My mate has asked me whether I fancy a trip to the Alps in a couple of years to do a guided climb of Mont Blanc and Gran Paradiso (IIRC). The cost he's come up with seems reasonable (ish) but if I'm going to need a load of different kit it might make it a bit less viable. Can anyone tell me what I'm likely to need over and above my usual gear used for hill walking in the Lakes and Wales. I'm counting on the guides to provide harnessses, ropes etc etc.
I'm guessing I'll probably need a helmet as well, and 12pt crampons rather than 10, but other than these things is there anything else I'm likely to have to fork out on specifically?
Judging the people who I met who'd just done the Mont Blanc / Gran Paradiso thing Id say you'd need balls of molten rock and / or a death wish ! Good luck !
Judging the people who I met who'd just done the Mont Blanc / Gran Paradiso thing Id say you'd need balls of molten rock and / or a death wish ! Good luck !
Death wish I dont have. I guess I'll find out what the others are composed of!!
Your kit definitely sounds up to the job. When I'm in the Alps I'd wear/carry longsleeved baselayer with collar, a sunhat (essential), sunglasses (essential), shorts, softshell trousers, fleece/softshell, hardshell, belay jacket (down or synthetic depending on forecast), gloves, warm hat. B2 boots will be fine, as will G10s (I dragged my partner up some steep stuff this summer, and though he didn't appreciate it, his G10s did cope!) and a walking axe.
It's quite easy to think of the Alps as 'Scottish winter' and overload yourself with longjohns, emergency gear and loads of clothing. In reality, if the weather's crap you won't do that much big stuff, and it doesn't usually feel that cold. Your biggest concern will probably be staying cool on the walks in (might be 25 degrees with no breeze, or baking on a glacier) and still having enough kit for the -5 degrees morning temperatures. Practice packing light. Once you've got all your ropey/technical stuff on, your bag should be pretty much empty but for water, food,and a spare jacket.
Get yourself a helmet (not an all foam one), leave the goggles at home, train hard, and have an awesome trip. Prepare to run in the Grand Coloir too!
If you stick with your G10s but your guide doesn't approve, you should be able to hire 12 pointers in Chamonix (in fact, you could hire pretty much everything you need there, if you must.
