ONE-DAY MONT BLANC ASCENT

Our day will start at midnight from the Crozat car park! "Slowly (500m/hr) but surely, we’ll make our way up to the tête rousse hut, where the real alpine climb begins with the ascent to the Aiguille du Goûter. We’ll follow the Dôme du Goûter, then the Col du Dôme to the Vallot hut-bivouac at 4362m of altitude. After a break, sheltered from the wind and cold, we’ll head off towards the Bosses ridge to reach the 4810-metre summit of Mont Blanc. From the summit, the view is just breathtaking!. A careful descent to the Goûter hut for a meal and maybe a little nap before heading back down to the valley.

Total ascent: +3450m / -3450m.
End of our trip at the Crozat car park between 3 and 8 pm.

The programme is intended as a guide only. It could be modified at any time by the mountain guide for safety reasons, weather conditions or regarding the physical and technical level of the participants. If the ascent is not possible for weather or safety reasons, the guide would propose an alternative summit in a mountain massif where the conditions are better (Gran Paradiso Paradis 4061m or Monte Rosa 4272m, for example).

Please notice that by booking this trip, you are agreeing to take part in a 1-day mountaineering programme, with the aim of attempting an ascent of Mont Blanc, BUT you are also agreeing to accept any changes to the programme (made necessary by current conditions) during or before the course

Everything will be done to help you succeed in your ascent of the roof of the Alps, but please note that the aim is not to prepare you physically, you must arrive trained, in very good physical condition and acclimatised.
For your acclimatisation, we recommend that you spend at least one night in an altitude refuge (between 2000 and 2500 metres minimum) in the 4 days preceding your ascent. It is the time spent at altitude that will allow your body to acclimatise more than the altitude itself. We can advise you on routes and refuges suited to your preparation.

2 participant maximum. Departure is guaranteed from 1 participants. You will be notified at least 7 days before departure in the event of cancellation. Where possible, an alternative solution will be offered.

NB : For cancellation conditions for privatised trips (made up groups) please refer to our conditions of sale.

Personal equipment

Hiking in high mountain requires being able to cope with all weather and environmental conditions which can change very quickly. Appropriate equipment guarantees safety and represents an essential part of the success and comfort of your climb/stay.}
You will not necessarily use all the items on this list which but you must nevertheless have them in your bag.

Important, if you have your own personal equipment: the legislation regarding P.P.I. (personal protective equipment, this is the helmet, harness, and sunglasses) limits the use of the equipment over time. They can be used for 5 years from the date of purchase. Beyond this date, your equipment is considered to no longer be up to standard. You can find all the information regarding P.P.E. here > www.inrs.fr

Headwear

At high altitudes, snow reflects UV rays and the sun’s rays are not as well filtered by the atmosphere; even a cloudy sky allows 90% of UV rays to pass through, so it is essential to protect yourself against the dangers of the sun.

• A pair of class 4 protection sunglasses is highly recommended for everyone and very strongly recommended for sensitive eyes. They’ll come in handy on a ski holiday too.
• Sun cream high protection (index 50 recommended) for face and lips; remember to take the smallest size possible (no large tubes)
• a cap for the approach walk (prefer a soft model with no large seams that can be worn under the helmet)
• a ski mask (indispensable in case of gusts of wind or snowfall)
• a beanie hat that can be worn under the helmet (without pompoms)
• a helmet* approved for mountaineering ( 5 years max since date of purchase)
• a neck gaiters or Buff(avoid scarves)
• a headlamp with loaded batteries!!!

Bodywear

When making a prolonged effort at altitude, the principle is to be able to layer different garments according to the intensity of the effort and the weather conditions (temperature, wind, snowfall, rain), in order to stay as dry as possible.

NB: ski clothes are not suitable because they are often too warm, too heavy and not very breathable.

