Tour du Mont Blanc Current Conditions June 2015

After a very mild winter with not a lot of snow and warm spring there is no better time to experience the Tour du Mont Blanc. Due to early summer conditions accommodation has opened early and the trails are open.

We have our first self guided clients arriving this week so in preparation I have carried out a couple of day recce’s in two of the key parts of the trek, the Col du Bonhomme and the Grand Col Ferret to see for myself what trail conditions are like. There is snow above 2000m but it is passable with care. There are groups out doing the route so the snow patches have been well trodden. Although the snow is soft it is advisable to take walking poles to aid balance & give you stability whilst walking on the snow.

Col du Bonhomme: Continual snow unto the col from about 2150m, snow on the traverse between the Col du Bonhomme & the Col du Crox du Bonhomme, take care whilst traversing as a slip could send you down the slopes into the rocks below.

Grand Col du Ferret: Minimal snow on the Italian side apart from the last section, quite an amount of snow on the Swiss side but the terrain is at an easy angle so it should be easy to cross.

Where there are large snow patches and navigation could be difficult in bad weather they have put wooden stakes with dayglow markings on. If you have bad visibility follow these markers in addition to using your map & compass.

Most other days and area are free of snow, It is advisable to go via Bovine from Champex to Trient rather than Fenetre d’arpmtte where there will be a lot of snow and the terrain is very steep therefore a fall or slip could be serious.

For more information on the services and trekking holidays we offer see our website: www.montblanctreks.com

Sara Haley, UIMLA guide & owner of Mont Blanc Treks

Summer trekking in the Alps 2015

After a very easy winter in terms of snowfall and low temperatures and a very warm spring so far this year we are set for a trouble free start to the season.

This was the winter that never really happened after a disastrous Christmas with no snow it finally arrived in time for New Year. With very sparse snowfall during the rest of the season this years skiing wasn't the best.

And then for the spring... Amazingly warm with temperatures in April of 20 degrees in the Chamonix valley it felt more like summer.

This all spells good news for our forthcoming summer season as it means the snow on the high ground will clear quickly making the Tour du Mont Blanc easily accessible in June and the Walkers Haute Route from Chamonix to Zermatt doable in early July.

We offer a wide range of guided & self guided options for the Tour du Mont Blanc, Walkers Haute Route & Gran Paradiso from June to the end of September. For more information see www.montblanctreks.com

Summer 2014 on the Tour du Mont Blanc & Walkers Haute Route

Another busy summer season comes to an end in the Chamonix valley and ends on a high with superb weather throughout September & October however this wasn't always the case!

After a warm spring the trails were relatively free of snow in time for the arrival of our first clients at the end of June. Our first guided and self guided clients enjoyed good weather on the Tour du Mont Blanc but this was soon to change with the arrival of July!

Generally July is a great time to do the TMB we have settled warm weather the trails are not mad busy however this year July was a test! The western Alps experienced some horrendous weather lots of rain and cold temperatures and snow on the high ground. It seems our Haute Route treks from Chamonix to Zermatt faired better as they were trekking further east they seemed to miss out on most of the poorer weather, lucky for them!

August brought improvement but still unsettled at times with one of our August TMB groups experiencing high winds, rain & snow on the first section, fortunately for the group the weather changed and for the second half of the trip they enjoyed magnificent views.

We hoped and prayed for an Indian summer & boy did we get it with amazing clear & sunny weather for all our groups on the TMB and Chamonix to Zermatt in. September.

We are always asked the question which is the best month to do the Tour du Mont Blanc and Haute Route however there really isn't an answer to that question. Every year is totally different. Everybody who has mountain experience knows that weather can be fickle and temperatures can change rapidly with good weather an be replaced with bad fairly quickly but on average you would expect to have one or two day poor weather for the duration of your trek. 

With that in mind this year certainly wasn't the norm and don't let it out you off, the Tour du Mont Blanc and the Walkers Haute Route are without a shadow of a doubt two of the best multi day treks worldwide.

For more information on Guided or Self-guided trekking on the Tour du Mont Blanc, Walkers Haute Route and any of our treks see: www.montblanctreks.com

Summer 2013

It's hard to believe that it is October already and after a very
busy season we have now time to reflect on the trials and tribulations of this
summer.

June Winter remains!

