Ice & mixed The best Chamonix goulotte climbs

The Mont Blanc Massif is a unique playground for ice and mixed climbing enthusiasts. As soon as the first snowfall occurs at higher altitudes, the faces are covered with ice and snow, creating ephemeral and particularly aesthetic lines known as goulotte. These routes require a good mastery of mountaineering techniques and prior experience in ice climbing. If you have never tried ice climbing before, we recommend starting with our day or multi-day outings. Our winter mountaineering course is also an excellent way to improve your skills in ice and mixed climbing. Climate change, coupled with a particularly noticeable increase in temperature in high mountains, now makes winter the best period, at the expense of spring, which is gradually becoming too warm. Ski touring approaches are therefore becoming increasingly essential. Due to the specific nature of ice & mixed climbing, reservations are only made via email or phone. Our team is at your disposal to help you choose the route that suits you best. Prices vary based on the difficulty and usual duration of the ascent, detailed in our dedicated booklet.

The Glacier du Géant is one of the major sectors of the Mont Blanc Massif. The Chéré couloir and the Contamines-Grisolle in the Triangle du Tacul are particularly well-suited for a first experience, as well as the Pelissier at Pointes Lachenal and the north face of Tour Ronde. The Lafaille, Gabarrou-Albinoni, and Modica-Noury are must-try lines on the east side of Mont Blanc du Tacul.

The Aiguilles de Chamonix, on both their north and south faces, offer numerous routes. Aiguille de Blaitière, Aiguille des Pélérins, and Aiguille du Requin provide beautiful lines. Among the classics are Mini Blast, Ice is Nice, Le Fil à Plomb, and Rébuffat-Terray. The ascents from the Aiguille du Midi bridge are easily accessible mixed routes, with Vent du Dragon and Perroux-Profit being classics.

The Grands Montets sector also offers numerous climbs. On the left bank of the Argentière Glacier, don't miss Mini couloir and Home Wet Home. Aiguille de Bochard offers interesting mixed routes for skill improvement. In the lower part of the Grands Montets ridge, the Ravanel-Frendo, Claire Chazal, and La Pétite are particularly aesthetic gullies.

The Argentière, Talèfre, and Leschaux basins are places for ascents in isolated sectors. The north faces of Droites, Courtes, and Grandes Jorasses encompass mythical and demanding routes often considered the climb of a lifetime.