Upper body

• First layer: a long-sleeve base layer in a breathable, quick-drying material such as merino, wood fibre..., cotton to be avoided(to protect you from UV rays and for safety in the event of a fall).
  Second layer: a lightweight fleece or soft shell jacket*. Ideally, it should be windproof and breathable. Put it on as soon as the temperature cools, usually when you arrive on the glacier.
• Third layer: a warm, compressible down jacket (synthetic or down, -10°C protection). It will keep you warm during a long stop on the route, at the summit while you take photos, on the refuge terrace, and sometimes even while walking in very cold weather.
  Fourth layer: a gore tex* windproof jacket to protect against rain and snow. This is the waterproof jacket that keeps you dry in bad weather. It must be lightweight and breathable.
• a mountaineering harness* (5 years max from date of purchase)

Lower body

• a thin pair of tights in fleece or cotton, ideally ¾ so as not to make the socks too thick. You’ll need them in case of very cold weather, and you can put them on at the hut at the start of the ascent if necessary. You can also use it as nightwear.
• Mountaineering trousers: mountaineering trousers are water-repellent, windproof, breathable and hard-wearing. You can also take hiking or trekking trousers that aren’t too light (as long as you have a gore tex overtrouser to put over them). NB: mountaineering trousers are not available for hire
• an overtrouser* in GoreTex or equivalent material: these are very light trousers that you put over your trousers in case of rain, wind or snow. They have zips along the legs, so you can put them on quickly at any time without having to remove your shoes.

The hands

• a pair of thin gloves in fleece, softshell or leather for the climbs to the refuge.
• one pair of thicker gloves like ski gloves
• a pair of VERY WARM Mittens (if your ski gloves aren’t warm enough), which you’ll put over the thin gloves when you get to the top and for the descent.

Footwear

• Mountaineering boots* (crampon-compatible): these boots are different from hiking boots. They are rigid, which will enable you to crampon on ice while providing good support for the ankle and crampons. They must also be waterproof and offer excellent protection against the cold.
• Hiking or mountaineering socks : these should be warm and well-fitting and high enough to rise above boot level to avoid overheating. One pair is enough for a 48-hour mountain run. You can also take a pair of very light mini-socks to put on in the refuge in the evening while your pair of technical socks dry.
• a pair of crampons* with anti-boot in good condition and sharp, suitable for your boots,
• a mountaineering ice axe* light and long, suited to your height, it should almost reach the ground when in your hand with your arm extended alongside your body.
• gaiters* which will keep your feet dry in fresh snow; they also prevent crampon points catching on the bottom of your trousers.
  NB: all refuges provide slippers, so you don’t need to take extra shoes.

And last but not least

• Telescopic walking poles* with snow washers (8 cm minimum diameter ). Not compulsory but highly recommended; they will help you on the way up and take the strain off your knees on the way down.
• water : make sure you have enough water for around 2 litres, ideally a one-litre plastic bottle plus smaller ones (around 25 cl) to keep warm and close to your body in your jacket. Water bags are not suitable for use at high altitude because they freeze! You can use them, but only when going up to the refuge.
• energy food (cereal bars, dried fruit...depending on your habits),
• small thermos 500ML max (not compulsory, a hot drink can be comforting but it adds weight...)
• camera: prefer a small size that you can slip into your pocket, no need to bring a large camera that risks being damaged. Besides, with the cold the battery would be empty very quickly.
• small first aid kit adapted to your personal needs, also containing elastoplast and double-skin dressings for any blisters. If you are taking medication, take only the number of tablets you need. Pack a few paracetamol tablets as it’s not uncommon to suffer from headaches when at altitude.
• a bin bag to isolate your wet stuff in case of rain or a waterproof overbag.
• documents always useful to have with you in a small waterproof bag: ID proof, references of your assistance insurance if you haven’t taken out the policy we offer.
• A small amount of cash for personal expenses (drinks, etc.) in the refuges (most of the refuges don’t accept payment by credit card).

And remember, all of the above must fit into:

• A mountain rucksack* of around 35 litres (40 litres max) with ice axe holder and chest strap. The filled rucksack should not exceed 10 kg, including technical equipment (crampons, harness, helmet). Remember that weight is the mountaineer’s enemy. Once you’ve packed your rucksack, there should still be room for a picnic!

3 conditions for a successful ascent: Weather + Good shape + Experience}

Mont-Blanc ascent is a high-mountain route requiring mountaineering skills. The route can be vertiginous and exposed to natural hazards: rock falls, crevasses, avalanches.
Above 4,000 metres, the weather conditions can be extreme: wind, snow and cold can make the climb impossible because too dangerous. Our priority is always safety. The mountain guide who accompanies you has a thorough knowledge of Mont-Blanc and is best one to assess the feasibility of the ascent. Therefore, as a last resort, he or she will decide whether or not to continue with the ascent. If it is impossible to attempt the ascent of Mont-Blanc according to the weather forecast two days before, we will organise an alternative program in other alpine massifs.

