Finely to the top of White Mountain
The trip has taken place. Check out upcoming mountain trips HERE.
Next summer, Kaspar, Allan and Kristen plan to climb quite a few peaks in the Alps, and how could this goal be complete without climbing the birthplace of alpinism and the highest peak in Western Europe, Mont Blanc (4810 m). Good things are always worth sharing, so we are taking a few more friends who have expressed their desire to the top with us. We will climb Mont Blanc along the well-known Gouter trail, which has good infrastructure and idyllic views. In addition, to reach the top, we have to cross the exciting Bosses ridge. We start exploring the mountains via ferrata, with the trail and for acclimatization we plan to climb Bishorn (4153 m). All overnight stays will be in huts and we will spend our days off in the mountaineering cult city of Chamonix.
Overview - short & sweet
Goal: Mont Blanc (Gouter Trail)
Dates: 6.-16.07.2022
Activity: mountain climbing/hiking
Adventure guides: Kaspar Kirss, Allan Tobi, Kristen Tamm
Technical difficulty level: 2/5 (suitable for beginners)
Physical difficulty: 3/5 (moderate effort)
Group size: 12
Early bird ticket (until 31.03.2022) — €1490
Less dizzy chicken (from 01.04.2022) — 1640€
Please note: For community members discount of -5% applies
(I.e. If the trip is canceled due to circumstances caused by the pandemic, we will refund the advance payment in full!
View of the Mont Blanc mountain range
Travel cost
Price includes
Luxury minibus VW Crafter 2017 with trailer
Fuel, customs and road taxes, parking fees
All overnight stays (hotels, cabins)
Breakfast and dinner in huts; breakfast in hotels
Mont Blanc Tramway tickets
Group special equipment
Stylish Elamus+ designed sports shirt
Video and image material
Health assessment and pulse oximeter for the group
Group pharmacy (i.e. “tougher” high altitude medications)
Travel arrangements
With track experience and training Elamus+ group leaders (3)
Price does not include
Insurance (travel insurance and MANDATORY sports insurance suitable for mountain hiking)
Personal hiking and special equipment
Drinks and snacks (i.e. lunch) on the mountain and lunches and dinners off the mountain
Personal hygiene products and medications
Unscheduled excursions, transportation, etc. (or if you want to do something extra)
Registration for the trip
Before registering, please read travel conditions. To secure your place on the trip, a deposit (20%) must be paid within 3 business days of receiving the confirmation and invoice by email; if there are less than 30 days left until the trip, the total cost (100%) must be paid. Read more: frequently asked questions ja package tour information sheet.
[The trip has taken place. Registration closed.]
Schedule and activities
Day 1 - Let's go!
We take off from Tallinn in super luxury by rental bus Towards the Alps. In addition, we will attach a trailer to the back of the bus to make being on the bus as comfortable as possible. Basically, you can take all your party dresses with you and no one will complain that there is not enough space. Premium stuff! We will talk, have fun and feel good. We will set off to the Alps in one go, so the first night will be spent on the bus.
Day 2 - We arrive in the alpine wonderland
We admire the increasingly mountainous nature from the bus window and by the evening of the second day we reach the Alps, in the mountain town of Saas-Fee, where we spend the night in a decent hotel and rest up. In the evening we eat, pack up our equipment and prepare ourselves for the next day. My Action!Ready for it.
Day 3 - We're rock climbing
In the morning we throw our mountain equipment on the bus and take the gondola up to explore the mountains. via ferrata, on the track. Via ferratad are rock climbing trails equipped with ropes and, if necessary, iron ladders, so you don't necessarily have to be a rock climber to get there; you will still need climbing equipment. During this, we will also reach the first small peak, Mittaghorn (3142 m). We will climb the rocks, hike back to the bus and drive to the next hotel to rest.
Day 4 - First night in the hut
Light acclimatization from the previous day, we go higher and higher. Breakfast, we pack up and start moving towards the first peak. After about 7 hours of hiking, we reach the Cabane de Tracuit hut, where we eat, spend the night and prepare for the next day. If possible, we also do a quick training/refresher on self-arrest techniques and going to the ropes course.
Day 5 - Bishorn (4153 m)
We wake up early, have breakfast in the hut and start heading towards the summit. Bishorn is rated as a relatively easy mountain, but despite this, majestic views of the Alps await us. At the beginning of the day we cross the glacier and move to the saddle, along which we quietly climb towards the summit. The entire road is snowy, even icy in the morning, and probably soft on the way back down. At the summit we do the obligatory SelfieWe head back down. This time, completely down! After a tiring day, we head towards Chamonix. We settle into the hotel and enjoy a well-deserved rest.
Day 6 - Chamonix, the cult city of mountaineering
Acclimatized, we pack our bags in the morning and head to Chamonix, where a top-notch hotel awaits us right in the city center. Now we're resting! If you want, you can explore the local hiking shops, the fun, and everything else Chamonix has to offer (including views of our next peak). Basically, a free plan. The main thing is to rest your body and mind!
Day 7 - On the way to the white mountain
We start early from the hotel by bus to La Fayet, from where we can take an interesting train ride to the starting point of the trail, Nid d'Aigle (2400 m). From there it is about a six-hour hike to the Gouteri hut. On the way, in addition to the wonderful views, we see the Tete Rousse hut and pass through a dangerous couloir, where rocks fall from time to time. This is definitely the most strenuous section of the entire event. We quickly and as safely as possible pass a section of about 50 meters and start climbing along the rocks towards the hut. When we arrive, we catch our breath, find our places, have dinner and try to get some sleep, because we have a long summit day ahead.
