Mont Blanc Solo Ascent Sep 2017 

Good for you James for getting to the top. I'm all in favour of people doing this unguided but as an IFMGA guide working regularly on Mont Blanc I should correct a couple of things just in case other people get themselves into trouble. Firstly and most importantly, most people cannot climb Mont Blanc unacclimatised without getting seriously ill. You obviously acclimatise very quickly, but you are in a 25% minority in being able to do that; I couldn't do what you did and I've climbed Mont Blanc 100+ times. I have assisted in too many rescues of people with cerebral oedema trying to do this, who would have died had they not been evacuated. Two nights over 2500m with a big 3500m+ peak in between is an absolute minimum for 75% of people, if you don't absolutely know from past experience you're one of the 25%, for goodness sake don't try it. You will probably always do well at altitude James, but most people (including me) absolutely must acclimatise properly. Secondly, to anyone else thinking of doing this, it is not crazy or stupid to climb Mont Blanc unguided, however there actually are crevasses, if bad weather comes in and you can't navigate you're in big trouble, and for most of the ascent if you trip over your crampons you will likely fall off and kill yourself. None of these things are rocket science: reading a map just takes a bit of practice and with experience you just don't trip over your crampons, but head off up there without being competent in these things first and you are taking a big risk. Learn the skills or get a guide, just don't do neither. I am really not trying to preach, everyone can do what they like on Mont Blanc as far as I'm concerned and by all means do it unguided, just make sure you are fully aware of the risks involved. This is not meant as any sort of judgement on your ascent James, it's just some of the comments sounded like people were not fully aware of what's involved. John Taylor IFMGA.

I was there in 2017, August through September. September was a crazy weather pattern, each day looking up at the Gouter hut from our chalet was insane in how quickly everything changed turning into Fall/wintery conditions. It was also my favorite time while in the area, in the weather breaks, being all alone wherever I went was awesome, I love the offseason and it shuts down in that area so quickly, no tourists and it just seems to go full ghost town in a matter of a week, or two. Great job on your success.

Truly epic James 🙌🙌🏔️ ATB Simon 🤠👍

Nice one! Wasn't aware that the climb to the Gouter hut is nearly a ferrata. Thanks for sharing!

You made it look easy... well done!

Hello James, what a wonderful video. I am considering about walking the Mont Blanc. I've been going through a lot of videos of it and your video is by far the best I've seen ( and I have seen a lot of them ). It's great knowing what I could expect and what a wonderful view. Glad I came across your video. 😆

Have you descent the same gouter route?

Hi James,great effort.can you please tell me where you started the walk from and did you cross the grand couloir?

Good job James!

Nice Movie , and Mont Blanc is my Dream

James Iv booked my trip its end of September, what sort of training did you do before you went ?

Hi James, which route did you take up the the Gouter Hut? I didn't see the Grand Couloir and didn't recognise the ladder. Cheers, Craig

I saw that you wrote "Gouter hut closes at the end of September." Does that mean it is too late to do this hike in mid October? I saw a cheap flight to Paris from the USA for mid October, so that is the ticket I booked. It was after I booked a ticket that I thought maybe I should go hike Mont Blanc. I've hiked up mountains with snow in the USA and I have the needed snow gear.

Well done and great blog !

Man, it's been couple of days now for me thinking about conquering Mont Blanc, for which I've been looking for a nice video showing how the trail really is and trust me, your video shows it best. All others ascents contain too many comments or other unnecessary cuts. Your video is straight, showing how it really is out there, without bullshitting. Big up for that and well done, my friend!

Love the opening footage, James - fantastic intro! Congratulations on the climb. When exactly did you go? There didn't seem to be too many other climbers around. I'm thinking of a late September /early October attempt...

Just the thought of climbing it for adventure came up & I've never done climbing or mountaineering (total noob). The only thing I would need is to follow the Gouter route (which I've already googled: www.hikingproject.com/trail/7035855/mt-blanc-gouter-route) and be properly equipped. Is there any alternative for the Gouter Hut? Could I just tent camp near Tete Rousse & go all the way up & down instead of camping near the Gouter hut (which is prohibited I believe). Or could I still camp near the Gouter Hut & choose some spot in the mountain a bit higher or lower of the Gouter hut( I mean who cares & what are they going to do about it). What kind of caming equipment & clothing do I need ( never camped before in my life)? Looking forward to your answer James!

Going back for my third time on the mountain and noted you had to go left of the train track and come out near the toilet and hut which last year was locked. Never fancied that route but would of walked the lines to the Nid. 😎. It is an epic walk and with the scramble to the gouter before the final push after the ridge. I’m thinking of going solo next year just for the hell of it 😆🥶

Great video clip looking in from Ireland 🇮🇪 . How long it take you ?

And what is Western Europe's first highest mountain?

brilliant video, glad i came across it👍

Hi james First congragulation for this climbing i just want to aks you what list of equipment should i have also from where i can get specified map for the route

Amazing man, inspiration for me. Thank you!

One question, weren't you afraid of crevasses or weren't there any on your route? I imagine being alone on a with crevasse filled mountain is not what one would desire.

you say, that the Mont Blanc is the 'western Europe's second highest mountain.' What's the highest in west europe?

@ 8'05" ... for all that money nobody ever cleans up that place?

Did you see any crevasses when you went up I’m planning to do a solo climb soon just worried about falling down a hole

Sorry ..but second highest mountain in WESTERN Europe ? It´s the highest . TheElbrus is in Asia or eastern Europe , if you will .

Yo he subido solo 3 veces al M.B., ( siempre acompañado ),,,pero no cabe duda que subir solo ,sobre todo sin Alpinistas cerca,,,,cualquier percance,,bajada de temperaturas ,indisposición ,caída en grieta ,etc,puede suponer,quedarte ahi para siempre,,,,,,,( un mal ejemplo el video )

Kraxlhuber

Well done! The continuous vacuum cleaner noise was a bit trippy! 😁

Daddy chill

Have you descent the same gouter route?