rElearn

Introduction

Preparation - Booking

Preparation - Fitness

Preparation - Gear

Training Days

Restday

Ascent Day 1

Ascent Day 2 - Up

Ascent Day 2 - Down

Epilogue

Mont Blanc is the highest European mountain west of the Urals. It stands 4,810 metres above sea level, on the Franco-Italian border, its summit always snow-capped and its flanks and sister peaks snaked in giant frozen rivers known [...]

Introduction

Preparation - Booking

Preparation - Fitness

Preparation - Gear

Training Days

Restday

Ascent Day 1

Ascent Day 2 - Up

Ascent Day 2 - Down

Epilogue

The first thing we did was arrange our travel and accommodation and book guides. We went with Compagnie des Guides de Saint Gervaise. Some climbers from the French side start from Chamonix which is also a ski destination [...]

Introduction
Preparation - Booking
Preparation - Fitness
Preparation - Gear
Training Days
Restday
Ascent Day 1
Ascent Day 2 - Up
Ascent Day 2 - Down
Epilogue

You need to be fit. On our ascent day we did eleven hours of almost non-stop hiking and scrambling (and that was a fast time). Much of this is in snow and wind, at altitude with 10-12kg on [...]

IntroductionPreparation - BookingPreparation - FitnessPreparation - GearTraining DaysRestdayAscent Day 1Ascent Day 2 - UpAscent Day 2 - DownEpilogue $(document).ready(function(){ $(".stripeMe tr").mouseover(function() {$(this).addClass("over");}).mouseout(function() {$(this).removeClass("over");}); $(".stripeMe tr:even").addClass("alt"); }); The other part of the preparation was getting all the right gear. I got most of my gear before I left and bought and rented the rest in France. Proper hiking attire is [...]

Introduction

Preparation - Booking

Preparation - Fitness

Preparation - Gear

Training Days

Restday

Ascent Day 1

Ascent Day 2 - Up

Ascent Day 2 - Down

Epilogue

Our package included three training days with our guides. Training started on Sunday 17th August. The four of us were joined by six others and this group of ten was assigned two guides. We started from a car [...]

Introduction
Preparation - Booking
Preparation - Fitness
Preparation - Gear
Training Days
Restday
Ascent Day 1
Ascent Day 2 - Up
Ascent Day 2 - Down
Epilogue

 
On Wednesday we rested. In fairness we were pretty screwed from the training as the Tuesday was very eventful and long. We had planned to go up in the cable car at Chamonix to try and get some [...]

Introduction

Preparation - Booking

Preparation - Fitness

Preparation - Gear

Training Days

Restday

Ascent Day 1

Ascent Day 2 - Up

Ascent Day 2 - Down

Epilogue

Fitful sleep and up early for the drive to Saint Gervaise. We take the tram to the Nid d’Aigle (2,372m). From there it’s a relatively straightforward hike up to the Refuge de Tête Rousse (3,167m), although the last [...]

Introduction

Preparation - Booking

Preparation - Fitness

Preparation - Gear

Training Days

Restday

Ascent Day 1

Ascent Day 2 - Up

Ascent Day 2 - Down

Epilogue

Twenty past one my alarm goes off. Bolt upright in bed. There is a tremendous rustling as people jump out of bed, root about in their packs and pull on clothes furiously. There is not much talking. I [...]

Introduction
Preparation - Booking
Preparation - Fitness
Preparation - Gear
Training Days
Restday
Ascent Day 1
Ascent Day 2 - Up
Ascent Day 2 - Down
Epilogue

Suddenly our guide slings his pack. Go go he says. Clouds coming in. Guide looks quite nervous. We start belting down the mountain. I feel ecstatic. Going down is so easy compared do the murder of the ascent. [...]

Introduction
Preparation - Booking
Preparation - Fitness
Preparation - Gear
Training Days
Restday
Ascent Day 1
Ascent Day 2 - Up
Ascent Day 2 - Down
Epilogue

Tom Whipple, the Times journalist we met in the Gouter Refuge, mentions us his interesting Mont Blanc piece. It’s probabaly only a matter of time before you will need a permit to climb Mont Blanc. (Also check out [...]