Mont Blanc first week of the season
I was working for Mont Blanc Guides this week on their 6 day ascent program. We started the week walking to the Alpbert premier hut in great weather. We woke to wind and rain, after a few hours wait the weather improved enough to allow us to climb a windy Petite Fourche before returning to the hut. Tuesday dawned wet and windy but cleared enough to allow us time for an Ecole du Glace before heading for the valley. Wednesday we headed to the Tete Rousse hut ready for Mont Blanc. We woke at 1am to clouds which had cleared by 4, we left the hut at 5am climbing in just over 2 hrs to the Gouter refuge. On the way up the Dome du Gouter the cloud rolled in but luckily we broke through this as we crested the Dome leaving perfect sunshine and crisp snow all the way to the summit. The cloud had cleared for the descent, we were quickly down at the Gouter hut for a drink before the final 2 hrs to the Tete Rousse for a 12 hr round trip. Friday was wet and misserable so we headed to the valley on the first train.