Mont Blanc lift, worth it?

Over at Chamonix on Thurs for next leg of trip.

We’ve been debating the lift to top of mont blanc, but wondering how worthwhile as it’s £180 for the 3 of us.

I’ve done plenty of lifts in recent Alps trips, the wife did skiing back in her youth but not for 25 years, our 9 year old has never been up a mountain.

I walked up it when I was 11
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Or was that somewhere else

There’s a lift up Mont Blanc?

Or are you talking about the lift up the Aiguille du Midi?

If that, go up then come back down to Plan Praz, get out and walk along the Grand Balcon to Montenvers for a view of what remains of the glacier, then take the cog railway down. It’s included in the price.

I’ve been up a couple of times but when it was included in a lift pass. It’s awesome up there but not sure I’d pay £60/head to do it.

The scenery is amazing if you go up in clear conditions. If you’re claustrophobic that could be a problem as they really pack you in.

It’s a lot of money though. The view from the top of Montenvers is still pretty good if that works out a lot cheaper?

The walk from Plan de l’Aiguille to Montenvers is really cool (and slightly downhill in that direction) but you need a fair amount of time to do it, you need to check train times or you’ll be walking down as well….

Having missed the last train down after taking too long coming back down the Mer de Glace, I can assure you it is a BLOODY LONG WAY DOWN back from Montenvers to Chamonix…

Rachel (the one with tired legs)

Brevant lift is another option – the walk back down to town down the VK course is fun* and there is a lot of easy walking up there.

Not so much up at the Midi station unless you’re planning on going climbing, or want to buy overly expensive food.

*Your legs may dislike me for it.

It’s to the top of the Aiguille du Midi, which is 1,000m lower than and several km away from the top of Mont Blanc.

It’s bloody impressive (much more impressive than a normal ski lift). IMO it’s worth the money IF you get a clear day with views from the top.

Apparently our hotel/spa is 1 min walk from lift, we’re only there for that afternoon/night and leaving again in the morning to head to Burgundy to collect wine and then to Troyes for a few days.
So it’s either the lift up or just relaxing etc but not sure what there is to do in Chamonix. Don’t want 2 hours or walking etc though in honesty.

If you’ve never done it and the wx forecast is clear then do it.

not sure what there is to do in Chamonix

Casino. You’ll need a tie.

There is also the other Casino, which is just a shop.

Lots to do in Chamonix, not sure why you’d go there not to do something active though. It’s an Alpine playground.

Save money elsewhere – do the return trip to Hellbronner on the Italian side. Spend an hour or so on the top of the midi. Go to the platform to see the views of Mt Blanc du Tacul and Mt Blanc – hopefully seeing some climbers emerge from the arête des cosmiques. Also go out of the tunnel to see the start of the other ridge down to the Vallee Blanche. But hold on to your 9 yr old!

The trip across is amazing – first for the Mt du Tacul face including the Gervassuti Couloir – yes people do ski it but Sylvie Saudan was first (Google). Then the Brenva face of Mt Blanc opens up. Its spectacular. Turn around and you have the crevasses of the seracs du geant to admire and the Grandes Jorasses.

It’s a mesmerising trip. Very expensive – but well worth it. It’s awesome.

+1 for balcon walk looking at the Aiguille Verte and the Drus afterwards. A day to treasure for ever.

I agree with all that ^

But, if you’re time or money constrained, at the very least, head to Planpraz on the other side of the valley, buy a Mont Blanc beer from the buvette there and look across the valley to the jaw dropping view…:-)

Thanks for all replies, we’ll do it

Lots to do in Chamonix, not sure why you’d go there not to do something active though. It’s an Alpine playground

Chamonix is a pass through to break up the driving back to UK from the Italian lakes, it’s 3 hours or so with a cracking view etc, then that means Fridays drive to Troyes is 4 hours instead of 7.

