Facts
Location:
Mont Blanc Massif
Best time of year:
July - mid-September
Duration:
3 days
Meeting point:
Les Houches - Bellevue cable car valley station
What you need
Requirements:
- Good physical condition for ascending 1,700 meters at high altitude
- Good acclimatization (I can offer you an acclimatization tour upon request for proper preparation)
- Surefootedness
PRICING
Participants:
1 - 2 people
Prices:
1 person:
2 people:
2.500,- €
1.500,- €
If you have any questions or need further information, please write them in the comment field of the inquiry form.
Before submitting your request: Please read the "important information" about risks in mountaineering carefully.
Dates:
upon request
Short-term dependent on the conditions on the mountain
PROGRAM
Day 1: Ascent to the Goûter Hut
We meet in the morning in Les Houches near Chamonix at the valley station of the Bellevue cable car, where we briefly check the equipment and discuss the tour. Then we take the cable car to Bellevue, where we continue on the Mont Blanc rack railway to the terminus, Nid d'Aigle. From here we begin the hut approach to today’s stage destination. At first we follow easy hiking paths to the Tête-Rousse Hut. Relatively soon after the hut, Mont Blanc shows its teeth for the first time. We must cross the feared Grand Couloir and then continue up along the rock rib to the Goûter Hut.
Total time: 5.5 h | ↑ 1,450 m | Difficulty: PD, I
⌂ Goûter Hut
Day 2: Summit day on Mont Blanc
We leave the hut early in the morning. We ascend over the glacier into the sunrise. The first section, to get into the rhythm of the morning, is still quite even. Soon we pass the bivouac. Here it becomes more demanding and we continue climbing via the Bosses ridge to the summit. We will now feel the great altitude clearly. After the ascent we reach the summit of Mont Blanc. The descent then leads us back along the ascent route to the Goûter Hut and afterwards once again through the Grand Couloir to the Tête-Rousse Hut, where we will spend another night. By now at the latest, we can celebrate the hopefully successful summit ascent.
Total time: 8.5 h | ↑ 1,000 m | ↓ 1,650 m | Difficulty: PD, I
⌂ Tête-Rousse Hut
Day 3: Descent to the valley
The next morning, the descent from the Tête-Rousse Hut back to Nid d'Aigle is on the programme. We hike back at ease along the simple path to the rack railway. A short final day of the tour before we return to the valley.
Walking time: 2 h | ↓ 800 m
Any changes to the program that may be necessary for various reasons (weather, conditions, accommodation booking situation, etc.) will always be made in consultation with the participants.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS - (FAQs)
Who is the Mont Blanc normal route suitable for?
The tour is suitable for well-acclimatised mountaineers with alpine glacier experience. Technically, the normal route is manageable, but the altitude, the length, and sections such as the Grand Couloir require good fitness and confident movement in crampons.
How difficult is it to get a hut place?
Unfortunately, often very difficult. Especially on Mont Blanc, the huts on the normal route are booked out quickly. For this reason, booking should be made very early, ideally by the end of November for the following summer. Later dates, especially toward late August and September, are usually somewhat more realistic.
What equipment do I need to bring?
You will receive the exact packing list with the confirmation email. Important items include, for example, suitable mountaineering boots and warm clothing. Technical equipment can be hired from Südtirolalpin for a small wear-and-tear fee.
