Climbing Aiguille Verte, Grands Montets ridge

The ascent of Aiguille Verte (4122m) through the Grands Montets ridge is my favorite mountaineering course in the Mont Blanc range. Join me for 2 days of exhilarating fun, including a night in a bivouac, in one of the most beautiful spots above Chamonix.

Gaston Rebuffat, a famous mountaineer, who has inspired me a lot throughout my mountain guiding life, once said “Before climbing Aiguille Verte we are alpinist, after that, we become a mountaineer…”. This sentence has been in my head for many years now and most probably influenced my passion for this mountain which I find so aesthetical: a perfect pyramid, slightly isolated in the range, a great symbol for many people who like mountaineering…

The ascent is not that complicated but it is very complete. There are some parts with rocks (grade 5) and mix climbing (rocks, snow and ice): 900 meters in a slope going up to 55°, in a very wild atmosphere.

All the faces are very different but they all have something in common: aestheticism. 90% of the people climb Aiguille Verte through the Wymper couloir staying the night before the ascent at the Couvercle mountain hut.

I particularly enjoy climbing Aiguille Verte through the Grands Montets Ridge, in 2 days, sleeping in a bivouac, on the ridge or the summit. This experience will for sure bring you amazing memories! This route is a little bit more technical: grade 5, 5+ with mountaineering shoes.

The arrival at the summit provides you with an extraordinary feeling, with very often an incredible light, if you reach it when the sun rises… Being up there allows you to live a unique time in your life and to see most probably one of the best mountain views, with the Mont Blanc in the back.

This fantastic ascent can be done between June and September. I will take only one client with me. We will leave from Argentière using the cable car of Les Grands Montets which will bring us at 3295 meters high.

In order for us to get to know each other and maximize our chances to arrive on top, I recommend that we spend one or several days before the ascent to get prepared and acclimatized. There are of course several options. Here are some where I like bringing my friends and clients: the North Face of Tour Ronde, the Gervasuti couloir, le Triangle du Tacul, the Midi Plan traverse, etc.

Great time to spend together during this ascent and its preparation! Please get in touch with me and let’s discuss about it. We will choose the route based on your wishes and your technical level, while taking into account the snow and ice conditions of course.

if you want, I can guide you on other mountains of the Mont Banc Range. Here are some I particularly like: the Kuffner ridge, le Grand Capucin… La Verte remaining my favorite one.