I’m aware of the Alps, I’ve done the morzine MTB thing 3 times, but this last 3 week trip has been about my wife, her Lamborghini drive, visiting Italy, the lakes and seeing Troyes too. I did my MTB trip in Andalusia earlier in the year.

For a proper laugh, go to the top of the Midi and try running up some stairs…

There is a great view of the swimming pool in Cham from the Midi and a great view of the Midi from the pool.

do the return trip to Hellbronner on the Italian side

+1 … if the weather is good then a trip across the Vallee Blanche via the ‘Panoramic’ cable car should be worthwhile. The Torino Refuge on the Italian side has recently been modernised with great views.

Spin – Member
For a proper laugh, go to the top of the Midi and try running up some stairs…

Even better, stay up there all day, then see what happens, brain swelling, sickness, nausea. It’s a lottery and you may get the golden ticket, all of the above AND pulmonary oedema.

If your coming back from Italy then get the skyway from near Courmayeur to the top of the Aiguille Du Midi it’s not cheap,78 Euros but if the weather’s clear the views are absolutely stunning.
http://www.montebianco.com/en/
We did the Tour Du Mont Blanc trek last month & I’m so glad we did the Skyway on a rest day.
If you’re just staying in Chamonix for a few hours the local Brasserie du Mont Blanc beer’s good.

‘Also go out of the tunnel to see the start of the other ridge down to the Vallee Blanche. But hold on to your 9 yr old!’

I concur. The one that fell off down to the Mer De Glace when I was there was my 21 y.o girlfriend. It’s a very long way down. My Alpine Technique was not up to scratch and I soon followed her down, buggeration. 600 feet later , quite a lot of blood (ooh you nasty crampons)and a fair amount of concussion we came to a halt.

So, top tip for you. Don’t leave the path!

Even better, stay up there all day, then see what happens, brain swelling, sickness, nausea. It’s a lottery and you may get the golden ticket, all of the above AND pulmonary oedema.

Chances of pulmonary oedema at that altitude are what? The worst I’ve suffered up there is shortness of breath (walking up the stairs to the dormitory in the Torino hut).

As slowoldman.

Chances of pulmonary oedema at that altitude are what? The worst I’ve suffered up there is shortness of breath (walking up the stairs to the dormitory in the Torino hut).

Pretty slim TBH, it was very much meant in jest.
Altho, I have witnessed PO symptoms in Euro alpine huts at high altitude (it’s not just a Himalaya thing), I think they are a very unfortunate minority tho. However, a fair number of people who go straight to altitude and stay there for hours, might probably experience headache and nausea to some degree, possibly afterwards back in the campsite/hotel. Completely random affliction tho, nothing to do with fitness, fatness etc. It was just a tease tho.

Tourist dropped dead in front of us in a cafe in cham ville, don’t think it was the soup.

Word was he had just come down from the Midi, true story.

Chances of pulmonary oedema at that altitude are what?

Top of the midi is just over 3800m so whilst not high enough to cause the likes of HAPE or HACE during a short visit/gondola ride, it is certainly high enough to cause headache and nausea etc as B.A.Nana said. I’ve seen it happen to a few fellow snowboarders & skiers before descending the ‘arete’ … but then the arete can cause a bit of bum-clenching anyway! 😉

How it affects you can be a bit of a lottery. Your susceptibility is likely to be genetic to a degree, but there is also some research that points to fitter endurance ‘athletes’ being at an initial disadvantage:

British Medical Journal

Digby – Member
Chances of pulmonary oedema at that altitude are what?
Top of the midi is just over 3800m so whilst not high enough to cause the likes of HAPE or HACE during a short visit/gondola ride, it is certainly high enough to cause headache and nausea etc as B.A.Nana said.

I didn’t realise it was that high tbh, the symptoms of PO that I witnessed was at 3600m at the Monchjoch hutte. So, 3800m is def high enough for the odd unfortunate, just a gondola tourist wouldn’t be there long enough for any serious symptoms, maybe a bit of wheezing 😉 .

