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Mont
Blanc One Shot 2022 
1
training day, & 1 day ascent
from the valley to the summit |
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Course
overview
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Climbing
to the summit of Mont Blanc isn't that
hard, as most people complete the climb
over two days, with a night in a mountain
hut high on the peak. Climbing Mont
Blanc from the valley floor in one push
in one day is very hard, a huge physical
effort, requiring high stamina and drive.
It's a challenge for the few. |
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This
itinerary is for very fit trail runners
/ speed climbers, who relish this immense
and formidable mission! You'll need
to have previous crampon experience
to make this a realistic and safe goal,
and it's recommended you spend an extra
day or two beforehand out in the Alps
to prepare and acclimatise. |
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All
mountain guides are fit - that goes
without saying, but the guides who lead
this trip are the fittest of the fit.
For example, Alain (pictured right above)
was the French vice champion trail runner
in his age category in 2016. We provide
exceptional guides for this trip, who
are at the very top of their game. |
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The
ascent is a cross-over between trail
running and speed climbing, in that
up to the lower hut you can run, then
you change into lightweight mountaineering
equipment for the glaciated terrain
to the summit. |
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This
trip won't appeal to many people, and
if you don't think you are the level
for it, don't even think about it. You'll
know in your heart of hearts if you
are really ready for this once in a
lifetime challenge. |
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In terms of fitness, you should have completed a mountain running event with at least 5000m of vertical ascent, within a 24 hour period. An example of this would be the CCC event of the UTMB series. |
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Dates: these
are listed in the column on the right,
and they show the live availability
from our secure online booking system.
When you book online, you receive immediate
confirmation, your Alpine Information
Booklet, course specific kit list and
invoice. |
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Brief
Course Itinerary
Please
note that whilst the itinerary below is an ideal,
the weather and conditions, as well as your skills,
fitness, experience and acclimatisation all play
a part too. It is imperitive that you understand
how flexible this course must be. You are dealing
with the high mountains and extreme altitude, not
a prescribed coach tour!
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Pre-course
The course is the Saturday and Sunday, and
it's up to you how many days prior to the
event to travel out to Chamonix, for acclimatisation
and training. Each person has different requirements,
and some are happy to self-guide, while others
might want a day or two of private guiding.
Popular acclimatisation route choices include
a speed ascent of a 3000m trekking peak, or
trail running routes such as the Chamonix
Vertical KM and continuing to the top of Le
Brevent to give a vertical ascent of over
1500m. Others focus on a technical skills
day, such as crampon skills on the Aiguille
du Midi or Mer de Glace. Our guiding and logistics
team will be able to advise on these objectives,
prior to your booking. |
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Saturday
The
course starts at c.08:30am, with a briefing
and kit check. You meet the guide for a final
acclimatisation and training day. Typical
choices are the Cosmiques Arete or Petite
Aiguille Verte, above the high cable cars.
The aim is for the guiding to finish by the
early afternoon, so that you can spend the
afternoon acclimatising, or resting and preparing
for your ascent. A bedroom is available for
you from midday onwards, so you can get a
few hours sleep. At typically 8pm you set
off from the valley floor with your guide
in trail running kit, who will run / speed
hike up to Bellevue, and onwards to the Tete
Rousse hut. Here you briefly rest, and change
into the altitude boots and safety kit at around midnight. |
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Sunday
As soon as you are ready, and have had a quick
break, you set off at midnight or just afterwards
to climb to the Gouter hut. This is a scramble
in the dark, and as you move above the Dome
du Gouter, the sun begins to rise. You summit
around 6am, and return the same way, ideally
reaching the Tete Rousse at c.9am and onwards
to Bellevue, where you can opt to change into
trail running kit for the final run down to
the valley floor. If the legs aren't up for
it, you can always take the cable car down.
