What gear will I need on the Tour du Mont Blanc?

Mont Blanc Treks guide to what trekking gear to use on our treks.

Being prepared is the key to fully enjoying the experience, there is nothing worse than being out & about in the mountains & not having the correct kit. 
For multi day treks you will need a range of good quality kit that will keep you cool in warm weather and dry if things get a little inclement for Tour du Mont Blanc & Walkers Haute Route multi day treks. This list is not exhaustive but feel that the majority of items listed will be essential to your comfort and enjoyment of the trek. If you require any further information or advise about the kit needed for individual treks please just get in touch. 
Treks with bag transfer needn’t carry a change of clothes apart from the nights you are in mountain huts where as treks without bag transfer we recommend you travel as light a possible without leaving out any of the essentials listed below. If you have a bag transfer at a mid point don’t forget you can always replenish your kit at that point.

FOOTWEAR needs to be supportive and with a good grip. Boots are recommended, but there are currently some very good “approach shoes” available which can be more comfortable on hot summer days. Trainers are definitely NOT recommended. Paths can be stony, sometimes we encounter scree type terrain and it is not uncommon to be walking through snow and heavy rain even during the summer.

WATERPROOFS jacket & trousers are essential and need to be functional for the various conditions mentioned above. They need to be carried and so it is your preference as to their weight.

WARM CLOTHING is another requisite. You may not need it throughout the duration of the trek, but conditions can change quickly and you could easily be in desperate need of a hat and gloves at high altitude. You will be best off “layering” so that you can adjust the amount of insulation you require throughout the day. A thermal, wicking base layer is recommended for comfort, ease of wear and ease of laundering.

Do I need walking poles?
Lightweight poles are readily available nowadays and are heavily recommended by us for trekking. They are particularly beneficial for downhill sections, which can be both tiring and wearing on the knees. They are also a benefit for keeping balance etc on other difficult sections.

Food & Drink: You will have to carry food & drink in addition to the things mentioned above. A pack lunch can be bought from local supermarkets when staying in villages or from the accommodation if ordered the night of arrival. It is important to get your nutrition right, as you will be burning lots of calories each day. It is essential you carry enough water with you so you don’t get dehydrated during the day. On some days it may be possible replenish your water at certain places but this is not always the case. Water purifying tablets are useful in case you run out of water and have to use a mountain stream.

Washing kit: The majority of the time you will be staying in good quality hotels therefore it is easy to wash and dry kit through before the next day. Hotels will provide towels and soap so if you carry a towel make sure its small as you will only require this for the nights when in mountain huts.

Packing your sack: It’s a good idea to have a trial at packing your rucksack beforehand to maximize space, check the weight & get rid of any un-needed items! When packing your sack make sure you pack anything not needed during the trekking day at the bottom and essential gear, food & water at the top. If you are not used to trekking with a heavier rucksack take it out with you when training during the months beforehand.

Take a look at the table of trekking gear below & if you have any additional questions please get in touch & ask for a copy of our ‘Packing List’ document for further information or take a look at our http://www.montblanctreks.com/trek-kit-list page on our website.
Contact me at: sara@montblanctreks.com

Happy trekking!


Find out more information on our Guided & Self guided treks see our website:
Tour du Mont Blanc: The Tour du Mont Blanc features in the world’s top ten 'must do' treks & it's not hard to understand why as this trek is outstanding with amazing views day after day.

Walkers Haute Route:The Walkers Haute Route also features as one of the worlds top ten treks & is approximately 180km in length, the route crosses 11 high mountain passes with 12,000m of ascent through France and Switzerland the Haute Route walk makes for a fabulous challenge.

Gran Paradiso & other treks we offer:
Trekking through the Gran Paradiso trail is a must for all adventure lovers. With vivid colours, large ice masses and green meadows, the national park of Italy offers a fantastic glimpse of Europe’s true beauty.

When can you trek the Tour du Mont Blanc & Haute Route

Over the coming weeks we will be focusing our blog on 10 of the top frequently asked questions. What do people need to know before making the decision to come to this impressive environment and challenge themselves on one of our ‘Must do’ long distance trekking holidays, Tour du Mont Blanc & the Walkers Haute Route.

I will start with one of the basics questions:

When can you trek the Tour du Mont Blanc, Walkers Haute Route or Traverse of the Gran Paradiso & what will the weather be like?

In short for the Tour du Mont Blanc mid-June until late September & for the Walkers Haute Route & Traverse of the Gran Paradiso mid-July until late September.

