Any body on here climbed it. Were going to Cham for a week in summer and we might have a bash.

What do you want to know?

Climbed it a few years ago … biggest factors are how the altitude affects you and the weather. Obviously you need basic winter skills but there’s no proper climbing.

And if you’re staying at the gouter hut get up at 1 and leave before everyone else!

Cheat and get the cable car up to Aiguille du Midi.

Probably better asking on UK Climbing

Uk Climbing

FWIW I’ve done it a couple of times, without a guide using the 3M route, but most people on guided trips will go via Dome de Rousse, having climbed up from the end of the funnicular at Nid d’Aigle.

So, is it route advice or skills advice you are after. Don’t underestimate acclimatisation, especially during a week long trip.

The guys on UK climbing get sick of that question and will provide all sorts of useless information, like you need slippers for the Gouter route (which you probably do :lol:)

If you haven’t done any winter walking/climbing before, it might be best to get a guide. If you are there a week, try and spend some time aclimatising. And as Stuart says if you are going the gouter route, get up early and beat the croweds.

Yep. Was a bit chilly, we slept on Dome du Gouter in a snow hole after going over the Domes du Miages and Bionassay, giving a healthy head start ahead of the crowds. Spoilt by all the fat tourists getting dragged up by rude French guides, the piles of frozen sh1t, piss and vomit lining the route. Wouldn’t do it again unless by a route hard enough to keep away the crowds.

Thanks guys. We just need advice on every thing but most of all what’s the best way of getting used to the altitude.

The Ecrins is a great place to learn the basics iff you want to avoid crowds. If MB is the main aim, acclimatise by working your way up, descending after going high then go back up – don’t go from valley to 3500-4000m in one go, never mind 4800m.

and go running before you go, decent fitness is essential and i’ve found bike fitness is quite different to ‘hill fitness’.

enjoy, i’ve always wanted to go up MB..