Full Description
Mountaineering in the Mont Blanc Range showcases the most beautiful lower grade snow, ice and mixed climbs (F to AD+) in the seemingly inexhaustible Mont Blanc Range. The routes described in this book should be within the capabilities of almost all mountaineers.
Reflecting all recent changed topographical conditions due to the steady glacial retreat created by climate change, authors Jean-Louis Laroche and Florence Lelong have selected 36 climbs from across the range, which are easily accessible from well appointed mountain huts, useful telepheriques and mountain railways.
The routes described are an ideal introduction to the climbing in this magnificent area. They are on snow or mixed ground and, distributed among the main glacier basins, they will enable you to visit a representative selection of summits along the full length of the range. Among them are some of the finest classics, including: the North Face of the Tete Blanche; the Whymper Route on the Aiguille d'Argentiere; the Cosmiques Ridge of the Aiguille du Midi; the Normal Route, Contamine-Grisolle, and Chere Couloir on the Mont Blanc du Tacul; and of course a choice of routes on Mont Blanc itself.
Each route features a detailed and comprehensive route description, a sketch map and a route summary detailing the start point, difficulty, timings, height gain, best time of year and the gear required. Beautifully illustrated with photos that show both the lie of the land and also the haunting beauty of the fabulous peaks of the Mont Blanc Range, this guide clearly indicates alpinism's continued popularity to climbers of all ages.
Contents
Introduction
1 Aiguille du Tour: Traverse and Table Couloir
2 Tête Blanche (North Face) and Petite Fourche
3 Aiguille du Chardonnet: Forbes Arête and Migot Spur
4 Aiguille d'Argentière: Normal Route, Whymper Route, Y Couloir and Flèche Rousse
5 Petite Verte: Normal Route, North-West Face and Chevalier Couloir
6 Les Droites: Normal Route
7 Les Courtes: Traverse
8 Pointe Isabella: Normal Route
9 Aiguille de l'Éboulement: South-West Couloir and Traverse
10 Aiguille de Rochefort: Rochefort Ridge
11 La Tour Ronde: Normal Route, North Face/Crampon Fûte and Gervasutti Couloir
12 Aiguille du Plan: Midi-Plan Traverse
13 Aiguille du Midi: Cosmiques Ridge
14 Mont Blanc du Tacul: Normal Route Contamine-Grisolle, and Chèré Couloir
15 Mont Blanc: Goûter Route, Tacul-Maudit Traverse and North Ridge of the Dôme
16 Mont Blanc: Aiguilles Grises
17 Aiguille de Bionnassay: South Ridge and Traverse
18 Dômes de Miage: Traverse
19 Aiguille Nord de Tré-la-Tête, Lex Blanche, Dôme de Neige: Traverse
20 Aiguille de la Lex Blanche: North-West Face
21 Mont Tondu: Normal Route
Practical information, hut access
