NoSiesta Guiding: Mont Blanc 4810m

Climbing the "hill" one last time

I had one last Mont Blanc scheduled before the end of my summer season and it was setting up to be an interesting one to say the least with the weather.

I had been booked with friend and guide Edward Bekker to assist him with a group of Dutch guests. The forecast wasn't great and we moved the ascent back by a day which was the only smart thing to do. As it turned out, summer left Chamonix and was replaced by a quick taste of winter. In fact, nearly 30cm of snow had fallen in places and it was in ankle deep snow that we set off to the Tete Rousse hut. The original plan was to make the ascent and sleep again at the hut on the way down. Dues to high winds and unsettled snow, we revised our plan to spend an extra day allowing things to settle down and then attempt to climb Mont Blanc and descend in a day. It was an ambitious plan but the only logical one to go for.

We left Tete Rousse at 1:30am and after a few stops along the way first at the Gouter hut and then to warm up at Vallot, Roel and I hit the summit after only 6 and half hours of climbing. The wind had died down as forecasted and we enjoyed the summit with the others of the group. Mont Blanc proved once again that it was a well earned ascent and that it is never easy.

Felicitaties to all my new Dutch friends!