Trois Monts Route – 1600m, AD
Mont Blanc du Tacul – Mont Maudit – Mont Blanc
Ten years after my first experience in the Mont Blanc massif, I finally, almost casually, achieved a long-held goal: climbing and skiing down Mont Blanc! For this incredible high-alpine adventure we chose the super scenic “Trois Monts” route. We started with a very early ascent from the Cosmiques Hut, facing freezing temperatures and strong winds during the summit push. Reaching the summit was incredibly rewarding, with good weather and great panoramic views. The entire experience, from the frigid pre-dawn start to the near endless ski descent, was unforgettable.
The Trois Monts route is a long snow climb to reach the summit of Mont Blanc, accessed from the Aiguille du Midi. Since the construction of the Refuge des Cosmiques in 1990 this has become, after the Arête des Bosses route, the second most popular means of ascending Mont Blanc. The climb passes over the steep, glaciated shoulders of Mont Blanc du Tacul and Mont Maudit to reach the Col de la Brenva and then the NNE ridge to the summit of Mont Blanc. The route is exposed to serac hazard, and ascends several steeper sections that can become icy and technical, especially in summer.
Ben Tibbetts
Aiguille du Chardonnet (front left), Aiguille Verte (center) and Mont Blanc (far right)
Almost the entire ski descent is visible in this picture.
Adrian Earlyup 