UKC

Rockfax Description
III, 15km there and back, 1 day. A wonderful journey through some huge mountain scenery. There is minimal technical difficulty but you need to be confident front pointing when tackling the short crux section below the Col du Mont Maudit. The main challenge is keeping going at altitude and moving fast enough to have plenty of time for the descent.

1) From the Refuge des Cosmiques, cross the Col du Midi plateau and climb the Mont Blanc du Tacul North Face (p.327). The route varies from year to year, often from month to month, but the line usually goes roughly from the bottom left of the face to the top right, reaching the northwest shoulder of Mont Blanc du Tacul in roughly 2 to 3 hours from the hut.
2) From the shoulder, continue towards the North Face of Mont Maudit, descending slightly before beginning to move up again beneath some seracs on the left of the face. The line taken varies depending on conditions, but the route is usually bottom left to top right once again. Just below the Col du Mont Maudit is the crux step, which is roughly 40m of 45 degree snow. There is often a fixed line attached to an anchor at the top of the step, and an intermediate anchor half way up the slope; both can be used as belays.
3) Having negotiated the crux step, traverse southwards to the Col de la Brenva. The climb from here to the top of Mont Blanc is longer than it looks, and not as enjoyable as the Bosses Ridge on the Goûter Route. However, the scenery makes up for any tedium in the climbing and the route finding is nonexistent (in good weather). Pass to the left of the Mur de la Côte rock step and then climb the snow slope above. Generally the terrain is low-angled (roughly 20 to 30 degrees) and straightforward.
4) The summit arrives suddenly and, after the long snow slope below, it is very welcome. The average ascent time is 5 to 7 hours from hut to summit. © Rockfax

UKC Logbook Description
Gaining in popularity over the Gouter Ridge route for ascending Mont Blanc.

From the Cosmiques Hut up the normal route to the shoulder of Mont Blanc du Tacul, cross the Col Maudit and up the steep snow slope to the Col du Mt. Maudit (helmet!). Go up the NW Ridge towards the summit of Mont Maudit and descend the SW Ridge. Up the slopes of Mur de la Cote and to the summit. 5-7 hours to the summit. Descend via same route or traverse Mont Blanc via the Gouter Route.

R.Head and J Grange, A Orset and J Perrod 13/Aug/1863.

Ticklists

Batoux's 100 finest routes in the Mont Blanc massif , ROCKFAX Chamonix: Top 50 , Alpine Progression , Chamonix 2023 , BMC - Easier Classics in the Mont Blanc Range , Emma and Will go the the Alps , Cham Sep 24

Feedback

User Date Notes
FreeloaderJoe 14 Sep, 2019 Show βeta
βeta: Stunning still, calm conditions, lots of quite soft snow about which made going slow, but otherwise brilliant. Many groups seemed to be moving very very slowly and turned back before Col de Brenva. 6.5 hours from Cosmiques Hut to Summit. Definitely carry two axes, more than a single ice screw and a few extenders at the moment; the Maudit Step is far longer than 40m and felt menacing in the dark!
Show beta
βeta: Stunning still, calm conditions, lots of quite soft snow about which made going slow, but otherwise brilliant. Many groups seemed to be moving very very slowly and turned back before Col de Brenva. 6.5 hours from Cosmiques Hut to Summit. Definitely carry two axes, more than a single ice screw and a few extenders at the moment; the Maudit Step is far longer than 40m and felt menacing in the dark!
Geras 22 Jul, 2019 Show βeta
βeta: Maudit step was 55 to 60 degrees and ice, belayed up and absailed down. There are fixed ropes, but the newest rope is rather thin so may not provide sufient Brakeing with all belay devices. Also 3 absails were required to reach below the bergshrund, with the middle section from the rock being longer than 30m.
Show beta
βeta: Maudit step was 55 to 60 degrees and ice, belayed up and absailed down. There are fixed ropes, but the newest rope is rather thin so may not provide sufient Brakeing with all belay devices. Also 3 absails were required to reach below the bergshrund, with the middle section from the rock being longer than 30m.
alex.serban 26 Jun, 2017 Show βeta
βeta: A nice traverse of MB. The crux on both Maudit and Tacul weren't in very good condition. rotten ice and fresh snow. Got caught in a storm just below the summit and we're forced to spend the night at Vallot before continuing to Gouter the next day in high wind and wideout.
βeta?
Show beta
βeta: A nice traverse of MB. The crux on both Maudit and Tacul weren't in very good condition. rotten ice and fresh snow. Got caught in a storm just below the summit and we're forced to spend the night at Vallot before continuing to Gouter the next day in high wind and wideout.

Logged Ascents

341 users have logged this

Guidebooks for Mont Blanc

Not all climbs appear in all guidebooks 152 users have this on their wishlist

Please Login to view more details on the logged ascents

Voting
High AD-
Mid AD-
Low AD-
High PD+
Mid PD+
Low PD+
High PD
Mid PD
Low PD
Votes cast 32
Votes cast 32
Style of Ascent
Alt Leads
Lead
Soloed
Followed
Bouldered
Not Set
Onsighted
DNF
Repeated
Flashed (β)
Ground Up
Not Set
Route of Interest
Traversée des Crochues

Grade: PD+ 4a ***
(Aiguilles Rouges)

Loading Notifications...