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| Messages 1 - 9 of total 9 in this topic |
wetworx
climber
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Topic Author's Original Post - May 27, 2012 - 01:16pm PT
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I was planning on spending some time in the Charmonix/Mont Blanc range in October or November. I wanted to know what I should expect?
My alpinism skills are lacking, but i was hoping that a fairly non-technical "hike" to a relatively high summit with a nice overlook might be possible.
Would this be reasonable at this time? Any suggestions on routes?
Thank you very much :)
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wetworx
climber
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Topic Author's Reply - May 30, 2012 - 01:36pm PT
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Any routes possible without the use of skis?
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neversummer
Trad climber
30 mins. from suicide USA
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May 30, 2012 - 01:50pm PT
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Good luck dude, everyones busy bolting slackline anchors.
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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May 30, 2012 - 02:09pm PT
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Yo...you're talking to a bunch of fairweather rock climbers here. E-mail Steve Shea (he goes by his real name on ST). He has a lot of experience in Chamonix.
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jaaan
Trad climber
Chamonix, France
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May 30, 2012 - 02:46pm PT
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Chamonix can be fabulous in October. The further you go into November the less likely that is, though you could be lucky. There will certainly have been a couple of early winter storms which will have put down a little snow - I can remember a few times in the last 22 years that I've lived here, that the Grands Montets ski area has opened in November... Obviously as with all mountain areas the later the snow falls in the year, the less likely it is to melt and will certainly stay on N facing faces, so routes that rely on dry conditions may well be out.
Another thing to consider is that all the lifts except the Aiguille du Midi will be closed - even the Midi closes for about a month sometime around November for maintenance - I'm sure a quick Google will tell you when. In the last few years routes on the N faces have been very popular at this time - Droites, Jorasses etc.
Huts will also be closed though there is always a winter room or some sort of accommodation available - just means you have to take your own food. Often the winter rooms will be equipped with blankets and with wood or gas stoves but you should check in Chamonix whether that is the case for the huts you want to visit. A visit to the Office de Haute Montagne (OHM) will sort you out on this and also on mountain/route conditions - provided they are open...
The great thing about this part of the world is that if the weather craps out here, often you only have to drive down into Italy for an hour or so and you'll find hot sunny rock. Failing that, the Provencal rock climbing areas are only some 4 - 5 hours away.
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Degaine
climber
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May 30, 2012 - 02:50pm PT
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Hi wetworx,
Oct/Nov is a great time of year for the colors, and since you don't have to wake up as early as you do in the summer (though you might do the end of your descent in the dark).
If your mountaineering skills are lacking and you plan on hiking/climbing alone, you won't be able to climb any high summits in the Mont Blanc Massif proper, as everything above 2800-3000 m is glaciated terrain (or steep technical rock climbing).
The other side of the valley are the Aiguilles Rouges, and offer both great views of the Mont Blanc Massif and great hiking. For a relatively high summit and long hike Mont Buet (3096m) is a great option. It used to be called the "Mont Blanc des dames" (Mont Blanc for women) since women used to climb it to watch the men across the valley scaling Mont Blanc.
The Aiguilles Rouges offer other great hikes, and the Aiguille de Belvédère (2965 m) is a great technical hike (class 3 scrambling to reach the summit).
If you are okay with not just climbing summits, there are indeed a couple of spectacular hikes in the Mont Blanc Massif itself. Whether the Aiguille du Midi tram is open or not (check dates) you can still hike from the Plan de l'Aiguille to the Mer de Glace passing underneath the impressive north faces of the spires of Chamonix. There is also the "Balcons de la Mer de Glace", balcony hikes starting from the top of the Montenvers train. There will be little to now snow, so crossing the Mer de Glace (glacier) alon is fine since you can see the crevasses. You can stay in the Couvercle or Envers des Aiguilles huts for this hike. Another hike is to the top of the Bec du Corbeau / Mont Corbeau where you will be right at "La Jonction" where a couple of glaciers split/meet (notably the Bossons glacier).
If you head through the tunnel into Italy, there are hikes / summits you can climb (such as Le Petit Mont Blanc) that go a little higher since this is the south facing side of the range.
There also the Tour du Mont Blanc trail that circumnavigates the entire range and I guarantee you'll be alone in the fall.
Hope that helps.
Cheers.
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wetworx
climber
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Topic Author's Reply - May 31, 2012 - 08:54pm PT
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Thank you all for your extensive feedback. I'll have to look into all your advice. I mostly want to just take in the mountains and air whether that's from the top, bottom or somewhere in between =)
I think I'll try to see if I can arrive earlier, mid-to-late October to make the most of it.
Much appreciation!
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llk
climber
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May 31, 2012 - 09:00pm PT
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Wow, somebody posed a question on the Taco and received only respectful and helpful responses! A rare day indeed.
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Todd Eastman
climber
Bellingham, WA
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May 31, 2012 - 10:45pm PT
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With limited alpine experience hiring a guide might make sense since short days and hard or icy snow will make traveling more challenging. Those hills are bigger than standard fare in the US...
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| Messages 1 - 9 of total 9 in this topic |
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