Achieving any worthwhile goal requires passion, commitment and planning. Often there are associated risks in its attainment. Climbing Mont Blanc, the alpine giant that towers above Chamonix, France is no exception. While it is not a technical climb – little previous alpine experience is required to attempt Mont Blanc – it is a challenging mountain, oft under-estimated. It takes more than good fitness and practice walking on crampons to get to the top. Planning should start well in advance.
Planning and Training For Mont Blanc
- 1. Climb Mont Blanc with a Mountain Guide. Don't leave the climb to chance. Hire the professional services of a guide or join a guided group. Mountain Guides are highly trained, will approach the mountain to minimize hazard and take care of the ascent details. Climbers need only focus on the task at hand. A guided Mont Blanc Course is typically a five- or six-day affair that covers the skills required for a summit attempt.
- 2. Plan Mont Blanc in advance. Schedule the climb at least 6 months in advance to plan a training program. Training should be focused on aerobic fitness and ideally include regular workouts that simulate the climb i.e. walking uphill for several hours wearing a weighted backpack.
- 3. Climb Mont Blanc during low season. For comfort in the huts and to avoid overcrowding, climb during the low season in June or, late August to early September. Some guide companies offer a discount for bookings out of peak season.
- 4. Research the climb. Get all the facts about the actual climb so there are no surprises. Preparation is both mental and physical.
Acclimatize and Prepare for Mont Blanc
- 5. Acclimatize for Mont Blanc.The summit of Mont Blanc is almost 5,000 meters (over 16,000 feet). To avoid the debilitating effects of Mountain Sickness (a serious condition), it is necessary to acclimatize to comfortably reach this height. A week is the minimum amount of time required for acclimating. An additional week spent hiking in the mountains in advance of the trip is even better. Drink plenty of water and stay well nourished during this period.
- 6. Mont Blanc equipment. Most equipment can be rented the week of the trip. However, there's something the size of a one cent coin that can ruin the chances of success on Mont Blanc - a blister! Take time selecting boots for comfort. Break in footwear intended for the climb well in advance. Wearing clean, well fitted socks and preventative foot taping are additional worthwhile measures.
- 7. Rest, health and hygiene. Ensure sufficient rest before the start of the acclimatisation process. Arriving in Chamonix tired or run down can lead to poor acclimatisation. Alpine huts – where people are confined to close quarters and there is usually no access to running water – can be a breeding ground for bacteria. Pay careful attention to hygiene. Carry a small container of hand sanitizer and use regularly.
Mont Blanc Summit Day
- 8. Climb Mont Blanc with a friend. It's great to share the climbing experience (and preparatory training) with a friend. Two clients and one guide make up a rope team. Sharing a summit goal with a climbing partner gives incentive to get to the top rather than letting the team down and turning around when the going gets tough.
- 9. Medication for Mont Blanc. An anti-inflammatory such as Asprin can alleviate the symptoms of mild altitude sickness. It is important not to rely on medication to acclimatize or use it to mask the pain of an injury.
- 10. Go light on Mont Blanc summit day. Carry the minimum recommended by the guide. Wear appropriate clothes based on a layering system to conserve energy through temperature control. Have handy a ready form of fast energy such as glucose tablets and stay hydrated, preferably with warm fluid. A slow, steady pace with few stops is the best formula for topping out. And, avoid getting stressed.
Above all it is important to enjoy the climb, the magnificent views and the process of getting there. With sufficient preparation, a bit of luck with weather and snow conditions there's a good chance, paraphrasing the words of the late Sir Edmund Hillary, of "knocking the bastard off". However, if the weather, snow conditions and circumstances do not conspire together to allow a successful ascent; remember, Mont Blanc will still be there next year.
Other articles that may be of interest in this series include: Technical Equipment to Climb Mont Blanc and Gear to Climb Mont Blanc.