Stamina and skills
After the first two days, if the guide considers that your physical and/or mental condition does not allow you to climb Mont Blanc without endangering your safety and that of the group, he will inform you. You will then have to leave the group. If another participant is in the same situation as you, you then would be able to set off as rope-mates for another summit. In no case this interruption could give right to refund.

Mountaineering is subject to various factors that we can sometimes neither anticipate nor control; we may therefore have to modify the programme of our high mountain holidays before or during the stay for various reasons:

• if the weather and/or snow conditions make it impossible to carry out the planned programme and/or
• if there is a delay in the opening or early closure of a ski lift or refuge,
  In these cases, we will offer you an alternative programm, sometimes on the day of departure, which you may not refuse.

Programme and supervision standards

• In the event of a change to the programm decided by the guide and this only on the second day of the stay, a partial refund (corresponding to the ski lifts not used and the difference in the price of the overnight stays in the refuges) will be granted only if the replacement ascent takes place in the Gran Paradiso massif.
• If ski lifts are closed the first two days of your stay, we will offer you a refund for the cost of the unused ski lifts. We may also, in order to make up for the extra height difference, change the programme and take you where ski lift are available and replace the night in the refuge with a night in the valley.

Also, mountain conditions change over the summer and can sometimes alter the supervision standards for each ascent. The supervision standards define the number of people that the mountain guide can supervise for each route and can be modified during the season.
These changes may affect the price of the stay or the program. Your registration for one of our trips or ascents means that you understand and accept these possibility.

No medical certificate required to take part in our trips, but it may be useful to check with your doctor that you have no contraindications (particularly in the case of chronic illness) to physical activity in the high mountains.

If you are undergoing any particular treatment, please let us know so that we can take appropriate measures if necessary.

Altitude can cause acute mountain sickness when you are not sufficiently acclimatised, also known as AMS. In most cases, it is accompanied by headaches, nausea and a general feeling of discomfort, but in the most serious cases it can lead to pulmonary or cerebral oedema, requiring an immediate descent.

That’s why it’s always a good idea, before any ascent or high altitude stay wherever possible, to do some hiking in the mountains or medium mountains, especially for those who live at sea level.

Training
Mont Blanc ascent is physically very demanding. Your endurance, stamina and ability to adapt to high mountain environment will be severely tested. You’ll have to endure a prolonged effort at altitude on the way up, not forgetting the descent when your legs stiffen, which can be traumatic for ill-prepared muscles and joints.
To achieve this ascent in the best conditions, you need to acquire and perfect your physical and psychological abilities.
Regular training over a period of 6 months prior to departure is essential to cope with the sustained effort required to reach this mythical summit.
Ideally, the preparation can be done through hikes of progressive difficulty if you live in a mountain environment; completing an outing of 2500-3000 metres of ascent without suffering too much will ensure that you have the qualities required for Mont Blanc.
In an urban environment, the conditions are obviously different, so we can suggest a training programme to help you make the most of your expedition.

Skills }

Serious mountaineering experience is required for this ascent, including experience of walking with crampons

By state-certified mountain guides or trainees mountain guides (aspirant guides) from the Roc Écrins team. They will have a VHF radio connected to the emergency services, a satellite phone or a mobile phone. They will also have a collective first-aid kit.

*A trainee mountain guide is a guide in training who is authorised to work and supervise climbs from their third year of training. They are not beginners, as it takes several years of practice and training to build up a list of routes and have the experience and technical level required to enter the mountain guide training course.

