Ski Gran Paradiso 🇮🇹 & Mont Blanc 🇫🇷 Spring 2022

Mont Blanc. The highest mountain in Western Europe and a true challenge for the dedicated ski mountaineer. A magnificent objective for those with the skills to do it. Late spring often provides the best snow conditions for a ski ascent of the mountain and we offer two 6 day courses in late April and May. This is the toughest ski course we do and is only suitable for those with high levels of fitness, ski ability and some mountaineering experience. We aim to climb the Mountain via the ‘Arete Royale’ on the Dome du Gouter and classic Bosses Ridge to the summit. The ski descent back to Chamonix is huge and technically interesting. A great day of skiing, but not for the faint hearted….

Course Aims

• Ski Mont Blanc 4810m
• Ski The Gran Paradiso 4065m
• Enjoy a memorable & sociable week of ski mountaineering based in the Chamonix Valley spending several nights in mountain huts and meeting some other like minded ski mountaineers along the way
• Refine ski mountaineering skills in the training period and refresh crampon and ice axe technique
• Increase speed and efficiency in techniques and transitions for the long & tough summit day
• Prepare you for further tough ski mountaineering expeditions

Fitness, Ski & Mountaineering Skills Required

• Strong, confident and technically competent skier able to deal with variable off-piste snow conditions on slopes up to 35 degrees on the normal route and 45 degrees on the north face. An ability to maneuver skis around crevasses with precision and ski swiftly yet with control under seracs. An ability to do all this after a long, tough and tiring ascent at altitude.
• A high level of fitness, stamina and mental toughness is required for the c. 10-12 hour summit day as well as good organisation of equipment and efficient transitions with your ski gear whilst on the mountain.
• Some mountaineering experience is required and whilst this does not need to be on steep and difficult ground you should have some cramponing experience; a head for heights and the ability to concentrate and climb carefully on steep snow for around 1.5 hours between breaks.