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Mont Blanc One Shot 2024
1 training day, & 1 day ascent from the valley to the summit
Course overview

Climbing to the summit of Mont Blanc isn't that hard, as most people complete the climb over two days, with a night in a mountain hut high on the peak. Climbing Mont Blanc from the valley floor in one push in one day is very hard, a huge physical effort, requiring high stamina and drive. It's a challenge for the few.
This itinerary is for very fit trail runners / speed climbers, who relish this immense and formidable mission! You'll need to have previous crampon experience to make this a realistic and safe goal, and it's recommended you spend an extra day or two beforehand out in the Alps to prepare and acclimatise.
All mountain guides are fit - that goes without saying, but the guides who lead this trip are the fittest of the fit. For example, Alain (pictured right above) was the French vice champion trail runner in his age category in 2016. We provide exceptional guides for this trip, who are at the very top of their game.
If you haven't climbed with us before, we're expecting to see an impressive ITRA index, number of days on crampons, and previous one-shot type challenges. We have to be sure of your experience and safety. If we're left with any doubts at all, simply we won't accept your booking on this trip.
The ascent is a cross-over between trail running and speed climbing, in that up to the lower hut you can run, then you change into lightweight mountaineering equipment for the glaciated terrain to the summit.
This trip won't appeal to many people, and if you don't think you are the level for it, don't even think about it. You'll know in your heart of hearts if you are really ready for this once in a lifetime challenge.
In terms of fitness, you should have completed a mountain running event with at least 5000m of vertical ascent, within a 24 hour period. An example of this would be the CCC event of the UTMB series.
Dates: these are listed in the column on the right, and they show the live availability from our secure online booking system. When you book online, you receive immediate confirmation, your Alpine Information Booklet, course specific kit list and invoice.


Brief Course Itinerary


Please note that whilst the itinerary below is an ideal, the weather and conditions, as well as your skills, fitness, experience and acclimatisation all play a part too. It is imperitive that you understand how flexible this course must be. You are dealing with the high mountains and extreme altitude, not a prescribed coach tour!
Pre-course
The course is the Saturday and Sunday, and it's up to you how many days prior to the event to travel out to Chamonix, for acclimatisation and training. Each person has different requirements, and some are happy to self-guide, while others might want a day or two of private guiding. Popular acclimatisation route choices include a speed ascent of a 3000m trekking peak, or trail running routes such as the Chamonix Vertical KM and continuing to the top of Le Brevent to give a vertical ascent of over 1500m. Others focus on a technical skills day, such as crampon skills on the Aiguille du Midi or Mer de Glace. Our guiding and logistics team will be able to advise on these objectives, prior to your booking.
Saturday
The course starts at c.08:30am, with a briefing and kit check. You meet the guide for a final acclimatisation and training day. Typical choices are the Cosmiques Arete or Aiguille d'Entreves, above the high cable cars. The aim is for the guiding to finish by the early afternoon, so that you can spend the afternoon acclimatising, or resting and preparing for your ascent. A bedroom is available for you from midday onwards, so you can get a few hours sleep. At typically 8pm you set off from the valley floor with your guide in trail running kit, who will run / speed hike up to Bellevue, and onwards to the Tete Rousse hut. Here you briefly rest, and change into the altitude boots and safety kit at around midnight.
Sunday
As soon as you are ready, and have had a quick break, you set off at midnight or just afterwards to climb to the Gouter hut. This is a scramble in the dark, and as you move above the Dome du Gouter, the sun begins to rise. You summit around 6am, and return the same way, ideally reaching the Tete Rousse at c.9am and onwards to Bellevue, where you can opt to change into trail running kit for the final run down to the valley floor. If the legs aren't up for it, you can always take the cable car down. You typically reach the valley at lunchtime, and can get a late afternoon or evening flight home. To allow a small margin, if your airport transfer leaves at 5pm, you can get a 8pm or later flight. Depart for home.

ITINERARY NOTES: Where possible we follow itineraries. Mountaineering is often weather and conditions dependant, so occasionaly we are forced to alter the plans. If this is the case, suitable alternatives are offered. Please use this outline course itinerary as a guide to the types of route that you will attempt, not necessarily the exact routes that you climb.