The European Alps are in the Northern hemisphere so December to April we have lots of snow & the mountains that tower above Chamonix, Zermatt & Courmayeur are a reserved for snowshoeing, skiing, ski touring & winter mountaineering.

The snow starts to recede in the spring and the lower trails are accessible by May, if you are planning to arrive here at that time then it is possible to tailor make a series of Chamonix trails at lower altitude but the higher multi day routes are not accessible.

The Tour du Mont Blanc is possible from mid-June however you will come across a good deal of snow on the high cols & shaded slopes which makes the route difficult & potentially dangerous. If you are intending trekking at that time it is essential for you to carry the correct equipment with you, walking crampons, ice axe, walking poles. You also need the ability to move confidently on snow for large periods of time. The route tends to be snow free by early July however this can change each year & the amount of snow on the route depends on how much snow we have had during the winter & of course how warm spring has been. All accommodation & transport is open from Mid-June to the end of September.

The Walkers Haute Route & Traverse of the Gran Paradiso are different, both routes trek to a higher altitude up to & over 3000m so trekking isn’t advisable until mid-July. Both routes are doable until late September.

Weather-wise many clients ask what will it be like? In a word, changeable! This area of the Alps around Mont Blanc has its own micro-climate and during our trekking period we at MBT will experience all types of weather (sometimes in one day!) and it is not uncommon to have fresh snow on the trail in July & August. You need to be prepared and have the correct clothing and equipment to protect you in poor weather. You also need to be prepared for warm weather, with a high factor sunscreen, sunglasses and head shade for those scorching days with breath taking views.

Average valley temperatures for Chamonix at 1100m, allow for temperature drop for altitude gain as the Cols at 2500m will be significantly cooler.

June-July	Min +7°C / +9°C	Max +20°C /+24°C
August- September	Min +8°C / +6°C	Max +22°C /+18°C

Climate: http://www.weather-and-climate.com/average-monthly-Rainfall-Temperature-Sunshine,chamonix-mont-blanc,France

If you need any additional information regarding the trekking season & weather for the Tour du Mont Blanc, Walkers Haute Route or Gran Paradiso please do not hesitate to get in touch on: info@montblanctreks.com

Traverse of the Gran Paradiso guided trek 2015

In 2014 we decided to look for an alternative multi day trek in our local area that would provide challenging progression and something a little different from the Tour du Mont Blanc and Walkers Haute Route from Chamonix to Zermatt. We didn't have to look far and the Alta Via 2 Traverse of the Gran Paradiso made for a fantastic trek. After recceing the trek during the summer of 2014 we decided to offer this in 2015 as a guided trek and self-guided.

As we knew that the trek was rigorous trek with our guided option we decided to offer this to previous clients whom we knew would be capable of the difficult and challenging terrain.

So on August 11^th 2015 we met in Chamonix and provided a transfer through to Courmayeur for the group. We enjoyed a trek briefing over dinner and at 9am we were on our way by minibus transfer to the start of the trek in Champorcher at the far end of the Aosta valley.

Day 1: The first day takes you from the remote village of Champorcher up and over the Fentre de Champorcher 2828m to the Refuge Peradza. We had such a friendly welcome.... free shoulder & neck massages whilst we had our recovery beer! And delicious food and wine later in the evening.

Day 2: A long day ahead starting with a decent from the refuge to Lillaz and then along the valley bottom to Cogne. Lunch stop of panini and cappuccino before making our way to Vanotey & then a fairly steep ascent to Refuge Vittoria Sella at 2584m.

Day 3: Promised to be interesting as we had had snow overnight! We had to ascend over the Col Lauson, which is the highest & most delicate Col on the trek at 3299m, which is high by any alpine trekking standards. The group were fit and coped well with the terrain after a short sharp 800m ascent we were up and over and making our long descent to Eaux Rousses in the Valsavarenche valley.

Day 4: With the weather improving we made our way initially through larch woodland to the Alpage of Orvieille a perfect location for a rest stop whilst we watched the Marmots playing. It never ceases to amaze me just how much wildlife you see in the Gran Paradiso in comparison to other alpine areas, such abundance of Marmots, Chamois & Ibex and because the area is so quiet & devoid of human beings they don't seem to mind you being around. From here we made our way steeply at times to the Col Entrelor 3007m a tricky descent down into our next valley & to the beautiful village of Rhemes Notre Dame.

