Made it to the summit: Mt Blanc!
17/08/2011 14:07
My friend Eline Beest invited me to climb the Mt Blanc. A girls only trip together with Liesbeth Janssen and Anne de Rijk. Sounds like a great idea. But what to expect? Till 3 weeks ago I thought it would be a tough climb through the snow. Now, I can tell you it's way more then 'just a walk' (like many people say about the Mt Blanc).
We started with a climb to the Grand Paradiso (4061m) to practice and to get used to the altitude. Our guide Christian Cesa pushed us all the time to walk fast. He wanted to see if we were able to climb the Mt Blanc. I think he had his doubts when he saw 4 girls eager to climb the Mt Blanc without a lot of experience. But the trip to Grand Paradiso went well and we made it to the summit!
First day: 2 hour walk to the hut
Second day: start at 5.30 am. Climb 4 hours to the top.
4061 m: Katja, Anne, Liesbeth, Eline
Descend in another 4 hours.
So after this adventurous trip we needed a break for a day and went to the Terme Pre Saint Didier. We could hardly walk from the pool to the sauna because of our muscles aching. But it was a good relaxing day ;-)
And then the real trip started. Ascend the Mt Blanc from the Italian side: Voie du Pape. The first day we climb for 4 hours to the Gonella Hut. A beautiful route over the glacier. The glaciers come together in the valley, which makes a very impressive environment. I felt really small out there.
Jumping the crevasses.
Almost there...
The Gonella Hut is brand new and really nice. Opened just a few days ago. We were surprised by the awesome food (Italian prosciutto!!) and the hospitality of the owner. Thanks!
After diner we had only time to sleep till 12, because we wanted to start walking at 0.30 am. Early! None of us could sleep. Maybe the altitude, maybe a bit nervous. We are really lucky, because we're climbing the Mt Blanc with full moon! And the sky is clear. I don't even have to use my headlamp!
Climbing up for almost 8 hours is heavy. And the route is challenging. We had to crawl over a ladder which was laid over a big crack in the glacier. We had to balance at the ridge which was just wide enough to put one foot in front of another (and on both sides chasms of 1,5 meters deep!). We climbed over rocks at the ridge with our crampons and hand gloves on. Well, enough to say it was one of the most extreme things I ever did...
The last 2 hours to the top were beautiful, with the sun rising at the left side and the moon on the right side.
Yeah, at the top! 4810 m.
(Rudy, Anne, Eline, Katja, Liesbeth, Christian)
Christian Cesa and Rudy (guides) told us that they never had a group of 4 girls only at the top of the Mt Blanc! Thanks guys for guiding and motivating us! It was awesome ;-)
(Bifi-break for Eline and Anne)
And then... the way down. We did the Gouter route down. So we did the longest and most difficult traverse over the Mt Blanc. It was all worth it.
Thanks girls for this unforgettable adventure!
6 COMMENTS
Christian Cesa says on 17-08-2011 20:52:
Belle e veloci
Ruud says on 17-08-2011 21:07:
Mooi avontuur en knappe prestatie!
Hanni Roose says on 18-08-2011 10:03:
Leuke samenvatting, mooie foto's en blij dat jullie weer op zeeniveau zijn ....
Liesbeth says on 18-08-2011 18:00:
Wat een tof verslag Kat, ik herbeleef het helemaal :) En jij ook bedankt!!
jort says on 26-08-2011 12:30:
Super cool, nu de hoogste van de wereld ?
Drieën says on 04-09-2011 09:50:
Hoi Katja,Geweldig om te lezen ,mooie foto,s.
En een beetje jaloers omdat ik het zelf niet durf :( .Een prachtige ervaring ,die niemand je kan ontnemen.
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