Course Prices
Standard course
2 full days IFMGA guiding, 1:1 max ratio
3 days holiday in total, Friday-Sunday
£2399
Live availability
Click on the planner logo to the right to
see the real time live course availability
Latest Availability
Secure online booking system
Inclusions: 1) IFMGA Mountain Guide for two days, 2) Chamonix course hosts for logistics & briefings, 3) Pre course information booklet, 4) Equipment discount voucher for our UK, 5) Free 36 page technical Course Instruction Booklet, 6) Road transport in Chamonix valley, 7) One night Chamonix accommodation, to provide a space for a pre-ascent sleep that evening.
Exclusions: 1) Travel to and from Chamonix, 2) Cable Cars (approx c.£50 for training day), 3) Personal laundry, telephone calls, lunches, evening meals in valley, & any purchases in mountain huts / hotels / restaurants, 4) Activities insurance, & excess baggage charges.
Notes: The price is a total for the guiding fee, for just 1 person on a 1:1 guiding ratio basis. We do not offer 1:2 guiding for this, to allow you to move at your pace on the ascent, and maximise your summit chances.
Current course availability

Course Dates
Mont Blanc One Shot
  • No Dates Available
NOTE: This trip has scheduled
dates, but it can be operated on
any date you wish, so contact
us for a bespoke date.
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Price: £2399 Book online

Preparatory trips
Alpine Prep Weekend

Alpine Intro 4000m

Alternatives
Mont Blanc 2 week
Alpine Big 3 Trilogy

Mount Elbrus

Next trips
Matterhorn ascent
Alpine Autonomy
Testimonials
Press & media
Films & videos
Photo gallery
Location data for this trip
The trips are based in the Chamonix valley in the French Alps, at the foot of Mont Blanc. It is easily accessed via a 90 minute transfer from Geneva airport.
Time Difference
GMT +1hr
Local Currency
€ Euros
Travel from UK
1hr flight
Free resources


FREE Podcast
Training for Mont Blanc
A no holes barred podcast, to fully explain what an ascent entails physically and technically, including several examples of hill training.
Download podcast (3.48 MB)
See all the Icicle podcasts
Equipment - summit day kit list...
We send a course specific equipment list to all those booking on our courses, but due to the popularity of this course, we outline a typical packing list for the Mont Blanc summit day in the list below.
Basic clothing
- Light coloured long sleeve wicking layer
- Schoeller / soft shell climbing trousers
- Mid layer fleece jacket / gillet
- Fleece hat and gloves, and sunhat / cap
- B3 leather / plastic boots, and gaiters
Equipment
- Harness, helmet, ice axe (without leash)
- 12 point crampons andanti-balling plates
- 1 x 120cm Sling, 1 x karabiner, 1 x prussic
- Telescopic trekking poles with snow baskets
- Head torch (LED style is lightest type)
Altitude gear
- Synthetic or down insulation jacket
- Goggles in case of high wind
- Neoprane face mask in case of wind
- Thick waterproof over gloves
- Windproof over trousers (eg PacLite)
General kit
- Close fitting sun glasses (Factor 4 for snow)
- Pocket snacks for summit day (eg Haribos)
- Water bottle (bladder type may freeze)
- Rucksack (up to 35 litres max is ideal)
- Basic blister kit, Aspirin, suncream
Suggested reading and kit
View full course equipment list, with examples of kit, click here
Any further questions?
A key part of choosing a company is being able to come and talk about your plans with an experienced course advisor face to face. In an increasingly virtual world, we know our clients value speaking to real people, getting open and honest advice. The vast majority of our clients are British, and our office and outdoor store is based in Windermere in the English Lake District.



Get in contact to arrange a meeting, and come in for a coffee to discuss your course in person with a trip advisor. Many people opt for this service, and it is an integral part of what we offer, as we are keen to ensure that you are prepared as possible, and that you select a course that is suitable for you. It makes it easier and more enjoyable for you and us, if you are on the right trip.


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