Gear List for Mont Blanc

It is very important to be properly equipped for climbing Mont Blanc.
Temperatures on the top can be very low, perhaps -10 or less, and when you add in the wind chill factor this means considerably lower than that.

Clothes to wear to the summit
On your top:-
Base Layer - quick drying and warm eg Smartwool or synthetic
Thin fleece
Medium weight fleece jacket or equivalent (not cotton!!)
Shell Jkt with a hood. Goretex Paclite is ideal
Down Jacket

On your head and hands:-
Warm hat
Balaclava /Face mask
Glacier glasses and ski googles
Thin gloves - eg windstopper or equivalent
Thick gloves - big warm gauntlets

On your feet and legs:-
Rigid mountaineering boots (B2 or B3)
Gaiters
Warm knee length socks
Warm legginsg or lined trousers
Shell Pants or Overtrousers (Paclite adequate)

Other things to bring on the summit day
Easy to eat snacks - chocolate, biscuits etc
Water bottle - 1-1.5 litres (NOT platypus bag and tube as they will freeze up almost immediately - even with the insulating cover)
Blister stuff, headache pills
Camera
Toothbrush and toothpaste (leave in the hut)

Other things to bring along for the week
Light quick dry trousers
Shorts
T-shirts
Neckerchief
Headband

Wash stuff
Towel

Sandals/tevas
Trainers

Climbing Gear

Harness (rock / mountain)*
Screwgate Krabs x3*
Long slings x2*
Belay Plate*
Prusik loops x3*
Ice screw x1*
Ice axes*
Crampons*
Helmet*

Rock boots (may go rock climbing in the event of poor weather)

Platypus type thing (for hut walks

Useful Stuff
tea bags
suncream
lipsalve
wipes
bog roll
ziplock bags
alarm clock
altimeter
binos

Blistese & suncream
Personal first aid kit
head torch
batteries
camera & film

duct tape
tapes /cds/MP3
phone & charger

Admin

Passport & money
insurance details
travel details
phone numbers
EHIC & foreign cash
Vehicle docs
* optional – I can provide this stuff, but bring your own if you have it.

Mont Blanc
Mont Blanc is a lot higher than anything else and can be very cold, especially if it’s windy, so if you are planning a Mt Blanc climb the following items are essential:
Down Jacket or something similar
Ski Goggles
Good pair of warm ski gloves or similar
Full face cover – eg neoprene face mask or balaclava that can cover nose and mouth
Plastic Boots are worth bringing if you have them, not essential but warmer than thin leather boots. Thermal lined leather boots are ok.