"Dent Blanche"

Experience on PD/AD mountaineering routes, very good fitness, confidence leading or seconding grade II–III rock and crampon technique on slopes of around 50° are required.

Long Alpine days require strong endurance. Altitude, successive days of activity, wind and low temperatures can increase fatigue and difficulty. Read the full programme and ask us if you are unsure about the required level.

Prepare with endurance exercise and mountain walks, using a loaded backpack and the boots and equipment intended for the trip. Break in new boots beforehand. Previous long mountain days, ideally including a 3,000 m summit in the Pyrenees, are useful preparation. You must be comfortable with exposed terrain and heights. An assessment outing with one of our guides can help confirm whether the route suits you.

Included

• High mountain guide fees for five days.
• Mountain hut booking arrangements.
• Shared safety equipment, including ropes and anchoring systems.
• Technical equipment from the general information list that you do not own.
• Local transfers to the activity starting points.

Not included

• Your accommodation and meal expenses.
• Cable cars or trains used to access the mountains.
• The guide’s accommodation, hut meals and cable-car expenses.
• Allow €500 per person for these expenses.

Clothing and equipment

Clothing

• Gore-Tex or equivalent waterproof jacket and overtrousers.
• Technical mountain trousers in Schoeller fabric or equivalent.
• Fleece or softshell jacket.
• Thermal base layer and a spare.
• Thin and thick socks, plus spares.
• Gloves and a spare pair.
• Warm hat, sun cap, sunglasses and ski goggles.
• Headtorch with spare batteries and, if needed, a spare bulb.
• Sun protection for face and lips, and after-sun lotion.

Technical equipment

• Harness and 2 HMS locking carabiners.
• Ice axe and crampons with anti-balling plates.
• Telescopic ski poles.
• Helmet.
• 45–60 litre backpack.
• Water bottle of at least 1.5 litres and electrolyte salts.

Footwear

• Rigid-soled mountaineering boots and gaiters.

Personal first-aid kit

• Pain relief medication.
• Anti-inflammatory medication.
• Anti-diarrhoeal medication.
• Antibiotic and anti-inflammatory ointment.
• Antiseptic.
• Gauze, medical tape, plasters and bandages.
• Mineral salts for drinking water.
• Sunscreen.
• Lip protection.
• If you need to wear glasses or contact lenses during the activity, bring a suitable way to prevent losing them.

PirineoSur.es can provide

• Any technical equipment on the list that you do not own and request in advance.

Dent Blanche and Aiguille de la Tsa

Day 0: Meet from 18:00 at Place de l’Église in Chamonix. Guide briefing, questions, backpack preparation and dinner independently.

Day 1: Chamonix – Arolla – Bertol hut (3,343 m). Travel through the Swiss Valais to Arolla and make an approximately 3–4-hour approach on straightforward terrain. Overnight at Bertol hut.

Day 2: Aiguille de la Tsa (3,668 m), east face, AD / III+. Descend to Col de Bertol and follow the north-east side, using cables to reach the glacier. Navigate the crevasses to the foot of the climb. Descend from the summit in three abseils and return by the same approach. Overnight at Bertol hut (3,343 m).

Day 3: Bertol hut – Tête Blanche (3,710 m) – Dent Blanche hut (3,507 m). A scenic hut-to-hut stage dominated by views of Dent Blanche. Overnight at Dent Blanche hut.

Day 4: Dent Blanche (4,356 m), normal Wandfluegrat route, 850 m, AD / III. Follow the ridge over successive gendarmes on high-altitude rock and mixed terrain. Descend by the same route, with lowering and abseils on the steeper sections. Overnight at Dent Blanche hut.

Day 5: Dent Blanche hut – Arolla – Chamonix. End of the activity. Ask us for the detailed information sheet.

Further information

Level 3 Alpine programme

This progressive programme combines guided mountain routes with technical coaching, helping you improve your skills and make the most of your time in the Alps. Acclimatisation and preparation are built into the itinerary.

Mountain experience, good fitness and familiarity with technical equipment are required. Previous experience on an Alpine 4,000-metre peak provides a useful foundation. Ask us about preparation courses.

Your guide

Participants must have the physical and technical ability to move independently under the guide’s supervision. One high mountain guide accompanies one or two participants, knows the route and gives daily instructions according to conditions and safety considerations.

PirineoSur works with highly qualified professionals with extensive mountain experience and more than 30 years of professional activity in the Alps. They hold the qualifications required in Alpine countries including France, Germany, Austria, Italy and Switzerland.

Guided mountaineering helps manage the risks and makes it easier to enjoy your trip, but no mountain activity is entirely risk-free.