Climbing the Mont Blanc (4810 m)

AN ACTION FILLED MOUNTAIN WEEK WITH THE ROOF OF THE ALPS AS THE HIGHLIGHT - TOP ASCENT IN 3 DAYS!

The Mont Blanc ascent (4810 m), the highest peak of the Alps, is a challenging tour that requires stamina and physical and mental strength. This ascent, often labeled as easy, should not be underestimated. It is for adventurers with ample alpine walking experience and a high level of fitness. 

Your basecamp will be the Bekker Mountain Chalet in Finhaut, where you can leave behind your luggage while climbing.

Marathon runners, serious bikers and other participants often tell us afterwards that the Mont Blanc expedition was the greatest physical exertion of their life - no kidding! This tour, often labeled by experienced climbers as easy, should not be underestimated. Mont Blanc is a big, powerful and isolated mountain with rapidly changing weather conditions. It's a mixed rock and ice climb. Mont Blanc can be treacherous due to a change in weather, rockfall and other dangers of high altitude. Reaching the summit is a once in a lifetime experience, but participants should have enough energy left to safely complete the hard descent. Although the ascent is not a race and the mountainguides move at a steady and even pace, you should be able to follow your mountain guide at all times, both on your way up and down.

In order to enlarge safety of the participants, our highly experienced guides will rope up not more than 2 clients during the Mont Blanc ascent itself. This will maximise your summit chances and you will get more personal attention from the guide. Preparation will be thorough. At the beginning of the week, while enjoying your welcome drink, there will be an extensive briefing on weather conditions, equipment and the itinerary by the guide and/or Edward Bekker.

There are several routes up Mont Blanc. We ascend via the Tête Rousse and Gouter route. It has the best chance of success and the least risks. It is generally known that with the number of people climbing Mont Blanc it is difficult to arrange spaces in mountain huts, but thanks to our excellent local contacts with hut keepers and the fact that we are based here throughout the year, we have always been able to get the spaces we needed.

Instead of the classic 2-day ascent we've chosen a 3-day ascent, making the day hikes less long, giving you more time to enjoy and giving us maximum flexibility in different weather conditions.

BRIEF COURSE ITINERARY (SUBJECT TO CHANGE)

Check in on day 1 between 4pm and 7 pm at the Bekker Mountain Chalet in Finhaut. We start with a briefing during a welcome drink, followed by a 3-course dinner and a comfortable night at the chalet.

The next day you we will advice you for a nice beautiful acclimatization hike in the 'home' mountains behind the Bekker Mountain Chalet. Afterwards, you can relax at  the Bekker Mountain Chalet and you'll have some time left for shopping (or renting boots) in Argentière or Chamonix, if necessary.

On day 3, after a nice breakfast, the other guides will join us at our chalet and we distribute the technical climbing gear. Then we go after a short drive (about 10 min) by cable car and then further hiking to the recently renovated Albert hut (2702m). In the afternoon instruction on the glacier (cramponing, ice axe and rope technique). Early the next morning departure for a climb over the glacier to the Aiguille du Tour (3540m). The last 100m via a simple rock ridge (II). On the small summit we have a spectacular view of Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn. Descent to the valley, preparing the backpacks for the next day and a comfortable night at the Bekker chalet.

The next day by car to Les Houches. From here by lift and train to Nid d’Aigle (Eagles Nest) on 2372 m. Then hiking further on a steep trail to the Tête Rousse hut (3167 m), where we spend the night.

The next morning we prepare for the steep climb to the new Goûter hut at a height of 3817 m. Roped up with the guide we continue in small groups, helmet on our head, crampons under our feet and ice axe in our hand.

Between the Tête Rousse hut and the Goûter hut we will climb a rocky rib using our hands (grade II). Crampons are necessary when there is snow. During this climb we have to cross the dangerous "Grand Couloir" with its constant stonefall. When arriving in the hut, we prepare for the summit on the following day. After the cooked meal we call it a night.