You typically reach the valley at lunchtime,
and can get a late afternoon or evening flight
home. To allow a small margin, if your airport
transfer leaves at 5pm, you can get a 8pm
or later flight. Depart for home. |
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ITINERARY NOTES: Where possible we
follow itineraries. Mountaineering is often weather
and conditions dependant, so occasionaly we are
forced to alter the plans. If this is the case,
suitable alternatives are offered. Please use this
outline course itinerary as a guide to the types
of route that you will attempt, not necessarily
the exact routes that you climb. |
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Prices |
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Standard
course |
2 full days IFMGA guiding, 1:1 max ratio
3 days holiday in total, Friday-Sunday |
£1899 |
Live
availability |
Click
on the planner logo to the right to
see the real time live course availability
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Secure
online booking system |
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| Inclusions:
1) IFMGA Mountain Guide for two days, 2) Chamonix
course hosts for logistics & briefings, 3) Pre
course information booklet, 4) Equipment discount
voucher for our UK, 5) Free 36 page technical Course
Instruction Booklet, 6) Road transport in Chamonix
valley, 7) One
night Chamonix accommodation, to provide a space
for a pre-ascent sleep that evening. |
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| Exclusions:
1) Travel to and from Chamonix, 2) Cable Cars (approx
c.£50 for training day), 3) Personal laundry,
telephone calls, lunches, evening meals in valley,
& any purchases in mountain huts / hotels /
restaurants, 4) Activities insurance, & excess
baggage charges. |
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| Notes:
The price is a total for the guiding fee, for just
1 person on a 1:1 guiding ratio basis. We do not offer 1:2 guiding for this, to allow you to move at your pace on the ascent, and maximise your summit chances. |
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Current
course availability
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Course Dates
Mont Blanc One Shot
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NOTE:
This trip has scheduled
dates, but it can be operated on
any date you wish, so contact
us for a bespoke date. |
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| Testimonials |
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| Press
& media |
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| Films
& videos |
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| Photo
gallery |
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| Location
data for this trip |
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| The
trips are based in the Chamonix valley in the French
Alps, at the foot of Mont Blanc. It is easily accessed
via a 90 minute transfer from Geneva airport. |
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Time
Difference
GMT +1hr |
Local
Currency
€ Euros |
Travel
from UK
1hr flight |
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| Free
resources |
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FREE
Podcast
Training
for Mont Blanc
A no holes barred podcast, to
fully explain what an ascent entails
physically and technically, including
several examples of hill training. |
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Equipment - summit
day kit list...
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send a course specific equipment list to all those
booking on our courses, but due to the popularity
of this course, we outline a typical packing list
for the Mont Blanc summit day in the list below. |
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Basic
clothing
- Light coloured
long sleeve wicking layer
- Schoeller / soft shell climbing trousers
- Mid layer fleece jacket / gillet
- Fleece hat and gloves, and sunhat / cap
- B3 leather / plastic boots, and gaiters |
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Equipment
- Harness, helmet,
ice axe (without leash)
- 12 point crampons andanti-balling plates
- 1 x 120cm Sling, 1 x karabiner, 1 x prussic
- Telescopic trekking poles with snow baskets
- Head torch (LED style is lightest type) |
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Altitude
gear
- Synthetic or down
insulation jacket
- Goggles in case of high wind
- Neoprane face mask in case of wind
- Thick waterproof over gloves
- Windproof over trousers (eg PacLite) |
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General
kit
- Close fitting
sun glasses (Factor 4 for snow)
- Pocket snacks for summit day (eg Haribos)
- Water bottle (bladder type may freeze)
- Rucksack (up to 35 litres max is ideal)
- Basic blister kit, Aspirin, suncream |
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| Suggested
reading and kit |
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View
full course equipment list,
with examples of kit, click
here |
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| Any
further questions? |
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A
key part of choosing a company is being able to
come and talk about your plans with an experienced
course advisor face to face. In an increasingly
virtual world, we know our clients value speaking
to real people, getting open and honest advice.
The vast majority of our clients are British, and
our office and outdoor store is based in Windermere
in the English Lake District.
 
Get
in contact to arrange a meeting, and come in for
a coffee to discuss your course in person with a trip
advisor. Many people opt for this
service, and it is an integral part of what we offer,
as we are keen to ensure that you are prepared as
possible, and that you select a course that is suitable
for you. It makes it easier and more enjoyable for
you and us, if you are on the right trip. |
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Author
signed!
'Trail Running Chamonix &
the Mont Blanc region' link
...or the NEW book...
'Trail
and Fell Running in
the Lake District' buy
a copy
by Kingsley Jones. Cicerone
Press
£14.95 each |
 Each book has 40 trail running
routes, each with height profiles,
and full colour mapping
Features
how to adapt your
running in the mountains, and
an index of where to stay
Includes
famous races in each
region, e.g. UTMB, Langdale
Horseshoe and Chamonix VKM
To purchase
a copy, click
here |
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Icicle logo
is the registered trademark ® of Icicle Mountaineering|UK company 413 6635. VAT 770
137 933 |
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