Who is it for?

People who are in good overall physical shape and have good experience of mountain walking on all types of terrain. Previous experience of walking with crampons on a roped glacier is desirable. You must know how to tie a rope knot and put on your crampons alone.

Number of seats

6 people.

Equipment to bring (in addition to the equipment for the night in the tent)

Hat, sunglasses, ski mask, sun cream, first layer such as a technical tee shirt, fleece, down jacket, gore tex type windproof jacket, two pairs of gloves (one thin + one thick). Alpine type trousers. Ski socks. 30 liter mountain backpack. 1 liter water bottle or thermos. Semi-automatic cramponable mountain boots. Gaiters.

Safety equipment provided by Petzl

Helmet, harness, walking ice axe, crampons, sling, rope, ice pin, screw carabiners, single rope

How the activity is carried out

Meet with the guide and briefing the day before. Leave camp at 6h towards Pointe Helbronner crossing the Vallée Blanche.

Apprenticeships

Mastering the evolution on a glacier. What equipment to take. Techniques for roping up on a glacier. Use of crampons and ice axe. Reading and analysing the terrain. Crevasse rescue: pulley system and getting out of a crevasse.

Duration and timetable

Departure at 06:00 am, return to the bivouac by 11:30 amDeparture at 6am, return by 11.30am to the Aiguille du Midi via the Panoramic Mont-Blanc.