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6 days climbing the Aretes in Chamonix-Mont Blanc

Conquer the classic and spectacular ridges of the Mont Blanc massif with AEGM-certified Isra for 6 days of climbing surrounded by incredible views.


TRIP TYPE

Private

MOUNTAIN RANGES

Alps

DURATION

6 Days

OFFER PERIOD

Jun - Sep

FITNESS LEVEL

Fit

SKILL LEVEL

Intermediate

PAYMENT METHODS

Credit Card, Wire Transfer and more!

  • Let the Mont Blanc Massif become your climbing playground along amazing ridges.
  • Its endless ridges offer us unlimited climbing opportunities.
  • The exposed terrain gives us spectacular views of surrounding mountains.

Description

The stunning massif of Mont Blanc is home to an endless supply of stunning ridges for us to climb.

It is one of the most visited international destinations for such climbs, on both rock and snow. And their great accessibility by lifts make it incredibly convenient and fast to reach them.

Its endless edges allow us to choose whether we wan to climb ridges of rock, snow, mixed terrain, long or short, etc.

Along our 6-day adventure we’ll conquer the grand 4,001 meters of the Aiguille du Rochefort. It was first climbed in 1873 by the English mountaineer and geologist James Eccles, guided by Michel Payot and Alphonse.

Other feats we’ll cover is the spectacular Aiguille du Midi. Standing at 3,842 meters, its soaring summit needles pierce beyond the soft clouds and offer incredible views.

Delve onto glaciers and battle the sharp rock needles surrounded by spectacular scenery of the alpine mountains. 

Get in touch now to reserve your place in the majestic mountains of the French Alps, and climb along the Mont Blanc Massif during a 6-day trip.

Price includes

- Guiding fee

Price details

The price does not include the guide´s expenses (accommodation, meals, lift tickets, etc).

Secure your spot with just 25% payment

48-hour free cancellation with 30-day advance booking


Itinerary

Day 1: Arete de l'Aiguille

From the cable car in the village of Le Praz we’ll enjoy great views of the entire north side of the famous needles of Chamonix. We will start a short approach to the base of the Aiguille de l’Index. There we’ll begin to climb the south ridge to the summit (2,595m), which will take us between 2-3 hours. From the top we abseil to the chairlift. We will use this shorter activity to learn the technique on edges and prepare for longer and committed ridges.

Day 2: Aiguille du Midi (3,842m)

We get the cable car to the Aiguille du Midi, and then climb to the top at 3,842 meters, just to the edge of the Cosmiques station. Then with an ice axe and crampons we descend the famous snow. We descend the large glacier which is surrounded by peaks of over 4,000 meters. We will reach the observatory of Cosmiques, where we start climbing.

The first part we climb up snow slopes to the first gendarme where we are fully exposed to the edge; air steps, abseiling, rock climbing, down climbing. We don’t get bored while crossing the ridge. The route was opened by George Finch and Finch Maxwell, on 2 August 1911. Today it has become one of the most traversed edges of Mont Blanc and the Alps.

Day 3: Aiguille d'Entrèves (3,604m)

Today we change scenery for a couple of days. We leave the view of the Aiguille du Midi in Chamonix and go to the Italian area of the Mont Blanc massif, to get the views of Courmayeur and much of the Valle d’Aosta. We will have two options, either cross the gondola of Panoràmic, linking the Aiguille du Midi to the Refuge Torino, or cross the Mont Blanc tunnel to Courmayeur and go up the cable car Skyway to Punta Helbronner, where the Torino Refuge is located. From there a comfortable 1-hour approach by the Galciar du Géant leave us on the Col d’Entrèves where we start on the sharp and aerial ridge to the summit of the Aiguille d’Entrèves (3,604m). From there we make some descents by climbing and abseiling to continue on the downward edge before heading to the same way back to the refuge of Torino.

