Gran Paradiso and Mont Blanc
By: Phil Tempest, Suffolk, UK
Our accommodation at Yeti Lodge on this trip was superb. Cheri was an excellent host. The food was fantastic and it was comfortable, clean and welcoming. Matt, our guide was very very impressive from the very beginning, focusing on the seriousness of Mount Blanc, weather, etc. I particularly appreciated our 2-way, mature and detailed discussions about the prospects for a Mont Blanc summit attempt which led to our decision to abandon Mt Blanc and do something else. In fact the 3 days we had instead, consisting of mixed climbing/scrambling, were some of the best mountain days I've ever had. I'm really pleased at the decision taken and the flexibility of the leader to change itinerary dependent upon group ability, weather, mountain conditions etc.
By: Whitney Tinley, Lawrenceville, USA
Excellent guides! I couldn't have asked for more knowledgeable, patient guides to lead me on my first ice climbing trek. Yeti Lodge was wonderful! From the rooms, to the food, I was super pleased. My luggage was delayed in getting to Chamonix. The staff of the Yeti lodge went above and beyond in making sure I had gear to use until my bags arrived. Mark was a great guide. I appreciated the slow but steady pace he kept for all our treks. I believe his leadership made it possible for our entire group to summit Mont Blanc.
By: Sue Jeffrey, Dumfries, Scotland
I would like to point out how really helpful the office staff were, whether it be by phone calls, email or talking to them in shop. Great at helping me organise an extra night before trip and making life as easy as possible. Thanks!Ascents of Gran Paradiso and Weissmies were both great and stays in huts were very enjoyable. Tranverse of Vallee Blanche on the first proper day was great, enjoyed every minute of it. Meals in the Yeti Lodge were amazing!I've travelled with KE before, as have other family members and friend. I think its a great company, offering amazing services and great opportunities for all types of adventures.
By: John Nunn, Huddersfield, UK
It was a really good week, we achieved all the objectives, climbing Mont Blanc by a better route and in more comfortable refuges than given in the original plan. Our guide on Mont Blanc (Radek) was also first rate, and Bob, the Chef at Yeti Lodge produced some really top class meals for us...which were much appreciated !
By: Sue Williams, Tregarth, Wales
The info and support
from KE remains consistently excellent; knowledge and helpfulness are the order
of the day.
It was hard work and in some ways whilst I was disappointed the weather
was unsuitable to climb Mt Blanc, in other ways this probably was an advantage
as additional fitness would have been desirable for an ascent by me! But when
we had to change from climbing Mt Blanc, we had loads of other options to
consider, so overall, we had other tops/huts as substitutes where the weather
was far better.
By: Jude Horsnell, Tregath, Wales
Due to poor weather we could not attempt M Blanc. However, alternative arrangements were made and we went off to Switzerland to climb Weissmies instead. The efficiency with which the programme could be flexible for us was brilliant and meant we still got tow 4000m peaks, saw, learned and experienced a lot, and had a brilliant time. Steve was a fantastically knowledgeable and experienced leader, in whom we could be fully confident. He worked very hard to ensure that we had both a successful and enjoyable time, to the point of 'waiting' on us in the refuges. He kept us moving when it counted, and as a result we did make the summit of Gran Paradiso just in the nick of time, as the weather turned. Without his careful attention we could easily have got very close but have had to turn back. Weissmies was an excellent choice for our second mountain - very shapely and interesting, with great views of so many 4000m summits. Steve has shown us how much the Alps has to offer, and we shall be returning. Not being able to climb Mt Blanc on this occasion turned out to be no disappointment. We were very well looked after, given a great climbing experience, and will be better prepared for another try at Mt Blanc at some time in the future. We are also keen to explore other, perhaps less well known mountains, and benefited from the practice and experience of climbing the two that we did.
By: Sandra Kelly, Bolton, UK
We
were very impressed with all aspects of the trip. The accommodation and food at
the Yeti lodge were excellent and we really appreciated how we were catered for
as vegetarians. Although there were slight variations to the itinerary due to
the weather on the first day, this did not detract from our enjoyment or skills
development. We felt the trip was very well planned and thoroughly enjoyed the
Cosmiques route when we ascended Mont Blanc.
I
would thoroughly recommend this trip. It was an amazing experience and we were
very happy with all aspects of the holiday. Thank you to all staff
involved.
The
trip exceeded our expectations due to the high standard of accommodation at Yeti Lodge in Argentiere, the quality of the first three Mountain huts and the overall
itinerary. We were very pleased.
By: Bryan Hardaker, Kendal, Cumbria
I’ve just returned from the KE Gran Paradiso / Mont Blanc trip and thought I would drop you a line about the guiding on it. The trip was a 60th birthday treat to myself – the thought that when the grandchildren ask “What did you do when you were 60 grandad?” I could reply “I climbed Mont Blanc” was particularly appealing! The guide was Russell Braddock – a 57 year old New Zealander. He was excellent. I am pretty sure in my own mind that we wouldn’t have got up Mont Blanc with most other guides. It wasn’t brilliant weather and throughout the climb we kept meeting groups who had turned back. This was mainly because of the wind and cold on the Bosses ridge in particular. But Russell is from a country where climbing in these conditions is the norm and he realised that Robert and I were from a similar background (Scottish hills!!) and thought we could cope with it. We weren’t a particularly fast rope but Russell’s pacing was absolutely perfect. I never felt under pressure, but equally I never felt it was too slow. There were 2 or 3 occasions when he could have justifiably turned us round and we wouldn’t have complained but he was willing to give it a go.
