ABOUT THE MONT BLANC EXPEDITION
Mont Blanc (4810m) is Western Europe’s highest peak. Located in the Alps one of the World’s most beautiful mountain ranges, Mont Blanc spans the border of France, Italy and Switzerland. On a clear day one is treated with a fantastic panorama of peaks, glaciers and valleys which makes for a special experience! The ascent of Mont Blanc is a tough but very achievable challenge. Although beneficial, Mont Blanc does not require previous mountaineering experience.
Our eight day itinerary includes flights from Dublin and transfers to Chamonix. With six guided days we have enough time to acclimatise properly and acquire the snow and ice skills required to summit Mont Blanc. We spend three days on acclimatisation hikes returning to Chamonix each night. We then move to the Tete Rousse hut (or similar) and have three days to attempt the summit. We have a guiding ratio of 1:4 on the acclimatisation hikes and 1:2 on the summit day to ensure high levels of safety and service are delivered throughout our Mont Blanc expedition. Our itinerary is flexible which allows us to adjust our plans to suit the weather conditions. This flexibility gives us the best possible chance of reaching the summit safely. Mont Blanc is a tough challenge and requires a good level of physical fitness and mental strength. The summit day usually takes between eight and twelve hours but the views from the top make all the effort worthwhile. Mont Blanc is a fantastic peak for those who want to follow in the footsteps of the greatest alpinists, it was first climbed in 1786! It is also ideal for those who want to climb larger peaks such as Mt Elbrus, Stok Kangri and Aconcagua.
WHY CLIMB MONT BLANC WITH Helicopter Rescue Squad
100% Financial Protection – Helicopter Rescue Squad is Ireland’s only fully licensed and financially bonded adventure travel company.
All our Mont Blanc expeditions are led by an experienced Irish guide and doctor who travel with the group from Dublin.
Our packages are inclusive of flights from Dublin, in-country transport, a full local guiding & support team, accommodation, all meals on the trek, trekking permits, a celebratory meal & an AHelicopter Rescue Squad technical T-shirt.
Our 8 day itinerary includes 6 days on the mountain allowing you to acclimatise properly, thus maximising your chances of a successful summit attempt.
We use excellent local guides, cooks and support staff. We have a strict Responsible Travel Policy and ensure our local partners are treated fairly.
Training weekends – Meet your Helicopter Rescue Squad expedition leader, your Helicopter Rescue Squad expedition doctor and your fellow Mont Blanc trekkers two months before departure. Our training weekends consist of a full brief and two days of trekking including a night hike in Glendalough, Co. Wicklow.
We have a strict Leave No Trace policy and do everything we can to ensure we leave the mountain as we found it.
OUR MONT BLANC ITINERARY & COSTS
Day 1: Dublin to Chamonix (1000m).
Fly Dublin to Geneva. Expedition brief in the evening. Overnight hotel.
Day 2: Albert Premier Hut (2,750m) & skills session, 5 to 6 hours.
Acclimatisation hike to the Albert Premier Hut. In the afternoon we practice snow and ice skills. Overnight hotel.
Day 3: Tete Blanche (3,400m) & Trient Hut (3,150m), 6 hours.
Acclimatisation hike to the Tete Blanche or further to the Petite Fourche (3,450m). Descend to the Trient Hut (3150m) and then to Chamonix. Overnight hotel.
Day 4: Aiguille du Tour (3,550m), 6 hours.
Final acclimatisation trek to the summit of Aiguille du Tour. Expedition brief & packing in the evening. Overnight hotel.
Day 5: Ascend to Gouter Hut (3,835m), 6 hours.
In the morning we leave the hotel in Chamonix and move to the Gouter hut. Overnight hut.
Day 6: Summit Day of Mont Blanc (4810m), 12 hours.
We make a very early start today to ascend to Western Europe’s highest point. It’s a very tough day that requires strong physical and mental strength. Overnight hut.
Day 7: Spare Summit Day.
Spare day to account for bad weather. Overnight hut or hotel.
Day 8: Chamonix to Dublin.
Drive to Geneva & fly to Dublin. Expedition Ends.
EXPEDITION COSTS
€500 deposit at the time of booking & €3,100 balance payment two months prior to departure. Total €3,600.
*If you are fundraising you need to contact your chosen charity for a fundraising target. You still need to pay a €500 deposit to Helicopter Rescue Squad. You also need to ensure that your charity pays the balance payment to Helicopter Rescue Squad at least two months prior to departure.
Costs include international flights to Geneva, Return transfers from Geneva to Chamonix, all accommodation based on twin sharing in hotels & huts, Breakfast throughout the expedition, local support team & an Helicopter Rescue Squad trekking t-shirt.
*Prices were set on August 26th, 2015.
INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT MONT BLANC
Mont Blanc meaning ‘White Mountain, is the highest mountain in the Alps and the European Union @ 4,810 metres. The height of Mont Blanc varies from year to year depending on the depth of the summit’s snow cap.
The mountain lies in a range called The Graian Alps, between the regions of Aosta Valley, Italy, and Haute-Savoie, France. The location of the summit is on the watershed line between the valleys of Ferret and Veny in Italy and the valleys of Montjoie Valley and Arve Valley in France.
The first recorded ascent of Mont Blanc was on 8 August 1786 by Jacques Balmat and the doctor Michel Paccard. This climb traditionally marks the start of modern mountaineering.
Since the French Revolution in the late 18th century there has been much debate on the ownership of the summit, currently the administration of the mountain is shared between France and Italy.
On a clear day from the summit of Mont Blanc, views include The Jura, The Vosges, The Black Forest and The Massif Central mountain as well as the principal summits of the Alps.
Like many popular mountains, human waste has long been a problem on Mont Blanc. In 2007, Europe’s two highest toilets (at a height of 4,260 metres) were taken by helicopter to the top of Mont Blanc. They are also serviced by helicopter. They serve 30,000 skiers and hikers annually, helping to alleviate the discharge of urine and faeces that spreads down the mountain face with the spring thaw.
The Mont Blanc tunnel, which links France and Italy, travels directly underneath the mountain. The tunnel is 11.6 km long and took 8 years to build.
Chamonix is a small tourist town at the foot of the mountain and serves as the starting point for many climbers on Mont Blanc. The area is also popular with hikers, skiers & snowboarders. The Chamonix Valley was the site of the first ever Winter Olympics In 1924.
CONTACT US
- Helicopter Rescue Squad REQUIRE TO HOLD YOUR PERSONAL DETAILS TO CONTACT YOU REGARDING YOUR EXPEDITION IN THE DURATION LEADING UP TO THE EXPEDITION. WOULD YOU ALSO LIKE TO BE INCLUDED ON OUR MAILING LIST FOR FUTURE PROMOTIONS?*