Mont Blanc Ascent

Our Clients’ Reviews

Here at Exodus we thrive on feedback from our customers. It's the only way we can ensure our trips continue to be the best they can be. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of the trip you're interested in, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers. Any feedback collected (Good or bad) from Exodus clients is posted straight onto our website - totally unedited. Read more...

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  Tim Rollett

  MONT BLANC ASCENT

  

  Written June 2011

  Gran Paradiso - what a view!  Had a good time, but sadly one afternoon on poor weather meant that we were unable to do the ascent of Mont Blanc. We climbed Gran Paradiso instead. 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  Standing on the summit of Gran Paradiso looking at the view of the Alps and amazed at how far down it was!

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Our Group Leader was an experienced climber hired onto the trip. Although he was competent and safe, I was not sure that he really wanted us to reach Mont Blanc summit. The poor weather midweek meant we never found out for sure.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Be prepared to do Gran Paradiso instead!  Don't go fully expecting to do Mont Blanc - but the brochure makes this clear anyway.  Also, you must be extermely fit and used to walking for several hours on the go. I trained for ages to do this holiday by doing long distances and plenty of hills in the Lake District. Whilst I made it up and down Gran Paradiso OK, Mont Blanc would have been tougher. As the brochure says 'arrive fit'. If in doubt, do a different holiday. Also, you must must must have a good head for heights - the 150m descent down the cliff ladders onto the glacier on one of the training days was not for the feint hearted! However, it was also totally memorable and an amazing thing to do. It was a lot hotter than I thought, even above the snow line we didn't need to wear too many layers and it was only the final hour to the summit of Gran Paradiso that it got really cold. A sun hat, sun creme and good sunglasses were essential!

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  It was a good holiday and I will be back to do Mont Blanc another time!

   
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  Nick Forwood

  MONT BLANC ASCENT

  

  Written October 2009

  The trip was frankly the most challenging, but amazing thing I have ever done.  I am still telling people about it, months after and the memory of doing it will stay with me for ever.  The chalet in Cham was first rate, and the team there were really friendly.       

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  1). Knowing that within Europe you cannot get any higher

  2). Knowing that not everyone makes it

  3). I stuck with it all the way

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Phillipe was a great leader, he was professional in every way.  He was a very good teacher in mountain skills in the short space, nevertheless I had every confidence in him to get me there and back in one piece. 

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Get really fit.  I spent three months of hard training and I still found it hard going.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  1). Take a pair of really comfortable boots

  2). Some ear plugs

   
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  Mark Jones

  Not Mont Blanc but Gran Paradiso instead

  

  Written September 2007

  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  Climbing and summiting Gran Paradiso (4061m) in the Italian Alps

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  What did you think of your group leader?

  Enrico was an enthusiastic and skilled guide

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Be prepared for any weather and for long waits should the weather be poor. Take a lightweight book or a pack of cards for the long waits in the refuges!

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  Although disappointed at not getting to climb Mont Blanc because of the ammount of snow in July(!) the climb of Gran Paradiso was challenging and worth the climb for the view alone - the Mont Blanc range in one direction, Monte Rosa in another and the Matterhorn in another. After two long days of waiting out the weather in mountain refuges this paid back all the frustration.

   
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  Quentin Given

  OK, we didn't actually climb Mt Blanc but...

  

  Written September 2007

  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  Reaching the ridge of Gran Paradiso (bad weather prevented us climbing Mt Blanc) and seeing the entire French Alps and most of the Swiss Alps glistening in the sparkling air - and realising we didn't have much further to climb.

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  What did you think of your group leader?

  Humorous, supportive, fun, generally the right balance between understanding our pain and driving us on.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Take something with you to pass the time during long periods in the refuges. Travel Scrabble eg.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  The Alps are threatened by climate change. So don't be part of the problem, be part of the solution, and go by train. And to anywhere else in Europe and Morocco. I did.

   

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