Mont Blanc via the three Monts: account, advice, and equipment AlpinStore

Félicien Silvestre recounts: the ascent via the three Monts

Since my youngest age, the mountain has always fascinated me. I watched it from the passes, on my mountain bike, on trails, dreaming of one day climbing up there. That day has come: the goal, Mont Blanc, and the chosen route, the three Monts. A day of high intensity, technical and emotional. We set off with friends, no bullshit, equipped and humble.

On Friday, August 9, 2019, the weather is perfect. We take the cable car from Aiguille du Midi and the logic of the route becomes clear: Tacul, Mont Maudit, then Mont Blanc. The route is demanding, the ridges sculpted, the glacier alive. We move as a team, short rope, clear communication. Before departure, I had to buy climbing crampons suitable for my size and my soles: a simple, essential check that makes the difference when the slope steepens.

The first hours require rhythm but also effort economy. We are not there to sprint, but to endure. I often say: high mountain is a series of choices. That morning I had consulted our selection of climbing shoes at AlpinStore, to compare rigidity, weight, and grip. This choice is your assurance when crossing a rimaye or placing a piton in a couloir.

Tacul welcomes us with its share of seracs and grooves. The landscape is breathtaking. Halfway, we do a quick material check: verify the crampon attachment, ensure the ice axe is within reach. For some, this is a first major climb; for others, a warm-up. If you want to choose an ice axe, prioritize the compromise between lightness and striking power: it must serve you for planting, supporting, and braking in case of a fall.

Mont Maudit looms, technical. The slope demands confidence in its supports: rigid high mountain shoes, well-adjusted crampons, and above all lucidity. We tightened the rope, gave precise advice. Two steps, one point, one look. We move in silence sometimes, to listen to the wind, feel the snow. Those moments remain etched in memory.

The last slope before the summit is the hardest. One must accept fatigue, altitude, slowness. The high-performance climbing shoes I had tested on our long outings made the difference: ankle support, insulation, sole that bites into the ice. We never underestimate sensations: they speak before the numbers.

At the summit, 5 hours and 50 minutes after departure, the reward: endless panoramas, small clouds playing with the peaks, silence that magnifies each breath. We allow ourselves a photo, a moment of reflection, then the descent begins. The Goûter hut awaits us lower down, then the Goûter couloir, a place where caution must be maximal. For those looking for accessible equipment, we remind you that there is affordable but reliable climbing gear: compare, test, get advice from teams that live the terrain.

The descent is technical: rimayes, couloirs, exposed passages. We slide, we control. The choice of harness is crucial: if you need to choose a climbing harness, take one suitable for snow and maneuvers, with useful gear loops and comfortable straps for long hours. Comfort matters when fatigue sets in.

At the bottom, in front of a restorative coffee, we talk gear, we exchange impressions. Some often ask me where to find good equipment for other disciplines: I insist, a good high-performance trail gear is also useful for training in the mountains, as it prepares the body for effort, supports, and endurance. Multifunctional, the gear is optimized according to the activity.

We also discuss more specific shoe choices: buy Scarpa climbing shoes or buy La Sportiva climbing shoes are personal decisions. Each has its sensations, volume, shape. The most important: try on, test, feel. Don’t buy based on a single technical sheet: try them out in the field if possible, or take the time to consult feedback from experienced users.

The community is there for that: we exchange, we share our mistakes and successes. At AlpinStore, our approach is this: seasoned athletes who test in the field, who know what holds up. We guide you to the right product according to your project: fast race, committed crossing, winter or summer. If you need a compromise, we will explain the nuances between rigidity, insulation, and weight.

To summarize the essential kit for this kind of ascent: suitable crampons, ice axe, harness, helmets, ropes in good condition, and shoes that hold the mountain. Here’s a quick checklist:

• adapted shoes and coherent rigidity
• verified crampons and ice axe
• adapted harness and spare straps
• technical clothing for altitude

Safety is more than a checklist: it’s a culture. We plan schedules, we read the weather, we anticipate changes, we respect the mountain. If you are a beginner, go with a guide or an experienced peer. You don’t improvise a high mountain climb: the environment is alive and sometimes ruthless. My ascent via the three Monts taught me humility and precision; it also confirmed that material preparation is the foundation of success.

Finally, don’t forget that practicing sustainably involves responsible choices: prioritize repaired equipment, recycle, buy wisely. AlpinStore is committed to these issues: we want the outdoor to remain accessible for future generations. If you want personalized advice, come talk to us, we will tell you the truth like a climbing buddy.

The mountain offers rare moments. We earn them by preparing, respecting the rules, choosing the right equipment. This day on Mont Blanc with Adrien and Antoine will remain one of the most beautiful: shared effort, endless landscape, complicit friends. Do you want to start? Begin by equipping yourself wisely, learn, and above all, enjoy.

The mountain is becoming increasingly dangerous. Do not venture into high mountain without a guide or without the necessary knowledge and sufficient physical level.