Mont Blanc is a very famous destination for mountaineers and every year its normal route is visited by thousands of people who want to reach the summit of the Alps at 4810 m.
The easiest and most certainly less dangerous way to climb it is via the route that goes through the Gouter refuge on the French side, as the way through the Refuge des Cosmiques has recently become quite dangerous for seracs fall.
It is a climb with no great technical difficulties; the most demanding part is surely the climb to the Gouter hut, which goes through the famous Grand Couloir and then for an easy but exposed ridge equipped with steel wires in some sections.
From the Gouter Hut to the summit of Mont Blanc, the climb then it’s going on a glacier, first climbing through wide slopes to the Vallot Shelter, and then up the Bosses ridge for the last 500 ms. In this second part, the biggest challenge is represented by the altitude.
Previous good acclimatization skills are indispensable to climb Mont Blanc. The training should be done climbing others 4000 ms peaks, so that we can fully enjoy the spectacle the nature offers us during the ascent, which otherwise becomes painful, rather than fun. The sunrise view from the top of Mont Blanc, with its shadow projecting on the west French plain, is an unforgettable moment that remains imprinted in memory forever …
We propose the climb to Mont Blanc in three days to achieve a gradual ascension, allowing our body to get used to the drop in altitude, and also have the opportunity to take advantage of the best day to climb depending on weather. This does not mean that you cannot go up in two days, sleeping at the Gouter Hut overnight. However, by experience, we can guarantee that, in this way, chances to get to the top for who do not have excellent training and acclimatization skills, are reduced by 30-40% …
In case you would prefer a longer trip, with some acclimatization days included, to get the best chance to climb Mont Blanc, you may want to check our other program “Climb Mont Blanc in 6 days”.