Day 4: Aiguille du Rochefort (4,001m)

We will go back to the Glacier du Geant and Dent du Géant, where we begin along the edge of Rochefort. With crampons and an ice axe in hand, we begin to explore this snowy ridge, which is a classic, through sections that are sure to be picturesque. In the last part to reach the summit we will be climbing III and III +, where after climbing a few meters reach the prized summit (4,001m). After enjoying the views from its summit (Mont Blanc, Dent du Géant, Jorasses, Aiguille du Midi) we return the same route, but this time downhill until you get back to the Torino shelter. That afternoon we return to Chamonix by cable or by the Panoramic Mont Blanc tunnel, depending on our route.

Day 5: Petite Aiguille Verte (3,512m)

We descend to the valley where we can appreciate a quieter and more restful night. The edge of the Petite Aiguille Verte, also a classic without much difficulty and not very long. Steps of snow and rock with aerial sections will make us enjoy and feel the surrounding isolation. We will head to the town of Argentiere, to the Les Grands Montets cable car that will take us to 3,296 meters. From there, we go down a long staircase on the hill where we will use crampons. A snow shovel gives us access to the edge, which after climbing and avoiding air gendarmes deposited us at the summit with unforgettable views. The Aiguille Verte (4,122m), the Drus, the Argentiere glacier, the Mer de Glace and countless other summits provide us the perfect background.

Day 6: Aiguille du Peigne

To end the program we will cross another classic edge, but this time further down the Aiguille. A ridge of rock that ends the buttresses of the Aiguille de Peigne, on the north side of the Aiguilles du Chamonix. Once in the intermediate station of the Aiguille du Midi, we go down the first section by cable car and head towards the edge made from stone and block. We’ll start climbing, the first part easier where we have to go looking for the best way. The second part is more vertical and aerial, and is the most spectacular stretch with steps we have to climb and others where you better not look down! Once in the gap we have to make a couple of rappels down and continue down a vertical corridor. This path connects with the climb to get back to the cable car.

About the guide: Isra

Guide profile image

Isra

Mountain Guide

Born in Sax, a town in the province of Alicante, started climbing with 8 years, thanks to my parents who were the ones who started me in this sport.

With 19 years I decided to start with courses guide, starting with the mountain sports technician, which I studied in 2005 at the High Mountain School of Benasque. I started spending summers working as a guide in Asturias (Picos de Europa) and winters on the ski resorts of Valle de Tena, Pyrenees. It was here where I learned to ski and began to discover the winter mountain, the other side of what was used.

After spending a few years living in the "North" and meet the Alpine side of the mountain, I decided to start with what I really like, mountaineering, so I started with the course of sports Technical High Mountain. This gave me the motivation to come to the Alps where I've been more than 6 years living and enjoying the endless possibilities for this place. I spend half of the year in Chamonix, and half in Briançon, in the Ecrins massif.

Languages

French | English

Certificates

AEGM | SNGM | UIAGM

What people are saying about Explore-Share

Kumari

5.00

I’m extremely happy with the ease with which I could book via your site reliable and experienced guide. Thank you so very much, and I’ve started to recommend your site to my friends. Dimitris is not only an awesome guide, but a wonderful person who was always looking out to give me the best experience I can have when he found out how much I love climbing! He is the Best!

Niklas

5.00

I am very pleased with Explore-Share! This was my first international climb, and the communication and response time were great. Herbie is a very skilled guide and very efficient. The entire booking process & payment was smooth. I will definitely use Explore-Share again. Thank you.

Greg

5.00

I was looking for a local guide for a hike I was planning and came across Explore-Share. They seemed to have good reviews and so decided to give them a try. The experience was very positive and completely happy with their service. I will be using them again for next trip.

Colin

5.00

Easy to set up and find the perfect trip. Informative site that is easy to use. Guides are all great to work with and communicate all arrangements needed. As simple as can be!

Lesley

4.00

Thank you explore-share for a wonderful via feratta experience. We have been wanting to learn for a long time but don't have the facilities in Scotland. The guide Mitja was extremely helpful and knowledgeable, answering all my many questions and providing advice. On the day head to take another group but he quickly arranged another guide Borut, who was brilliant. We had a fantastic morning learning via ferrata at Hvadnik in the gorge. It gave us the confidence to later hire our own equipment and go out in Mojstrana. Altogether a five star + experience. Thank you.

 

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