On 18 June 2025, Team7Summits proudly achieved the first milestone in our ambitious Seven Summits challenge by reaching the summit of Mont Blanc (4,808 metres), the highest peak in Western Europe.

A Nighttime Departure from Cosmiques Hut

Our journey commenced shortly after midnight from the Cosmiques Hut (3,613 metres), a renowned alpine refuge nestled beneath the Aiguille du Midi. This strategically located hut serves as a pivotal base for mountaineers tackling the Mont Blanc massif via the Trois Monts route.

Traversing the Trois Monts Route

The Trois Monts route is esteemed for its technical demands and breathtaking vistas. Our ascent involved navigating three significant peaks: Mont Blanc du Tacul (4,248 metres), Mont Maudit (4,465 metres), and ultimately, Mont Blanc itself.

Mont Blanc du Tacul: We began with a descent from the Cosmiques Hut to the Col du Midi, followed by an ascent up the north face of Mont Blanc du Tacul. This section required careful navigation around crevasses and seracs, with slopes reaching up to 40 degrees.
Mont Maudit: After descending to the Col du Maudit, we faced the most technically challenging part of the climb—a steep 45-degree ice slope leading to the Col du Mont Maudit. This segment demanded precise ice axe and crampon techniques to safely negotiate the terrain.
Final Ascent to Mont Blanc: From the Col de la Brenva, we embarked on the final push to Mont Blanc's summit. Despite the relatively moderate incline, the high altitude posed significant challenges, testing our endurance and acclimatization.

After approximately eight hours of continuous climbing, we stood atop Mont Blanc, elated by our accomplishment. The panoramic views of the Alps were a fitting reward for our efforts.

🏔️ Descent via the Goûter Route

For the descent, we chose the Goûter Route, the classic “normal” route from the French side (also called the Voie des Cristalliers or Voie Royale)—widely recognised as the safest descent path from the summit.

Key features of the Goûter descent include:

Grand Couloir (Goûter Corridor): a notorious 100 m traverse beneath the steep slopes above the Tête Rousse Hut, frequently affected by rockfall. Crossing this section early in the morning minimized exposure to falling debris.
Aiguille du Goûter, Dôme du Goûter, Vallot Cabin, and Bosses Ridge: A high alpine sequence of ridgelines and glacier terrain leading down to the Goûter Hut at 3,835 m, followed by descent to the Nid d’Aigle and the Tramway de Mont‑Blanc railway.

Despite being considered “technically easier” (rated PD/PD+ in alpine grading), the Goûter Route demands strong crampon and ice‑axe technique, excellent fitness, and disciplined rope handling—particularly on exposed snow ridges and in high‑altitude sections.

🏅 Mission Accomplished

After eight hours on the ascent and several more on our return, Team7Summits stood triumphant at the summit of Mont Blanc—then descended safely back via the Goûter Route. This achievement reflects our commitment to safe, well‑planned mountaineering and team coordination.

🔍 Why the Goûter Descent?

We selected the Goûter Route for our descent because:

It offers a safer and more controlled return path, particularly across the hazardous Grand Couloir;
It’s the standard route used by most descent groups descending from the summit via France;
It minimizes risk and exposure when navigation and conditions are more challenging at the end of a long summit day.

This first summit achievement marked the beginning of the Team7Summits journey. The skills, discipline, and resilience demonstrated here set the tone for our future challenges. We eagerly anticipate tackling the remaining summits with the same level of preparation and determination.