Mont Blanc

Regional discussion and conditions reports for Europe. Please post partners requests and trip plans in the Europe Climbing Partners section.
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MarthaP

 
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Mont Blanc

by MarthaP » Sat May 31, 2008 1:30 pm

Traveling to Switzerland in September and looking for hiking partners up Mont Blanc. Have a flexible schedule but want to take advantage of the opportunities.

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Helle

 
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by Helle » Sat May 31, 2008 8:02 pm

Hey Martha

September might be a bit late for climbing Mont Blanc. Some years it has been okay, but most have had too much snow and cold.
I might go, but in July or August.

Best wishes
Helle

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Charles

 
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by Charles » Sat May 31, 2008 9:04 pm

2 years ago I went up in the first week September, it´s no too late at all.
The week before we got there, last week August, a load of people go caught in a storm up there..
Just depends on the weather :D

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Nikman

 
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by Nikman » Sat May 31, 2008 9:19 pm

September is not too late. Bad weather can also happen in July and August at MB.

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Charles

 
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by Charles » Sun Jun 01, 2008 8:53 am

Nikman wrote:September is not too late. Bad weather can also happen in July and August at MB.

Actually September can be more settled.

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Sebastian Hamm

 
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by Sebastian Hamm » Sun Jun 01, 2008 6:59 pm

In 2007 were two weeks of best weather. Sunny and no wind. Easy to go MB in T-Shirt.

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MarthaP

 
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by MarthaP » Mon Jun 02, 2008 11:44 pm

I don't mean to be presumptuous, but I'll guess conditions on Mont Blanc are not unlike those in Colorado - you just have to take your chances.

So if anyone is of a mind to join me, I'd enjoy the Euro companionship. My dearest friend lives overlooking Lake Geneva so there's no problem getting to TH. And other than some bangers and mash (or Brit lasagne) with Bryan Benn, my schedule is quite flexible. At this point, traveling between 9/4/08 and 9/23/08. Or is that 4/9/08 and 23/9/08. You Euros do things so differently. :) It'll depend on fares and discounts and so far it's interesting keeping it under $1000 US.
Last edited by MarthaP on Tue Jun 03, 2008 3:19 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Tom Fralich

 
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by Tom Fralich » Tue Jun 03, 2008 1:53 pm

Just a heads up...it's not really a hike. The easy routes are comparable to the standard routes on Rainier. It is not like hiking up Longs Peak or other non-technical CO 14ers in summer.

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MarthaP

 
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by MarthaP » Tue Jun 03, 2008 3:20 pm

Thanks for the additional beta, Tom. I'd understood they're not easy routes and will require some winter technical no matter what time of year. I may end up just doing hikes around the base if the routes themselves are not deemed doable.

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papyours

 
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Mt Blanc

by papyours » Mon Jun 09, 2008 3:01 pm

if you have the choice and if you are lucky with the weather I guess September can be much better because it will be less overcrowded than July - August

main problem of Mt Blanc classical routes is that there is often too much people in high "touristic" season !

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cb294

 
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Re: Mont Blanc

by cb294 » Thu Jun 12, 2008 7:43 pm

MarthaP wrote:Traveling to Switzerland in September and looking for hiking partners up Mont Blanc. Have a flexible schedule but want to take advantage of the opportunities.


The Gonella hut on the Italian side is closed for the season due to renovation. If you don´t mind camping or a bivy going there in September the Italian side may be your best bet for an uncrowded MB climb on a normal route. Can´t make it in September, unfortunately....

Christian

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Diego Sahagún

 
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by Diego Sahagún » Thu Jun 12, 2008 11:38 pm

Martha, the first thing that you should know is that Mont Blanc is not in Switzerland :wink:
Last edited by Diego Sahagún on Fri Jun 13, 2008 10:04 am, edited 2 times in total.

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Flachlandtiroler

 
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Re: Mont Blanc

by Flachlandtiroler » Fri Jun 13, 2008 9:01 am

cb294 wrote:The Gonella hut on the Italian side is closed for the season due to renovation. If you don´t mind camping or a bivy going there in September the Italian side may be your best bet for an uncrowded MB climb on a normal route.

You're right in that the italian route ist far less frequented. On the other hand this makes it more serious. Especially late in season travelling the dome glacier may be very difficult if not impossible (crevasses).
What's more, on the website of the hut even ascending to the hut (!) during the renovation period is forbidden.

I can't compare Co-14ers to Montblanc but my impression from some hiking trips with one all-14er-summiter was that this are two very different things. Co-14ers is (difficult) hiking, Montblanc (normal route in good conditions!) is (easy) mountaineering.

Martin

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Diego Sahagún

 
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by Diego Sahagún » Fri Jun 13, 2008 10:04 am

Anyway, I don't think that September is a good month for attempting Mont Blanc. They could be some exceptions but in my opinion it's more difficult to have a few good days in September than in 15 July-15 August period. However, storms could catch you anytime in the year. The last time I was there we descended from Aiguille du Goûter (Mont Blanc normal route) in a snow storm, it was August 16th

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MarthaP

 
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by MarthaP » Fri Jun 13, 2008 7:30 pm

Diego Sahagún wrote:Martha, the first thing that you should know is that Mont Blanc is not in Switzerland :wink:


Yes, Diego mon cher. I'm staying with my friend who lives in Switzerland overlooking Lake Geneva (with an AWESOME view of MB in the background). But you did make me do a double-take!

Martin - I think your assessment of the differences between CO-14ers and MB is spot-on. I'm aware that anything up MB is going to be more in the line of winter technical than scrambling on chossy rock.

I really appreciate everyone's input, and I think you're all correct. As variable as the weather can be (and has been) in Colorado, I would expect the same in Europe. I'll probably pack some minimal gear and play it by ear. My friend does not mountaineer as she has two sons to care for.

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