Col des Chaux from the Cabane du Mont Fort, July 2013

June is always a tricky time to undertake any of the high level
trekking routes in the Alps, for example, people presume the Tour du Mont Blanc
will be fine by mid June but in reality that is often not the case, depending
on the amount of snow during the winter and the weather and temperatures during
the spring therefore with the snow abundant winter of 2013 and the extremely
cold spring the start of the season was a challenge. After spending some time
recceing the route mid June and passing this information on to our self-guided
clients starting later in the month we found that there were three main areas
of concern... Day 3 Col du Bonhomme, Col de la Criox du Bonhomme & Col des
Fours, day 4 via the Col du Seigne & the Mont Fauvre Spur and day 6 via the
Grand Col Ferret. Self guided clients who started towards the end of June had a
challenge on their hands and were advised to hire crampons and walking roles to
aid balance on steep slopes where a slip or fall could be problematic. On a
recce to the Col du Bonhomme on the xx June it was still snowing at 2000m just
making the problem a whole lot worse, when would spring and summer finally
arrive?

Col du Bonhomme, 27 June 2013

July, Straight into Summer

The start of July brought a total change to the weather, it was as
though someone had flicked a switch bypassing spring and going directly into
summer with temperatures of 28 degrees. This made the routes more achievable
however the amount of snow would take sometime to abate on the more sheltered
shady slops and high Cols.

Swiss Valais from Bovine

Our self-guided treks

Both our Tour du Mont and Walkers Haute Route proved popular again
this year and during late June and July we had many groups undertaking each
trek, with or without crampons!! During summer 2013 in addition to our own
clients we also provided self guided TMB treks for Macs Adventure providing
accommodation, self guided packs (daily route cards, maps and important trek
information), bag transfers and on hand support during the trek for all
clients.

Our guided treks

Walkers Haute Route July 7- 21 July, excellent weather and snow
abundant cols.

Walkers Haute Route group July 2013

After a recce of the high sections of the Walkers Haute Route we
realised that it really wasn't advisable to take our guided group over the
Fenetre d'Arpette and on the section between Cabane du Mont Fort and Arolla.
The week before we amended the route by taking the Bovine route from Trient to
Champex and arranging a minibus from Le Chable to Arolla then adding an extra
night in Grimentz which created an additional day of walking. The rest of the
trek remained unchanged although the group came across large amounts of snow on
the on and around all of the high Cols en-route. The Europaweg (high level
route from Grachen to Zermatt) continued to be a problem throughout the season,
the section between Europa Hutte remained closed and new stone fall between
Taschalp and Ottanwen made this section impassable. This meant that the low
route had to be taken for the majority of the season.

Tour du Mont Blanc,11-26 July & 28 July- 4 August, always be prepared!

TMB group July 2013

Descent from the Col des Fours July 2013

You would have through that by mid July that we would manage to get
around the tour du Mont Blanc without seeing that much snow, how wrong! Our
group that departed 7 July had fabulous weather and a great deal of residual
snow to deal with especially on day 3 from Contamines to Refuge Mottets. The
descent from the Col des Fours was epic and clients perfected the art of glissading
for the best part of 600m, this of course made that section of the descent
quicker than usual! Our only bad weather day was day 4 via the Col de Seigne
where wind, rain and low temperatures prevailed, this was a timely reminder
that having good kit with you at all times is essential and some of the group
who had decided to travel lightweight were cold and damp! Thanks to LaBet and
here sparkling wit we laughed our way through most of the day!

August and September to be continued....

For more info on our guided & self guided treks visit www.montblanctreks.com

Tour du Mont Blanc curent conditions 27 June 2013

It is hard to believe the amount of snow that persists above 2000m when you are in the valley bottom, which is free of snow, lush and green. However this situation is very different away from the safety of the valley bottom the spring has continued to be cold and the snow persists on the high ground making passage slow, difficult and potentially dangerous. We have continued to monitor the conditions over the past few weeks and have made a recce of each section of the route as this year's residual snow is exceptional and alarming.

Although we have had warmer weather over the past two weeks, which has improved the situation but many problems still persist in key areas. We envisage the snow being on the route well into the season.

This week we have seen the return of cooler weather, Monday 24^th June saw more snow down to 1800m with temperatures in the valley of 6 degrees. The forecast is still unsettled and we have more snow forecast down to 2000m on Thursday 27th & Friday 28^th June.

The main problem areas:

• Contamines to Chapieux & Ville des Glaciers via the Col du Bonhomme (2443m) & the Col de la Croix Bonhomme (2483m) & Col des Fours (2665m) if going to Ville des Glaciers.
• Chapieux & Ville des Glaciers to Courmayeur via the Col de Seigne (2516m) & Vielle d’Arp and the Mont Fauvre spur. 
• Refuge Bonatti to La Fouly via the Grand Col Ferret (2537m)Champex to Trient via the Fenetre d’Arpette (2665m)

There are less people on the route that normal although groups are now getting through and completing the circuit however not with out difficulty.