Day 8 - Summit day!
We start at around 03.00:6 in the dark, with headlamps, all our gear on and roped in. The day is going to be tough! It is expected to take around 8-6 hours to reach the summit, and around XNUMX hours to descend. The whole time we are moving on snow, which is rather icy at night; when we come down it will probably already be in a slush formation (depending on the weather). We cross a few ridges and when we reach the first plateau, the mighty Mont Blanc reveals itself to us. A slight sense of anguish may creep into our breath that there is still so much to go, but we press on. Before the summit we have to cross the Bosses ridge, which is a cool experience. There is a long way down in both directions and stumbling here is categorically forbidden. After that, the summit is already within reach and finally… finally we reach the top of the Alps! Oh the euphoria and emotion - done!
At the top, we take in the surrounding beauty, take in Instagram photos, and despite our fatigue, we try to grasp the fact that we are at the highest point in Western Europe. Once in a lifetime With pictures in memory and on the phone, we begin the descent. Reaching the summit is only half the battle; the most important thing is to take those memories back home with you.
We retrace our steps back, which fortunately is a little easier thanks to gravity. If we have time, we make a recovery stop at the Gouteri hut, a quick Coke and a snack. After that, we retrace the rock climbing part (including the couloir) and take the tram back down to reach the hotel, wash up and refresh our tired bodies. The stronger ones might even manage to go out to the mayor's office.
Day 9 - Spare day/climbing/party
This is a backup day in case the weather doesn't allow us to summit on the correct day. This means that using the backup day will push the summit day and everything that follows forward by one day (does not affect the return time).
However, we are expected to reach the summit within the planned schedule and will not need to use the spare day. In this case, those who wish can enjoy the city or try climbing the nearby Mur d'escalade des Gaillands rock wall. In the evening, there will be a party and a beer garden!
Day 10-11 - Homeward bound
In the morning, we still have a chance to buy the last souvenirs and then the journey back to Estonia begins. On the bus, we can share our impressions and travel pictures from the last week so that the most awesome social media posts can be made on time. Depending on the pee breaks, we will return home the next day.
NB! There may be minor changes to the schedule and planned activities - for example, due to weather and conditions or passenger requests.
Don't worry, let's do it!
My altitude record is Munamägi. Can I still do it?!
Yes, you can. Going straight to the highest peak in the Alps may seem daunting at first glance, but it's not that bad at all - especially if you have a good hiking guide at your disposal. A little practice and a few training sessions.
But I don't have any hiking gear, who can afford to buy it?
You'll still have to spend a little, but not much. Hiking and climbing equipment can be rented at a very reasonable price and, of course, borrowed from friends. In addition, you can use any kind of clothing you have - for example, a ski jacket is also very good for the mountain. The more resourceful can manage with almost no additional expenses.
Will I survive?
It's an extreme sport/hobby, but you shouldn't be too afraid here. Of course, there are certain dangers in the mountains and you have to take that into account, but at the same time, you could get hit by a bus walking across the street tomorrow. The most important thing for the group leader is to ensure the safety of the participants - to do this, we learn and use correct mountaineering techniques and turn around if the weather gets too bad. The point is still to have an enjoyable experience and not let this mountain go away. ;)
Okay, I registered. Now what?
Well, theoretically you could just vanish into thin air and show up on the bus, but then you risk discovering on the spot “oops, I have the wrong cats and what is this middleman node?”. It can happen, but a warm recommendation is to participate in preparatory events - it's part of the fun. We organize preparatory hiking trainings, give advice on suitable insurance and equipment, where to rent cheaply, what to train for, etc. We will definitely check the collected equipment just before the start of the trip and send reminders about important things.
Read more also frequently asked questions.
Travel documents, Covid and footnote information
The participant is responsible for the validity and orderliness of travel documents. This trip requires ID card/passport, sports insurance suitable for mountain hiking (read more on the FAQ page) and also travel insuranceA suitable sports insurance policy must be carried and is a prerequisite for participating in the mountain hike.
At least one month before the trip, we will make a decision whether the trip is possible under Covid-19 conditions. If the trip is canceled due to circumstances caused by the pandemic that make the trip impossible (e.g. closing of national borders), we will refund the advance payment in full.
Plan your trip early and start training for it. We will organize several trial trips, training sessions and recommend training plans beforehand. It would be a shame if the peak was only behind the physique. Also a good opportunity to get in shape. ;)
Summits are not guaranteed. As you might expect, weather is king in the mountains. So it is entirely possible that weather or dangerous conditions will prevent us from even attempting the summit. Nevertheless, it will definitely be an awesome experience!
Although at the end of the day everyone is still responsible for their own actions and consequences, we do our best to mitigate the risks associated with mountaineering. As a result, the group leader has the right to make ongoing decisions about the competence of the participants, the suitability of their equipment, physical/mental capacity, etc. and, if necessary, for example, to prohibit participation on summit day if it endangers the health of the group or the participant themselves. Hopefully, of course, there will be no need for this.
Read more also travel conditions.
