L'ascension du Grand Paradis et du Mont Blanc

Question 1

What's included in the price I'm paying for this tour? What extra costs will I need to cover?

Answer

The price includes

- the Guide fee

- the Guide expenses

- the accommodation at the refuges with half board formula (dinner and breakfast)

- lift tickets for clients and guide

- the hiring of technical gear (helmet, harness, crampons, ice axe, trekking poles)

- the loan of shared safety material

- the administrative fees

- the booking assistance services by our team

- the customer care support for logistics and planning

- a dedicated chat with Guide and you to define the last details before the trip

- the photos and videos collected during the trip.

The price doesn't include

- extra meals and beverages

- the private transfer to the meeting point

- anything not mentioned above.

Question 2

What happens in the event of bad weather?

Answer

On mountains, weather and conditions can change unexpectedly and very fast, especially in recent years, due to the climate changes: in general, forecast and conditions have to be appropriate to try the attempt, but the final decision regarding the ascent belongs to the Guide, who is responsible to evaluate the risks and the safety conditions for all the team. Safety is our priority, both for the Guide/es and for the customers: if weather is not good and the forecast is not favorable for the attempt, we prefer to plan an alternative ascent to nearby mountains with better conditions and better chances for a safe summit attempt. Please note that confirming the trip you are booking the professional’s availability for all the duration of the tour: this means that it will not be possible to cancel at last time, due to poor conditions or bad weather. The Guide fee could not be refunded. For this reason, in case the Mont Blanc is out of reach, we guarantee our availability to arrange an experience that lives up to your expectations. We knows very well and totally understand that this may be a frustrating outcome, however, safety is a top priority for our team of professionals, and every mountain has a lesson to teach to all climbers. Customers and the Guides’ safety is more important than any summit.

Question 3

What is the guide-to-client ratio to climb this mountain?

Answer

The ratio for Gran Paradiso is 1:4, while that of Mont Blanc is 1:2. This is the maximum number in order to ensure the safety during the trip and it is established by local regulations. This means that if you are a group larger than 2 people (3 or 4 people), you will need only 1 Guide for Gran Paradiso ascent and 2 Guides for Mont Blanc (this is also the best way to save money).

Question 4

What happens if we are 2 for the ascent and the 2nd climber can't make it to the summit? Will we turn back?

Answer

If a climber can't make it to the summit, the whole group will go back. For safety reasons no clients will be abandoned or left alone on the glacier.

Question 5

I feel that I'm not ready yet for this challenge, do you offer an easier program where I can prepare myself?

Answer

Yes sure. We recommend you this 4-day mountaineering tour designed for beginners - https://www.explore-share.com/trip/beginner-mountain-climbing-around-Mont-Blanc/ - It takes place in the Mt Blanc range, on the Italian side. It's a great tour to learn the basics of mountaineering and to have a first experience on a glacier, sleeping in a mountain hut above 2,500 m, etc.

Question 6

How can I reach the meeting point?

Answer

The meeting point is Pravieux village (Valsavarenche Valley - Italy), in the hearth of Gran Paradiso National Park. If you are not familiar with this area, let us give you some more information: the meeting place is in Aosta Valley, the smallest but highest Italian region. This is the realm of the Alps, here arise the most famous mountains of Europe: the Mont Blanc, the Matterhorn (Cervin), the Monte Rosa massif (with Breithorn, Castor, Pollux, Lyskamm Nose, Signalkuppe/Margherita Hut and Dufourspitze), the Gran Paradiso and the Dent du Géant.

Question 7

What is the best time of the year to climb this mountain?

Answer

The best time to realize this adventure is between June and September.

Question 8

Who is taking care of booking the huts?

Answer

Our team will take care of every detail of the trip, including huts and lift tickets reservation.

Question 9

Will there be porters to help to carry group and personal equipment?

Answer

Absolutely no porters are expected for this ascent. Each participant should bring the personal backpack and technical equipment, including thermos for tea/water and energy bars/dried fruit and energy food for the trip.

Question 10

How will accommodation and meals be handled on the mountain?

Answer

We will take care of the reservations for all the overnight accommodations in half board formula, in particular:

- n. 2 overnight stays at the Federico Chabod hut

- n. 1 overnight stay in local B&B

- n. 1 overnight stay at the Tête Rousse hut

- n. 1 overnight stay at the Goûter hut

All the accommodations include breakfast and dinner, but not the beverages/drinks or extra meals. For this reason, any other meals or beverages (water, beer, sparkling beverages, etc…) are NOT included and have to be covered by the customers directly on the spot and for Guide/Guides too.