Leaving the crowded Goûter hut at 3.00 am, we climb via the Vallot hut (emergency shelter) over the Bosses ridge to the top (4810 m). We will climb glaciers and snow ridges. It will take between 3 and 5 hours. The descent (same route as the ascent), too often underestimated, is long and exhausting as we go all the way down to the valley. A hard day's work! We stay the night in the valley.

Depending on the weather, it is also possible to climb the summit directly from the Tête Rousse hut (3167 m) and spend the night on the way down in the Goûter hut. Thus, by adapting the summit day to the weather forecast, we can maximise your summit chances.

Successful Mont Blanc participants receive a certificate followed by a lovely raclette meal for all participants and the guides.

REQUIREMENTS

Ample experience in alpine walks (f.ex. hut to hut hiking trips) is needed, with a high level of fitness and no fear of heights.
Previous mountaineering experience (like alpine courses or glacier treks from our program) would be a real bonus.

Two factors are most important for reaching the Mont Blanc summit. The first is your personal level of fitness and your capability to adapt to heights. We therefore recommend to arrive a few days prior to the program so you can acclimatize. The second is the weather. We cannot influence weather conditions, but our program and our long-standing experience guarantees an unique holiday in the mountains with a good chance of success, even if circumstances are less favorable. Over the past 3 decades hundreds of participants safely reached the Mont Blanc summit thanks to Edward Bekker Ski & Alpinisme / Bekker Mountain Travel!

ACCOMMODATION

Valley accomodation is our own Bekker Mountain Chalet. Click for further information

BOOKING PROCESS

You should plan a Mont Blanc climb early. First of all, you need to be well acclimatized and prepared; that is why we basically only run weekly programs, which include the preparation and acclimatization process. You may also assume that the huts on Mont Blanc are always fully booked. However, as an accredited mountaineering school, we have priority in booking the places in the huts. The booking of the huts is slightly  different every year, but basically places are allocated in different stages during the winter and early spring. To be able to register the places, we need a definitive registration, since we have to provide your name and address details plus immediately pay a deposit, which you can no longer cancel free of charge.

Specifically, this means as follows:

• You should book and plan a Mont Blanc climb as early as possible (so still in winter!). After that you can possibly still be on a waiting list last minute, if someone loses weight for compelling reasons, but in principle you cannot book a Mont Blanc climb last minute.
• After booking you will receive an invoice/confirmation from us and we require a deposit of € 300 or CHF 330 per person. However, this is no guarantee that your place in the hut has already been secured!
• As soon as we have confirmation of the places in the huts (in principle no later than 1 May), your booking is final and the regular cancellation conditions apply.
• If for some reason we are unable to secure beds in the huts (especially for bookings later in the season), you can choose a different date or a full refund of the deposit. Sometimes it may also happen that we have to move the trip by a day due to the availability in the huts. Keep this in mind

WHY CLIMBING MONT BLANC WITH BEKKER MOUNTAIN TRAVEL?

• For over 3 decades: On Top! Edward Bekker led his first clients to the top of Mont Blanc in 1984 when he was a guide in training.
• Edward Bekker Ski & Alpinisme is permanently based in the Espace Mont Blanc region. The detailed knowledge of conditions contributes to its success.
• Personal contact is important to Edward Bekker and his team of multi-lingual office staff.
• Edward Bekker Ski & Alpinisme works exclusively with qualified official IFMGA mountain and ski guides. The first language is English (but Dutch, German and French are commonly spoken).
• The Goûter route has the best chance of success. All other routes are more complicated.
• Price-quality ratio is excellent; all-in prices, including training and accclimatization
• The use of technical climbing gear, ice-axe, crampons, harness and helmet is included in the price; they will be made fit for you on the spot by the guides.
• Small groups of maximum 4 or 8 participants in total and 2 participants per guide guarantee a maximum of safety and the best chance of reaching the top of Mont Blanc!
• Comfortable accommodation at the Bekker Chalet where you will find a good bed and good food. Free wifi, free coffee and tea, a wood heathed hottub and sauna are at your disposal.
• More flexibility thanks to a 3-day ascent