Traversée alpine de l'Aiguille d'Entrèves

Question 1

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

You need to have your personal technical equipment, that is essential to face this climb:

- mountaineering helmet

- mountaineering harness

- straight-hand ice axe

- crampons

If you don't have the required equipment, we can rent it for **30€** per person. Please advise in advance if you need any gear for renting: the Guide will bring it at the meeting point.

In addition, the Guide will bring the common safety gear, such as rope, ice screws, daisy chains and carabiners.

Please check and bring is your personal mountaineering clothing, including technical mountaineering boots, that must be waterproof, with rigid sole, warm and comfortable (NO hiking boots or running shoes, like jumpers/sneakers or similar will be allowed for this climbing!).

Trekking poles could be useful for the approach on the glacier: if you don’t have yours, we can provide for you.

After your booking confirmation, we will send a complete and detailed list of recommended equipment and clothing and, if you need anything for renting, we will recommend some shops where you can hire the necessary gear. Boots renting is around **20-22€/day**, trekking poles are **8-10€/day**.

Question 2

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

Answer

We recommend a minimum of training to improve your endurance and your cardiovascular fitness before the trip (running, hiking, biking). At the same time, if you can get some climbing practices the adventure will be easier.

Question 3

Can I join a group?

Answer

No, due to guide-to-client ratio (1:2), we only accept private requests for this trip.

Question 4

How can I reach the meeting point?

Answer

The meeting point is the Skyway cable car station, in Courmayeur. If you are not familiar with this area let us give you some more information: we are in Aosta Valley, the smallest but highest Italian region. This is the realm of the Alps, here arise the most famous peaks of Europe: the Mont Blanc, the Matterhorn, the Monte Rosa summits, the Gran Paradiso and many other lesser-known.

Question 5

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

Answer

The Aiguille d’Entrèves is a sharp and exposed rocky ridge climbing itinerary in one of the most spectacular scenario of Mont Blanc Massif: as all mixed climbing routes, it requires some recent previous mountaineering experience, especially a good confidence in rock climb and some ability in progression on short rope on exposed and steep terrain.

Question 6

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

Answer

The maximum number of clients per single Guide is 2, thus giving a ratio of 1:2. This is the maximum number in order to ensure the safety during the trip and it is established by local regulations. Under any circumstances, we are not going to take more than 2 people for each guide.

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

What happens in the event of bad weather?

Answer

Please consider that weather and conditions can change unexpectedly and, especially in recent years due to climate change, there are not always the best conditions for a safe ascent. In such cases, because your and our safety is our priority, we will propose an alternative trip to nearby mountains with better conditions. Note that you are booking our availability for the duration of the tour, this means that it will not be possible to cancel due to poor conditions. We will be careful to arrange an experience that lives up to your expectations. We understand that this may be a frustrating outcome, however, safety is a top priority, and every mountain has a lesson to teach.

Question 9

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:

- It is strongly recommended to have rescue and research insurance, after your confirmation we can recommend some solutions for you.

- 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.

- We finally invite all non-EU citizens to inform themselves about specific permits to enter Italy.