As a travel agency, we have our own professional liability insurance.
To take part in one of our stays , you must have individual civil liability insurance, covering you in the event of damage caused to others. In addition, you must be properly insured for the chosen activity and covered for (rescue and repatriation costs) in the event of an incident or accident occurring during the course. It is your responsibility to check the cover offered by your personal insurance policy. If you do not already have such insurance, you can take out one of the policies we offer:

-* ASSISTANCE’ insurance, covering repatriation, rescue and search costs and interruption of stay, represents 2.6% of the price of the holiday. 
-* ‘MULTIRISK’ insurance covering rescue and search costs, repatriation, cancellation, loss of luggage and interruption of holiday, represents 5.6% of the price of the holiday. 
-* For non-European residents, ‘ASSISTANCE for non-European Union citizens’ insurance, covering rescue and search costs and interruption of stay, represents €10 per day.

NB : if the departure date had to be modified, you would have to cancel your insurance and subscribe for a new one.

Transfers from the meeting point to the start of the climb will be provided by the participants in their own vehicles.

That’s the KgCO2 produced during your stay when you travel to the activities!

For information:

• Paris - Les Houches

– by car: 170 kg CO2
– by train: 1.4 KgCo2

• Lyon - Les Houches

– by car : 64 kg CO2
– by train : 3.3 kg Co2

• Marseille - Les Houches

– by car : 130 kgCO2
– by train : 1.1 kgCo2

Carpooling ? We can put you in touch with other participants. Contact us by email or telephone. https://www.blablacar.fr/

By train,

• TGV Paris-Bellegarde and TGV Marseille-Lyon, TER connections to St Gervais les Bains. Afterwards, you can c with your guide.

If you wish to come by car,

• From Italy, take the A5 motorway to AOSTE, then follow signs for Courmayer. Enter France through the Mont Blanc tunnel to Les Houches. Then continue down the valley towards Le Fayet to reach St Gervais les Bains. Continue as far as Bionay, where you turn left towards Bionnassay and finally arrive at the car park.
• From the south, take the A7 motorway to Valence, then the A49 to Voreppe, then follow signs for Chambery and Geneva to join the Autoroute Blanche to ST Gervais. Continue as far as Bionay, where you turn left towards Bionnassay and finally arrive at the car park.
• From the north, take the A6 motorway, then the A40 to Macon, then the Autoroute Blanche, then the N205 towards ST Gervais. Continue as far as Bionay, where you turn left towards Bionnassay and finally arrive at the car park.

If you are coming by plane,

From Geneva International Airport

• SAT bus company provides daily services between Geneva airport and Chamonix www.sat-montblanc.com
• Léman Express rail link between Geneva airport and St Gervais- Le Fayet station

• Mountain guiding service
• Organisation and reservations (guide, gear) of your stay

Mountains are a magic place, a place where wildlife is still present and a place of great freedom That’s why we like it so much as well as so many more and more people. But it’s also a fragile environment that need to be respected and protected. Please follow few simple rules of good behavior: stay on the trails, don’t take anything, don’t throw anything away, and be discreet. The mountains are one of the last silent places, and this silence is a treasure to be cherished, respected and shared!

IN THE MOUNTAIN, you’ll be roped up with your guide, your friends or other people you don’t know, all united by the same goal. It’s all about helping each other, not only within the group but also with anyone else who need help. And don’t forget when walking: those who go down let the way to those who go up.

IN THE REFUGE also, it’s important to respect certain rules. You’ll need to take your shoes off to go up to the dormitories; sleepers are provided for this purpose.
Don’t forget that climbers get up very early in the morning so please be discreet. When leaving the dormitory , it’s
usual to fold the blanket.

At the end of the day or of the stay it’s customary to offer a drink to the group to soothe moments of doubt and fear, and/or to celebrate the summit, sharing the day’s strong, funny and joyful moments. And, if you feel like it, at the end of your stay, you can thank your guide with a small tip, an old tradition but nothing is mandatory.

To book your trip :

• complete the pre-registration form online
• You will receive a booking contract by email. It sets out the details of your booking as well as the schedule and payment terms.
• On receipt of this contract, the deposit of 30% must be payed within 4 days in accordance with the terms and conditions set out in the contract. Your registration can only be confirmed when the deposit has been payed.
• The balance must be paid 45 days before the departure. Please note that any balance not paid within 45 days of departure will be considered as a cancellation of your booking. Financial withholding would therfore be applied in accordance with our terms and conditions of sale.
• For a of a booking made less than 45 days before departure, the total amount of the booking must be paid on receipt of the booking contract in accordance with the terms and conditions set out therein.