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Open Mont Blanc Summit Challenge |
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Charity:
Charity of the Year |
Challenge:
Mont Blanc Summit Challenge |
Dates:
01/01/2000 -01/01/2000 |
Deposit:
£
250 |
Minimum
Sponsorship: £
3650 |
Grade:
Very Challenging |
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Introduction
Been there, done that? Think you’re fit? Already done numerous weekend treks in the UK or abroad? Then join us on the trek of a lifetime with an attempt on the summit of Mont Blanc, Western Europe’s highest peak, and raise funds for your favourite charity at the same time.
Summary
This is a 9 day challenge involving 3 days learning the necessary rope, ice-axe, crampon and mountaineering techniques in the capable hands of one of Chamonix's world famous mountain rescue teams, followed by a 2 day attempt on the summit of Mont Blanc by the Dome de Gouter Route. We have also built into the schedule an extra day in case bad weather prevents your 1st summit bid attempt. Not for the faint hearted, you will have the added challenge of 3-4 point scrambling, steep edges and trekking over unpredictable snow and ice in crampons while your movement is restricted by being tied to the guide and / or another participant.
Dates 2010
The trip will depart the UK on Saturday 19th June and return on Sunday 27th June 2010.
Trip Outline - Mont Blanc Summit Course and Climb
Day 1 – Meet Guides and sort equipment
Day 2 – Travel to Gressoney Valley in Italy for training
Day 3 – Trekking and altitude training
Day 4 – Trekking and further altitude training
Day 5 - Free day to relax and prepare
Day 6 - Start Mont Blanc ascent to Gouter Refuge
Day 7 - Mont Blanc summit and descent to valley
Day 8 - We have allocated an extra day into the trip to allow flexibility on the summit attempt should the weather conditions not be suitable
Day 9 - Depart back to UK
The Guides
Our team of guides is led by Jean Jacques Malineau. His dedication to the mountain environment and sharing it with others crosses all the seasons and both low and high level approaches. His experience and qualifications are enviable:
- 12 years working in the Chamonix high mountain rescue team (Peloton Gendarmeria Alta Montana)
- Certified as a high mountain guide (member of Union Internacional de la Asociacion de Guides de Montagne. U.I.A.G.M.)
- Rescue instructor
- Speaks excellent English (and Spanish)
In an average year Jean Jacques takes approximately 10 trips up Mont Blanc. All the guides in Jean Jacques’ team are of equally high standing.
Training / Acclimatisation
In order to maximise your chances of reaching the summit, it is advisable that you acclimatise for a couple of days spending time at altitudes of over 3500m. This is what we aim to provide in the following itinerary.
Weather and Seasons
Two days of “beau temps” (good weather) and low wind speeds at altitude are required for our summit bid. It is very crowded in July and August, but these months generally have the best weather in the mountains. Our dates have been chosen for the combination of best weather and lower amounts of people on the mountain.
Equipment
Everyone will be equipped with ice axe, crampons, suitable boots, harness, rope and helmets. If you do not have your own these are included in the price of your event. If you do have your own there is no discount for bringing ad hocs parts of the equipment as we get a total package price from the rental shop. You should also check the kit list and make sure you have all of the other recommended kit e.g. sunglasses, sunscreen, waterproofs etc (see full Kit List). It is cold, -15’c without wind-chill is normal, but avoid taking excessive amounts of warm clothing, concentrate on windproofs with a duvet jacket, hat and gloves.
Full Itinerary
Day 1 - Saturday
Arrive midday into Geneva airport
Transfer to Chamonix, meet the guides, check the equipment you have brought and get all hire equipment. Briefing with the guides and plan for the week.
Accommodation: Twin share rooms in Gite in Chamonix. Dinner in local restaurant.
Day 2 – Sunday
These two days provide an opportunity for the guides to see the participants’ physical fitness, coordination, techniques etc. They will also review the equipment brought to make sure it is suitable for the summit bid. It is possible during this point that the guides may suggest a particular participant is not fit enough to attempt the summit bid. In this case, an alternative plan will be discussed for that person or group of people.
Acclimatisation is all important so we have designed a lead up to the summit bid that includes peaks of over 4000m with nights spent in altitude at refuges. The terrain we have chosen is very similar to that of Mont Blanc
In the morning drive to the Gressoney Valley – about 2 ½ hours through the Mont Blanc tunnel. There we take 2 cable cars to get to 3000m. The approach to the Refugio Montova 3500m takes around 3 hours with the terrain being snow slopes and rock scrambling with some fixed ropes. In at the deep end but with excellent tuition and care all the way! Packed lunch half way up. At the refuge teaching session, using ice axes, crampons, walking roped up.
Accommodation: Multi-bedded rooms in refuge at 3500m. Dinner in refuge.
Day 3 - Monday
4.30 am start to climb Pyramide de Vincent, at 4200m, with glaciated terrain all the way. Then more exercises climbing higher on steeper slopes below Pic de Cornero. All day learning usage of ice axe and crampons and techniques to navigate varying snow conditions from soft snow to ice and varying inclines from flat to very steep. Also tips on how to walk roped up to other people. Guides at a ratio of 1:4 participants.
Accommodation: Multi bedded rooms in refuge. Dinner in refuge.
Day 4 - Tuesday
Putting into practice the skills learnt the day before and experiencing further acclimatisation. Guides at a ratio of 1:4 participants. Return to valley after more exercises, snow slopes, fixed rope and then back to Chamonix for an afternoon of rest. Opportunity to change rental equipment at end of day if necessary. Supper in local restaurant and early night!
