Mont Blanc Ascent

28 Reviews

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  Anonymous
  Written on October 3, 2013

  4.0 - Good

  For a 65 year old like myself it was tough and fully desrving of its E category. It made trekking to Everest Base camp feel like a walk in the park.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Summitting Mont Blanc on what the guides told us was the best day of the season weather wise. We could even se Lake Geneva.What did you think of your group leader?Our leader over the first 3 days trained us in the use of ice axes, crampons etc but made no concessions for my age and told me he thought I wouldn't make the summit. On the actual ascent our new guide was excellent and said if I was determined to do it and took it slowly I had a chance of doing it. He was a gem.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?It really justifies its E grading. If you are younger and fit it shouldn't be a problem. If you are older be aware of what you are taking on.Is there anything else you would like to add?Why do people run marathons? Why do people row single handed acroos the Atalntic etc. They all want to challenge themselves and Mont Blanc is a real challenge.
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  Anonymous
  Written on August 1, 2013

  3.0 - Average

  Excellent holiday spoilt by travel to and from Switzerland and lack of assistance from Exodus with Swiss Air problems.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?All the time spent in the mountains with a great group of likeminded fellow travellers and the excellent guides was fantastic. A good introduction to alpinism. The best conditions possible for the summit were a real bonus. The following day no one was going up to the summit as the cloud was down and the wind was up. Luckily we were heading down for the best shower in the world and a nice cold beer.What did you think of your group leader?A real alpinist who lives and breathes for the mountains.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Don't fly with Swiss Air.Is there anything else you would like to add?The outward flight was cancelled and no help was forthcomming from Exodus. I eventually got to Geneva via Zurich several hours or more late. On the return journey after boarding the plane I was told I would have to get off as I didn't have a reservation. How odd after Swiss Air had given me a boarding card and checked my baggage onto the flight. After 10 minutes of discussion I was allowed to stay on the plane and return home.
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  Anonymous
  Written on July 2, 2013

  5.0 - Excellent

  A fabulous holiday. Excellent guides and superb weather. The guides were professional, supportive and extremely helpful. I owe my reaching the summit to Bernard. He was so patient with me when I couldn't find the energy to carry on. The holiday exceeded expectations indeed. A fantastic holiday highly recommended. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Reachign the summitWhat did you think of your group leader?Bernard was a fantastic leader. I really enjoyed the climb walking with himDo you have any advice for potential travellers?Make sure you take ear plugs. The dormitories are shared and there are some high volume snorers!!!!Is there anything else you would like to add?A fabulous trip that is highly recommended. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
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  Anonymous
  Written on January 21, 2013

  1.0 - Bad

  Massive disappoint is the best way to sum up this trip. In selecting Exodus ahead of other companies I thought I’d made a wise choice, little did I realise what awaited me in Chamonix! Put simply there was a woeful lack of organisation. The worst example of this was the failure to secure places in the Gouter refuge ahead of the group’s summit attempt. I consider myself to be pretty fit but to do Gouter route without being able to stop at the Gouter refuge was beyond me. What made me very annoyed is that like everyone else in the group I’d booked the trip months in advance thereby granting ample time to secure the necessary accommodation.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?The climb from the Albert Premier to the Trient refuge.What did you think of your group leader?The guide provided to us was astonishingly unsuited to the role of leading a group of novice climbers. Indeed it would not be an exaggeration to state that he considered us to be little more than an inconvenience to be tolerated. Of his numerous short comings the most serious was his failure to provide the sort of snow and ice climbing training required to climb Mont Blanc safely. Incredibly he even refused to show the group how to use their ice axes when asked directly.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?During the summit attempt you will be moving over steep ground so bear in mind that if you get the same guide our group did there is a possibility that you will be doing so without having received training in how to use your ice axe and crampons. I therefore recommend that you get some snow and ice climbing experience before you book this trip.Is there anything else you would like to add?It’s not worth paying the single room supplement as Exodus’ partners in Chamonix don’t necessarily provide you with a single room.
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  Anonymous
  Written on January 21, 2013

  1.0 - Bad

  Massive disappoint is the best way to sum up this trip. In selecting Exodus ahead of other companies I thought I
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  Anonymous
  Written on January 3, 2013

