3.9 km away
Couvercle Hut Approach
A journey up the Vallée Blanche then ladders up to a remote hut in a wild and beautiful place
Easy Alpine Climbing
- Distance
- 6.6 km
- Ascent
- 969 m
- Descent
- 183 m
Chamonix to Les Grands Montets Lift Station - Day 1 #UTMG
Aiguille du Midi
Chamonix
Les Grands Montets
Les Planards
And so it begins. The team left the Chamonix church to start their epic traverse.
Alpine Climbing Extreme
- Distance
- 12 km
- Ascent
- 2.3 km
- Descent
- 66 m
- Low Point
- 1 km
- High Point
- 3.3 km
- Gradient
- 30˚
And so it begins, the epic Ultra Traverse de la Mer de Glace.
- •
- •
- •
- •
- •
- •
Description
Day 1 was always going to be big - the bags are heavy and it is a long way up into the alpine from town.
Starting from the church in the centre of town, Fred and Benj climber 2300m over 8 hours. The recent storm packed a real punch with rock plastered with snow from just 2700m - a big change from the heatwave last week.
Tomorrow is going to be a challenge to say the least after today's warm temperatures softened the snow and tonight's refreeze.
Let's see..
Difficulty
Extreme
Long, committing and complex routes with difficult and sustained climbing on rock/ice and challenging route finding throughout. TD upwards.
Extreme Exposure
The majority of the route is "no fall" terrain.
Remoteness
In the high mountains or remote conditions, all individuals must be completely autonomous in every situation.
Best time to visit
Equipment required
- Ice axe
- Bivy Kit
- Crampons
- Quickdraws
- Glacier kit
- 2 Ice Axes
- Climbing Shoes
- Wires and Friends
Similar routes nearby
5.2 km away
Midi - Plan Traverse
A truly classic route, which is serious and exposed but not technically difficult.
Difficult Alpine Climbing
- Distance
- 4.6 km
- Ascent
- 700 m
- Descent
- 700 m
5.2 km away
Vallée Blanche Traverse
A wonderful high mountain journey through huge, wild mountains
Moderate Alpine Climbing
- Distance
- 5.8 km
- Ascent
- 367 m
- Descent
- 688 m
5.2 km away
Mont Blanc du Tacul, 4248m. Contamine Grisolle N Face
A characterful N Face in a wild location, but with relatively easy access.
Difficult Alpine Climbing
- Distance
- 7.2 km
- Ascent
- 975 m
- Descent
- 975 m
5.2 km away
Mont Blanc, 4808m. The 3 Monts Route
A huge day out through very complicated glacial terrain to the highest peak in Western Europe
Moderate Alpine Climbing
- Distance
- 15 km
- Ascent
- 1.5 km
- Descent
- 2.9 km
5.2 km away
Mont Blanc du Tacul, 4248m. Normal Route
Though this a normal route it is a relatively steep route up a N Face and is an avalanche black spot
Moderate Alpine Climbing
- Distance
- 7.7 km
- Ascent
- 980 m
- Descent
- 980 m
5.3 km away
Aiguille du Midi, 3842m. Cosmiques Arête
An iconic and accessible route with great and varied climbing, with amazing exposure down to Chamonix
Difficult Alpine Climbing
- Distance
- 1.2 km
- Ascent
- 299 m
- Descent
- 60 m
6.5 km away
Petite Aiguille Verte, North Face, 3512m
A breathtaking viewpoint via an interesting (but never particularly hard) route.
Difficult Alpine Climbing
- Distance
- 5.6 km
- Ascent
- 891 m
- Descent
- 891 m
7.6 km away
Petite Verte
Although short, this route packs in plenty of adventure and has a wonderful high mountain ambience.
Moderate Alpine Climbing
- Distance
- 1.2 km
- Ascent
- 264 m
- Descent
- 264 m
7.6 km away
Aiguille Verte, 4122m. Whymper Couloir
One of the toughest classic 4000m peaks which enjoys some of the finest views in the range.
Difficult Alpine Climbing
- Distance
- 7.1 km
- Ascent
- 1.4 km
- Descent
- 1.4 km
- •
- •
- •
- •
- •
- •
- •
- •
- •
- •
Guidebooks in this area
5 routes · Alpine Climbing
Mont Blanc's Classic Routes
11 routes · Alpine Climbing · Hiking
The Alpine Classics of the Mont Blanc Massif
15 routes · Alpine Climbing · Hiking
Chamonix's Classic Easier Mountaineering Routes
6 routes · Alpine Climbing · Hiking
Chamonix's 5 Easiest North Faces
8 routes · Alpine Climbing · Hiking
Big Peaks, Big Challenges: Chamonix's tougher 4000ers
6 routes · Alpine Climbing
Climb the Alpine Big 3 : Mont Blanc, Eiger & Matterhorn
9 routes · Alpine Climbing · Hiking
Summit the Highest Peaks in the 4 Main Alpine Countries
18 routes · Alpine Climbing · Hiking
The Ultimate Mountaineering Challenge : Climb The Big 10
- •
- •
- •
- •
- •
- •
- •
- •