Classic Ascents

Mt. Blanc

This is an intensive preparation for an ascent of the highest summit in the Western Alps. It includes basic Alpine training in use of crampons, ice axes and ropes. The primary focus of the week is your ascent of Mont Blanc (4810m), the emphasis being on acclimatisation and preparation for the ascent. While we do not require that you have any previous alpine experience to join this trip a good level of fitness is essential and we highly recommend first completing our Introduction to Alpine Mountaineering Course.

Why Wilderplaces

We realise that our price is a little higher than some of the other companies offering similar Mt. Blanc weeks and we would like to explain why what we offer is different from the rest:

Our Guides - we work very closely with a small team of guides whom we know very well, and who share our commitment to delivering quality courses. All the guides we use are not only highly qualified, motivated people who know the area intimately, they are also very good company in the mountains. We pay our guides above the recommended rates guide rates as we appreciate how hard these weeks are and value the efforts our guides put into looking after our clients.

Our itinerary has been designed by Company director Robbie Fenlon, with years of experience guiding on Mt. Blanc Robbie has chosen to use the Cabane d'Orny in Switzerland and the Italian Torino Refuge.

The Cabane d'Orny is a great hut in a fabulous area, it gives access to superb rock routes and allows the group to traverse from Switzerland back into France across the breathtaking Trient Plateau.

The Refugio Torino gives a great taste of Italy, is accessible no matter what the weather conditions and very importantly it is a very good altitude for acclimatisation. It's use also allows another amazing alpine traverse from the Aiguille du Midi in France across the amazing Valley Blanche to Italy.

All uplifts and transport cost included - we include in our price a return ticket up to the Aiguille du Midi and transport from Chamonix to Champex Switzerland.

Get a taste of what the week will be like by looking at the album below

Slide Show

Outline Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive at the Chalet and settle in, your Guide will meet you this evening to brief you on the week.

Day 2: Early start and a short drive around to Champex in Switzerland. From here make your way to Cabane D'Orny(2811m) where you’ll send the night. The group will do training with crampons and axes on the glacier d’Orny.

Day 3: From the Hut you traverese the spectacular Trient Plateau to climb the Aiguille de Tour(3529m) then continue back to France and the Chamonix valley.

Day 4: Today you take the breathtaking Aiguille du Midi Cable car and traverse the spectacular glaciers of the valley blanche to Italy and the Torino Hut(3375m).

Day 5: An alpine start to climb the Aiguille des Entreves (3604m). You will descend back down to the glacier from the summit and make your back across and up to the Aiguille du Midi and back to Chalet for the night.

Day 6: Today has leisurely start, but before the is out you will make your way by cable car and tram to the Nid d'Aigle (2380m). From here you will make your way up to the bustling Gouter Hut (3800m) for the night.

Day 7: Very early start and off to the Summit of Mt. Blanc (4807m), have a look at the slide show for an idea of what you will experience. Then back to Chamonix for a very well earned beer.

Day 8: Last breakfast at the Chalet before departure.

Please note that this itinerary is an example of a Mt. Blanc week. Itineraries are variable and subject to change due to conditions, the weather and group.

Groups of 4 people booking together pay 1895€ per person, this rate only applies to groups of exactly 4 people booking onto the same week at the same time.

• Mt Blanc Trip Information 2009 (.pdf)
• Spring Newsletter (.pdf)