Climbing Mont Blanc

How long did it take you to do your winter ML? Any advice on UK training places at all? Rob Johnson in Snowdonia is very good but is Glenmore Lodge and Plas Y Brenin worth a look too? Totally agree with your comments about Scotland. High altitude climbers don't train there before the greater ranges for nothing!

I've been at 3,850 metres in Nepal and am doing Toubkal next. Is a previous 4,000 metre peak sufficient before an assault on Mont Blanc? Advice, experience and guidance all welcome. Cheers :)

@1Allyc23 4800m on the most dangerous mountain in the world with the most death tolls is not a mountain for people who'd struggle with 1500m, you must be tough enough to break through that mountain before beginning!

@shahthegreat1 You should be I know how you feel, what mountain did you climb :)

i have been above 5280 metres was fuckin hard but feel so proud

Excellent !

@1Allyc23 Hi, You shouldn't really be going out into the English Lake District in the winter without any winter skills not to mention the Alps. I would seriously consider hiring a guide at the very minimum and if you do insist on going it along you are taking a massive risk.

Thanks for posting this video...I climbed Mont Blanc 16 years ago (summited 8th August 1994). This has brought back so many memories - crap weather acclimatising in the Aiguille Rouge, higher routes on the Aiguille du tour and Argentierre and finally the big one...Only 2 of 7 of us made the summit... Summit shots were the same too...sillouettes with a sunrise behind. Without a doubt the best thing I've ever done. Thanks for bringing the pain, fear and elation back to me!

@owain1916 I found the climb shit scary especially as we had no guide. The scramble from tet rouse to gouter was intense as we had weighty packs and an older man coming down tripped and fell v.close to us and died sadly. It showed us all it takes is a slip off a loose rock and you are going to fall a long way. We had an awful week for rockfalls, 6 died in one day around the couloir area. The size of the boulders and frequency of the falls was a lot worse than average.

nice pics nice vid soundtrack rocks, comments rock good work man... inspiriing

nice pics nice vid the soundtrack rocks, the comments... well done man ! inspiring for sure. this is not another in the office for sure.

u guys r lucky! u brought a dog! haha

@mountaindude3842 It was a valuable and maturing experience going as a team without a guide. When you take a guide you place all your trust in him, If he says you can go, you go, he takes the responsibility. I saw how in dire situations the guide will always protect himself before his group and they are often left vulnerable and frankly not clued up to deal with the situ themselves. We saw 7 die so realise the danger but in all situations guides would have simply added to the casualtie

@1Allyc23 If you had a lot of sense you would be using a guide.

@1Allyc23 I climbed it with some friends unguided. We had a good guide book, anf he route is well marked, so many people climb it each year. But, around 40 people a year also die on it. so be prepared. You will need some serious kit. We didnt, we were lucky, but t could have ended very differently. Its a dangerous place. Good luck!

@owain1916 Most guides simply wouldn't take you out if there was a chance visibility could go that way, meaning you would have to pay him but you would just sit on your ass in the refuge all day. I know about the variability of weather in the mountains but forecasting has come on and I am leaving a sufficient summit window to wait for perfect weather. Why pay for a guide if you will only need their expertise in the most extremes of situations where you pretty fucked with or without them.

@owain1916 By semi-experianced I mean a non-qualified but capable individual with experience glacial walking and basic climbing skill. You have to admit it is a technically easy climb, its nearly all snow plodding. A guide shouldn't be dragging his group up anyway, they should have trained physically for the climb. What section do you feel a guide is necessary? Thanks please reply to the last question you can ignore the rest if you want.

@1Allyc23 I know your comment was a long time ago but just to say i am doing the same this summer. On a good day there is a procession to the summit thus a guide isn't needed, A little knowledge on climbing and the rope skills should be researched though. A good book, sensible attitude and semi experience member in the group avoids the hassle of paying over the odds for a guide. Saying that do it at your own risk people do die and if the weather closes in ect it is a dangerous place.

I quite like the music! It's Nalin & Kane - Beachball (1997)... Cham 2010 here I come!!

Good video, but why the mindless music?

Climbing Mont Blanc - Chamonix

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