  4.0 - Good

  My Mont Blanc Trip was an excellent mountaineering experience. The skills that we learned on the training climb, through to the experience of climbing Mont Blanc du Tacul (Mont Blanc was outwith our reach owing to rockfall) were simply amazing.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?The most inspirational moment of my trip was standing on the top of Mont Blanc du Tacul, with the summit of Mont Blanc and Mont Mauduit to one side and a full panoramic view of the Swiss Alps on the other.What did you think of your group leader?Our group leader, Bernard, was excellent. He kept us safe, and every decision that he made was made with the utmost care and thorough evaluation of all the options. Simply put, he was fantastic. Do you have any advice for potential travellers?I think that travellers should make sure that they have a basic level of winter mountaineering experience before attempting this climb. If you are learning how to use an ice axe and crampons for the first time then this is not the place for you. Go prepared and you will have a great time! Is there anything else you would like to add?A great all round experience with a great guide, well worth the money! Sadly the summit wasn't meant to be for us, but I will be back :)
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  Anonymous
  Written on October 11, 2012

  5.0 - Excellent

  An amazing if challenging experience. A fun group, a brilliant guide and fantastic weather all week meant, luckily for us, the summit was on offer and we took it. Standing on the roof of Western Europe looking down on three countries made all the effort worthwile. The three day aclimatization at the start of the trip was perfect to learn the skills needed for Mt Blanc and to cope well with the altitude. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Standing at the foot of the Dome de Goutier at 0400 on the summit day. Looking up at the ribbon of head lamp lights snaking their way high up the Dome against the crystal clear jet black night sky and the glare of the Domes snow walls. It was a sight you just dont see unless high on a mountain at night. Magical! What did you think of your group leader?One of the most inspirational and talented people I have ever met. Pushed us hard and gave us an amazing experience with lots of new skills being taught and learnt right from the start of the trip. Always felt safe with Herve despite ending up in situations and challenges that I am still telling people about today with a big smile on my face. He pushed our boundaries of what we thought we could do without ever compromising our safety and I am so grateful for the memories. Constantly cheery, endlessly knowledgeable after many years teaching people in the high mountains.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Quite simply, the fitter you are the more you will enjoy the trip and the greater your chances of success if the weather is good. Travel as light as possible up the mountains as every extra KG on your back has to be carried a long steep way. Leave all non essentials at the hotel. Make sure you have done some training carrying a rucksack with some weight in it as it will be attached to your back for days on end on some challenging terrain. Have a head for heights as some of the routes are narrow ledges high up. Enjoy it its an amazing week from start to finish.    
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  Anonymous
  Written on October 1, 2012

  5.0 - Excellent

  This was an amazing trip. The friendships, the teamwork, the mountain scenery, the sense of achievement on reaching the summit. Absolutely amazing.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? The most inspirational moment was summit day, and reaching the top of Mont Blanc. But each day was memorable for different reasons and it would have been an unforgettable holiday even if we hadn’t reached the summit. What did you think of your group leader?Our leader, Herve, was fantastic. He was inspirational in every way. Fun, friendly and helpful. But also demanding and keen to push us and help us achieve more than we thought we were capable of achieving.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Just do it. Book it now. You won’t regret it.
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  Anonymous
  Written on September 23, 2012

  5.0 - Excellent

  A truely amazing adventure. The training and preparation was great in itself and had I not summited Mont Blanc I would still have had a fantastic time.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Our Guides and there amazing lifestyles, sunbathing on top of Tete Blanche surounded by snow capped peaks and just chatting with fellow climbers in the huts.What did you think of your group leader?Herve` our guide was just brilliant, he's lust for life came out of every pore of his skin. In his company you felt anything was possible. He went out of his way to give you a different perspective on the training for Mont Blanc.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Go for it, when you come home you are on such a high. You find yourself when your back still day dreaming and smiling to your self about the experience even if it is just about the snoring in the huts.Is there anything else you would like to add?Keep up the good work Exodus the more people doing this sort of trip can only be a good thing.
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  Anonymous
  Written on September 2, 2012

  5.0 - Excellent

  A rewarding, fun and successful adventure. When we stood atop Mt Blanc, with the whole of France below us (and what seemed like the whole of Europe) I was truly proud. A certain toughness and fitness is required, but as I am 47 years old and my walking partner was in her 20's it shows anyone can achieve this, if reasonably fit.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Although we had perfect weather for the ascent, the weather just before was not good. The guides asked if we were prepared to do 3 days walking in just 2 days if the weather cleared. Immediately everyone in my group said 'yes'. I knew then that we were the sort of team that would get to the summit if we possibly could.What did you think of your group leader?Excellent chap! Friendly, safe and pushed us when we needed it.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Fitness is important. Things can change and extra reserves may need to be found. The best advice is running and cycling, and if you can, some long practice walks. As a rough measure, I would say being able to run 10miles (speed isn't important) means that you are at the right level.Is there anything else you would like to add?I really enjoyed the week. The group were mixed, interesting and friendly. We had all made an effort to get fit, meaning a weaker member wouldn't let another person down.