Aiguillette des Houches from the Brevent

For your own safety please take notice of our advice where the route is not advisable and change your route accordingly.

The itinerary in brief

Day 1: Chamonix to Les Houches: ok if a lower route is taken, the Col de Brevent is not advisable as the ladder section is banked out with snow and the steep ground could be potentially dangerous if you were to slip or fall.

Day 2: Les Houches to Contamines: The route over the Col du Tricot is passable with care. Route via Bionnassay & Chapel no problems.

Day 3: Contamines to Chapieux or Ville des Glaciers: A great deal of snow above 2000m, this section is not advisable without the correct equipment (see below). As you ascend above 2000m you will be on snow for many hours, the snow is deep 2m in places. Great care needs to be taken from the Chalets des Jovets to the descent into Chapieux. Do not attempt the Col des Fours, this is extremely steep at the top with the snow a slip or fall could be fatal. If staying at the Refuge Mottets descend to Chapieux and walk up the road to Ville des Glaciers and on to the refuge.

Traverse from Col du Bonhomme to Croix du Bonhomme

 

Col du Bonhomme

Day 4: Chapieux or Ville des Glaciers to Courmayeur: A great deal of snow above 2000m, this section is not advisable without the correct equipment (see below). Great care needs to be taken on the snow traverses. Do not attempt the Vielle d’Arp as this has some seriously steep ground that is banked out with snow when traversing round from the Mont Fauvre spur a slip or fall at this point could be fatal. Instead from Lac Combal descend to La Visaille and walk or take the navette into Courmayeur.

Day 5: Courmayeur to Refuge Bonatti: ok if a lower route is taken. Do not take the high options as outlined in the guidebook.

Day 6: Refuge Bonatti to La Fouly: Contamines to Chapieux or Ville des Glaciers: A great deal of snow above 2000m, this section is not advisable not advisable without the correct equipment (see below). From Arnuva walk up the 4x4 track to the refuge Elena, do not attempt to take the TMB route up the gully, the bridge over the gully has not been re-instated as yet and crossing the snow bridge could be dangerous. Great care needs to be taken when ascending to the Grand Col Ferret and descending on the other side as there is still a massive amount of snow.

Day 7: La Fouly to Champex: No problems, route as normal.

Day 8: Champex to Trient: The Bovine route is free of snow and is fine. Do not attempt the variant via Fenetre d’Arpette, as with the Col des Fours the route is steep on both sides of the Col and when banked out with snow, as it is at the moment a slip of fall here could be fatal.

Day 9: Trient to Argentiere: Take the route direct from Trient to the Col du Blame, these is a great deal of snow on the north easterly side of the Col so care needs to be taken here, the westerly side of the col is free of snow. The rest of the route is passable.

Day 10: Argentiere to Chamonix: The Aiguille Rouges nature reserve still has a lot of snow, Lac Blanc is completely covered with snow and remains frozen. Therefore we advise to remain on the lower balcony to Flegere and do not ascend to Lac Cheserys and Lac Blanc, the route from Flegere to Brevent has no problems.

Essential kit:

• All kit outlined on our kit list not forgetting good waterproof boots, gloves, warm hat, warm layers, waterproof outer layers, sun cream & sunglasses to protect against snow glare.  
• Light weight crampons, walking ice axe & walking poles x 2 per person to aid balance, lightweight walking crampons can be hired locally in Chamonix or Les Houches.
• Gaiters to keep you dry when walking through snow.

Important to remember

Walking on snow can be very tiring and time consuming, you will need a good level of fitness in order to be able to cope with this additional challenge. You will also need to allow more time each day to get to your destination.

Snow and bad weather also make navigation difficult as you cannot see the designated path and route markets and signage will be covered with snow. Good navigational skills are essential, the ability to read a map, use a compass and altimeter are a pre-requisite of this self-guided trek.

Snow on high ground this can make the route difficult and dangerous in places. A great deal of care needs to be taken when moving on Neve (Snow), depending on the weather this can be frozen solid or slush and without crampons can be impossible to cross without slipping. It is essential that you make a risk assessment before crossing snow, look below and ask yourself if you slipped how far would you slide & fall? Could a slip or fall cause injury? If in doubt retreat back and descend.

Please contact Mont Blanc Treks for further information and advise on current conditions.