Packed lunches are provided for the first 2 days at Chabod hut. Any other meals and beverages remain NOT included.

Question 11

What experience and how fit do I need to be to climb this mountain? Is this program suitable for children or older people?

Answer

Mont Blanc ascent requires a very good physical level and some previous experience on glaciers in mountaineering activities (in particular, confidence in progression with crampons on glacier areas and some climbing ability on rocky terrains, with snow and ice). During the first few days on Gran Paradiso we have the opportunity to practice the use of crampons, roped advancement and other techniques necessary to climb Mont Blanc: thanks to the Guide’s suggestions during the Gran Paradiso ascent, you could improve you skills and get more confidence with the use of the equipment on steep, in particular the crampons.

Question 12

Will I need to bring any technical equipment of my own? Is it possible to rent equipment, and if so, what would be the approximate cost of that?

Answer

The loan of the personal technical equipment is included in the tariff: the Guide provides it on the day of departure, after the starting briefing. The gear for rental includes: mountaineering helmet, mountaineering harness, straight-hand ice axe, crampons and trekking poles (only if you don’t have yours).

Question 13

Can I join a group?

Answer

No, due to guide-to-client ratio we only accept private requests for this trip. If you are a group of more than 2 people, we have more Guides available to undertake the adventure: we will be happy to support your group with other professionals of our team!

Question 14

Are there any other special requirements such as permits/insurance/vaccines that we need to consider before the tour?

Answer

Yes, there are several special requirements that you need to consider for this trip. Here are some of them: please read them carefully before confirm the booking.

- The first part of the stage is based and takes place in Italy, in the Valsavarenche Valley (inside the protection area of the Gran Paradiso National Park). If you are going to plan flights, we strongly recommend to check your time arrival and to be sure your travel planning leaves you time to reach the meeting point with the Guide by private car or by public transport. The nearest airports are Turin or Milan. On the 4th day we will move to Chamonix, on the French side of the Mont Blanc massif, from where the route to Mont Blanc starts. To reach Chamonix, we will cross by car the border between Italy and France, by the Mont Blanc tunnel. We invite all non-EU citizens to inform themselves about specific permits to travel from Italy to France.

- Due to French regulations is mandatory to show the huts booking confirmation to the authorities before starting the ascent. Peakshunter Mountain Guides will take care of the hut reservation for clients and Guides, as a guarantee for the attempt to the summit: to give you this extra booking service, the payment confirmation have to be done in advance (even as a deposit of 25% of the total amount) and the submission of your personal information is essential and mandatory to finalize the refuge reservation. You have to share with us your personal info: name, surname, place and date of birth, nationality, address, mail, mobile contact and a copy of ID card of passport. Giving this information, you authorize Peakshunter Mountain Guides to use them for the booking process and during all the steps of the tour (planning, reservation, logistic, contact with Guides and professionals involved in the tour).

- There are no specific vaccine requirements for this trip, but it is always a good idea to check with your doctor or a travel clinic to make sure you are up to date on routine vaccinations. Also, there is no longer need to provide proof of vaccination, recovery from COVID-19 or negative test results.

Question 15

How experience do I need to be to do this program? What are your requirements for me to join this adventure?

Answer

Our Mont Blanc program is designed to give you the highest chances to reach Mont Blanc summit. If you don't have any particular mountaineering experiences, during the first few days we will focus on the main techniques needed to reach Mont Blanc. Please note that physical effort will be intense, so it's required a good fitness level and serious preparation during the months leading up to the trip: cardiovascular training is very important, with at least 2 to 3 sessions per week of running, biking or swimming.

Question 16

What gear do I need to have with me? Will you provide part of it? Where do you recommend me to rent the equipment I don't have and that you don't provide?

Answer

We will provide you with

- a helmet

- harness

- crampons

- ice axe

- trekking poles.

You shall have only your personal clothing, suitable for the ascent of Mont Blanc, including technical mountaineering boots.

Question 17

How far in advance should I start training and what kind of training do you suggest?

Answer

In the months leading up to the trip, we recommend consistent training to improve your endurance and your cardiovascular fitness. When you confirm the trip, we will send you specific recommendations about the training.