We saw an elderly tourist couple shivering in the Ptarmigan restaurant after coming up in the train; he was blue around the lips and both were frozen, having come up in street clothes. If you’re challenged in the CV department even 3600 feet is high.

Weeksy it is a fabulous experience however the queues can (will) be long and it is not cheap. I have done it only once for that reason. As above go up the Brevent side and enjoy the panoramic view, small restaurant there for a bite / drink.

Have you got your wines ordered ? Are you going to Nuits-St-Georges ? If so try and buy some simple red in Phillipe Gavignet (in a back street on a corner), can make other recommendations depending on where you are going. Look for Recoltant or Vignerons-Independent – smaller prodicers selling direct

Hey Jamb, very close to that, a small Cave just outside Couches 50km away from there, known to us for several years and we have friends nearby for lunch. I don’t do wine, but the wife and all people we know who do, assure me it’s top drawer. It’s little more than a glorified shed in some ways but locals turning up to fill massive containers with red stuff then putting in their Panda. Even the 1er Cru is cheap apparently, but the £3 a bottle stuff is great she tells me.

Cool, if you message me the details – we visit every year to stock up and new recommendations always warmly received !

View from Brevent, Pic Vert is my favourite mountain, Mont B peak is often covered in cloud

Note went to top for drink/lunch then descend halfway and walk down the path from the Parapent field 2+ hours

I saw a guy get knocked out by a leg-sized icicle that fell on him at Montenvers. “Out cold” was an understatement.

He came round after a couple of minutes but had a reasonable head wound and a very sore head.

Be careful out there…

Footwear then, let’s assume we want to do this walk thing, I’ve got 5 10’s and the wife has plimsoles at best. Not viable?

Footwear then, let’s assume we want to do this walk thing, I’ve got 5 10’s and the wife has plimsoles at best. Not viable?

Plimsoles not really suitable – Something with a bit more support. It’s not technical but ankle/arch support is useful as is a grippy/’technical’ sole

This is the ‘Dent du Geant’ or ‘Giant’s Tooth’ which is one of the prominent landmarks in the area – visible from the top of the Midi (looking out to the Periades) and from the Italian side of the ‘Massif’

Mont Blanc Tramway to Glacier cave is another good one esp for kids. Mountain railway is always something a bit different. Most things in Chamonix are fairly fully priced especially compared to PdS

Weeksy you won’t see any Japanese tourists with 510’s 🙂 The very definition of fully kitted up

Went up there years ago on a lift pass whilst snowboarding. Nice view but don’t remember it being that special, certainly wouldn’t pay £60 personally although if your kid has never seen anything like that before & you can afford it, go for it.

If you think it’s expensive, yes, go up the Brevent instead. The views across to the Mont Blanc massif are absolutely breathtaking and you can walk around a bit at the top.

Reading online I’m wondering if we’ll actually get on one that day. We’re not going to arrive until 1pm and it seems people can queue for hours earlier and it’s simply all full.
We could possibly do early doors on Friday instead which may be easier. Or as stated, one of the lifts in other side of the valley like plan praz/brevent.

Plimsoles are overkill for the cosmiques arete, i would do it in sandals.

If it is a bit nippy put on an extra jumper, it has got expensive though, we used to justify it by going up to the valley blanche for a few days, get a big route in like the Super couloir feels worth it then.

Or going up to ski the valley Blanche, probs youre monies worth but to gawp at the view? not so sure, specialy being that everything is so dry at the mo.

We did it last year, 5 of us, it was expensive but the views from the top were amazing we had perfect weather for it though.
Glad we did it as our older 2 kids (17 & 19) might not want to come with us on holiday anymore.
As others have said they do pack you in on the lifts and there was a fair bit of hanging about waiting to get back down.

Would getting the montenvers train be easier and a good afternoon then?