Day 5 - Wednesday
This day is where we will make the decision on when we will summit Mont Blanc. In an ideal world - If the forecast is good for Thursday and Friday this day will be a free day. If it is better for Wednesday and Thursday with deterioration towards the end of the week we will attempt the summit bid from today.
Presume it is all good news– free day to relax and enjoy the views and atmosphere is France most famous climbing town!
Pack for 2 days of the summit bid. This will mean packing of rucksacks and then a full kit check by the guides.
Accommodation: Twin share rooms in Gite in Chamonix. Dinner in local restaurant.
Day 6 -Thursday
The summit bid is always taken with 2 participants and one guide. We take the Les Houches telepherique (1000m) to Bellevue (1800m) and then another funicular train to le Nid d’Aigle (2372m). We start the ascent with a 2 ½ hour trek to the start of the snow and Tete Rousse. Here we have lunch, put on crampons etc and head up to the Gouter Refuge (3817m) another 3 hours but this time “4 point” scrambling.
Accommodation: Multi bedded rooms in refuge. Dinner in refuge.
Day 7 – Friday
We start our summit bid at 12.30 - 2.00am depending on how long the guides think the participants need for the greatest chance of success. We heading up by the “normal” route (Dome du Gouter, Vallot Refuge, Arista des Bosses) to the peak of Mont Blanc (4807m) in about 5-7 hours, arriving there at dawn i.e. trekking there in darkness. The summit bid is always subject to weather conditions, the physical conditions of the participants and other considerations made by the guide. From the top (or as far as we get) we will return all the way to the top of the funicular at le Nid d’Aigle all in one go - about 7 hours of descent.
Accommodation: Twin share rooms in Gite in Chamonix. Celebration evening meal in local restaurant.
Day 8 - Saturday
We have allocated an extra day into the trip to allow flexibility on the summit attempt should the weather conditions not be suitable the first time round. There is an additional charge for the guide’s time, food, accommodation and travel if this happens but your accommodation and food is all included in your cost. The additional charge per guide is 450 euros per day plus their food, accommodation and travel which is approximately 125€. If there are two of you this amount can be divided by two. A guide on Mont Blanc can take no more than 2 people on the Mont Blanc mountain. If you have come off the mountain and need to take all the telepheriques etc to try the summit again there will also be an additional charge for yourself for these.
Day 9 - Sunday
Transfer to Geneva airport mid day/early afternoon.
Refuges
Refuges offer accommodation in often wild and inaccessible places allowing you access to these places without having to camp. They offer basic multi bedded rooms for 4 - 50 people in extended bunks. These bunks can be 2-3 tier but very long so 12 of you may all be sleeping in a row on your own mattress. Mattress protection is included but you are advised to take a sleeping bag or sleeping inner. Bathroom facilities are usually minimal. On Mont Blanc there are cubicles built over a long metal trough and that is about it! Showers and better equipment but still communal/shared bathrooms are available in other refuges but not in the Dome de Gouter. There is a limited area to keep your belongings and this is usually in a locker. Trekking boots are not allowed in most refuges. You are encouraged to bring our own sandals or to use the plastic over shoes provided.
All food is eaten at long trestle tables shared with other trekkers. There is a limited choice of food in the Italian refuge but none in the Dome de Gouter. Drinks can be purchased separately from the meals we provide.
Cost per person
As the staffing ratio is so high on this event we have costed it twice.
If there are 5-6 people on the event the cost per person will be: £2320 per person
If there are 7-8 people on it the cost will be: £2060 per person
Price includes:
8 nights accommodation in a Gite in Chamonix or in a refuge in Italy or in the Dome de Gouter refuge
All breakfasts and dinners except on free days
packed lunches on the climbing and training days but not on the free days
Funicular and telepherique tickets for 1st attempt
Airport transfers and other transport to start and finish of various days
Equipment hire (harnesses, helmets, climbing boots, ice axe, crampons)
Guides at a level of 1 guide to 4 participants while training
Guides at a level of 1 guide to 2 participants while on summit bid
Price does not include:
Flights
Food on the free day except breakfast
2nd summit bid
Personal insurance
Flights
Flights are not included in your price to allow you to choose the UK departure airport that is suitable for you. We will be offering just one transfer from Geneva on the day of arrival and back to Geneva on the day of departure. Please therefore contact us before booking your flight to Geneva to make sure your preferred flight works with our transfer times or you may have to make your own way.
Recommended Minimum Sponsorship
£3650
On an event of this difficulty and duration, we can never guarantee that you will achieve the ultimate goal of summiting Mont Blanc. It may therefore be worthwhile looking at alternative ways of judging your success on this event.
Pre- Event Support
A simple registration process
Single person contact in our office to maintain excellent level of service to you
Kit list and training programme
Warning:
Mont Blanc may be accessible as a combination scramble trek but this does not make it an easy peak. At any time the guides may decide you are a danger to yourself and/or others and not take you further. In this case, the guide’s decision is final. If the guide(s) turn around, for whatever reason, both participants with that guide turn around and retreat to safety.
Weather conditions may dictate that the itinerary changes. In particular it may be deemed better for weather considerations that the free day is abandoned and you go straight from the training days to the summit bid. In which case there will be 2 free days at the end of the trip and not in the middle.
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More Information
Sarah Leach
sarah@tallstories.co.uk
http://www.tallstories.co.uk
0208 939 5225
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