Day 5: Our Col for the day was the foreboding Col Fenetre 2840m... The group had seen it the day before from the descent of the Col Entrelor. The final ascent to the Col Fenetre is so very steep as the path works its way up into such a tight gully looks impossible from a distance. Once into the gully it's fine and the zigzag path is good, progress is made quickly due to the gradient, which I would suspect is perhaps 50% at times. As often happens if one side of the Col is steep and narley the other is more serene and the descent from Col is lovely & so picturesque winding down past the refuge L’Epee, which provides a great rest stop with delicious food & coffee. Traversing for a while with fabulous views of the Valgrisenche valley before descending into the larch woodland and down to our accommodation for the night at Bonne.

Day 6: Starts easily as we made our way through the Valgrisenche valley bottom to the village of Planval & the last chance for a cappuccino before our ascent of the Col Crosatie 2838m. This is my favorite Col of the trek the terrain is truly wild and remote as the views from the top are just majestic looking out to Mont Blanc, the big Swiss 4000m peaks and back over the Grivola & the Gran Paradiso.... This is a place to sit a while and reflect. The descent is initially tricky so care needs to be taken for the first 30 mins or so you then find yourself dropping into the most beautiful & remote valleys and down to the amazing little refuges of the Dortois Paradis in the Vallon du Fond. This is an un-manned refuge that has catering facilities but with prior arrangement the owner will pick you up in his 4x4 and take to his Auberge for an amazing dinner with delicious local food & wine. This truly was an evening to remember & the group loved every minute.

Day 7: We retraced our steps through the woods to the ruined refuge, from here we followed the trail to the Alto Pass or Haute Pass, this high valley is so remote and the ascent to the Col is long and challenging. Amazing views looking back to our Col from the day before but it wasn't a place to linger as the wind chill at the Col forced us to descend as quickly as possible to find shelter in the Refuge Defeyes... More Cappuccino & the biggest blueberry tart you ever could imagine!!! From here we made our long descent to La Thuille, it might be long but it certainly takes in some beautiful terrain with stunning views. La Thuile ski resort in the winter is a great little town the biggest we have seen since leaving Courmayeur and it provided us with a lovely hotel, great food and an amazing pack lunch the following day from the local deli.

Day 8: And our final day and back to the bosom of Mont Blanc we headed up out of La Thuile into the remote and beautiful Youla Valley to the Col d’Arp and then a fabulous traverse to the Col Youla with truly stunning views of Mont Blanc from the Italian side. Care needs to be taken initially on the descent as the ground is steep and very loose. The trail leads you onto the Tour du Mont Blanc route and you make your way past the refuge Maison Vielle to Col Checrouit and steeply down through the trees to Dolonne and onto Courmayeur. A warm welcome from our lovely hotel owners at the Hotel Crampon and a few celebratory bottles of Procecco were in order!

If you are into alpine trekking and are looking for a new challenge try this... It's stunningly remote and beautiful and to top it all its in Italy which means a warm welcome, lovely people and delicious food and drink.

We also added an option for clients to summit the Gran Paradiso 4060m at the end of the trek. We acquired the services of two UK high mountain guides Stuart McDonald and John Cune, who got us up to the summit safely and successfully.

We are running a guided Gran Paradiso trek again in 2016 and also organize self guided options. For more information on any aspect of the Gran Paradiso see our website: http://www.montblanctreks.com or contact sara@montblanctreks.com

Col Entrelor

Col Fenetre

Rhemes Notre Dame

Dortois Paradis

Above La Thuile

View from the Col Youla

Summer 2015

After the relatively snowless winter the

summer season 2015 started without too many glitches. The trails were snow free
by late June and the only thing we had to worry about was the heat! This region
of the Alps saw unprecedented temperatures as The Chamonix valley saw excesses
of 30 degrees. In all my time living in this area I have never know it that
hot, it was like being on the Mediterranean coast!

This was fabulous for views and dry days in
the mountains but did make the ascents very tough for everyone. This balmy
weather lasted all the way until the end of July with temperatures returning to
the norm for the start of August.

August and September went well and our first
guided trek on the Traverse of the Grand Paradiso was a success with an optional
ascent of the Gran Paradiso 4020m summit at the end of the trek (see specific
blog).

We once again had some fabulous groups &
met some great folk from all over the globe.

Thanks also to our trusty guides Joy, Ali,

Duncan, Kelvyn, Vicky, Alex & Gary who did an excellent job.

For more information on the services
and trekking holidays we offer see our website.

Sara Haley, UIMLA guide & owner
of Mont Blanc Treks 

High on the Tour du Mont Blanc

Col du Seigne, Tour du Mont Blanc

Refuge Mottets, TMB

Bionassay, TMB

Col du Torrent, Walkers Haute Route