We have a rule that every month we get out of the office, away from the noise and in to the great outdoors. For us here at Adventure Base there’s nothing we enjoy more than getting outside and in to the elements. The only thing that tops that is good company. When you combine the two it makes for something pretty special.
Sometimes we spend a little too much time behind the desk, or working out what to do rather than just doing it. Whether you’ve got mountains on your doorstep or you have to stay pretty close to home, get out and get some fresh air.
OUT OF OFFICE:007 – TOUR DU MONT BLANC TREK
This month we tackled another big one… the Tour du Mont Blanc
The Tour du Mont Blanc trek is an incredible opportunity to completely immerse yourself in the mountains and enjoy the natural beauty of the seven valleys that surround western Europe’s highest mountain. The full trek takes around 180km’s to complete and over 10,000m of elevation gain. What a gem it was.
If you want to learn more about climbing the Tour du Mont Blanc head over to our webpage here for the 9 day trip or here for the 4 day trip
OUT OF OFFICE:006 – MONT BLANC
This month was the big one. We took off to try and summit Western Europes highest mountain, Mont Blanc!
Mont Blanc (4810m) is the highest peak in the Alps and Western Europe. This beautiful, imposing and highly sought after summit will never disappoint and it didn’t for us. It’s a majestic peak that sits at the roof of the Alps on the border of France and Italy, has magnificent views across the rest of the Alps and entices mountaineers from all over the world year after year. We can completely understand why…
If you want to learn more about climbing Mont Blanc head over to our webpage here.
OUT OF OFFICE:005 – COSMIQUES ARETE
This month we decided to get up in to the high mountains and tackle one of Chamonix’s most famous climbs / scrambles, the Cosmiques Arete.
The Cosmiques Arete is found a short walk from the top of the Aiguille du Midi, above Chamonix and below the summit of Mont Blanc. It’s considered a classic due to its accessibility thanks to the lift but also because of its unique and exciting route. This route is a combination of rocky terrain, abseils and short climbing sections with a finish back on the man made structure of the midi. It feels kind of ‘James Bond’ esq, stepping on to the decking in your harness, crampons and ice axe, while tourists admire the views.
We tend to run this route if you’re considering the Matterhorn or Eiger climbs as it’s a perfect training day before those summits.
OUT OF OFFICE:004 – VIA FERRATA
This month we decided we needed a little adrenalin rush from a spot of Via Ferrata. Having been in lockdown here in France for a few weeks we just needed to get out of the valley and on to some rock.
Via Ferrata is ‘Iron Path’ in Italian. It is a climbing route fixed with steel cables, rungs or ladders that are fixed to the rock. Climbers have a harness and two leashes that are moved along the steel cables incase you fall. It’s a relatively safe way to move through parts of a mountain that would otherwise be extremely technical or impossible. Via Ferrata first came about in the 19th Century but is more commonly known for its role in the First World War to help troops move through the mountains.
Our mission was a simple one, get to the top safely, beat the storm and have fun. Mission accomplished…
OUT OF OFFICE:003 – FAT BIKING
This month we decided electric fat bikes would make for an interesting outing. Neither of us have any experience doing this so it was a bit of steep learning curve but we got there in the end… sort of!
Fat bikes have been growing in popularity recently and are characterised by big chunky wheels you find on the bike. They allow for riding on soft, unstable terrain, such as snow, sand, bogs and mud which makes them pretty versatile. But that wasn’t the only thing special about these bikes as they were also electric bikes. Amazing for those uphill sections where you need a little boost and great for keeping those legs fresh when you get to the top.
For Olly and I this was our first time on an electric fat bike so we were prepared for a few mistakes and a little adventure. In many ways this is what made it so exciting for us. We knew by the end of the day we would have a much better idea as to what we needed and how to do it, but getting there was going to be fun. We’re big believers in getting out of your comfort zone and experiencing something new. If you don’t already, we encourage you all to try it… it’s addictive.
OUT OF OFFICE:002 – SKI TOURING
This month Olly decided ski touring was the ticket, so we headed off to the Refuge d’Argentiere.
We got lucky with the weather, all be it unusually warm for February, but it made for a comfortable tour up in to the high mountains. Being based in Chamonix, we’ve got lots of amazing options on our doorstep. The route to the Refuge d’Argentiere was chosen as it allowed us to jump on the glacier and enjoy its vast beauty. During a trip like this, it’s hard not to feel a little humbled by the magnitude of the mountains. It helps untangle confusion and ultimately creates a sense of ‘reset’. We certainly feel better for it… or perhaps we’re just finding a way of justifying a mini adventure on a Thursday morning.
We hope you enjoy it.
OUT OF OFFICE:001 – ICE CLIMBING
This month Olly decided ice climbing was the activity of choice so we called upon Pablo one of our mountain guides to show us what it’s all about. Many of you will know Pablo from your trips with us but for those that don’t, make sure you watch all the way to the very end where he’ll introduce you to his good friends…
With sandwiches and ice axes packed we headed out on the road in search of Ice. The Cascade Stassaz in Megeve to be precise, only 30 minutes away from our Chamonix office. According to the Spanish mountain goat Pablo, this winter had been one of the best for great ice. Although both Olly and I have ice climbed before, it had been a while so we were keen to get those crampons and ice axes buried in the water fall. A quick ’10 minute’ walk up to the ice fall followed be a thorough recap of the ‘do’s’ and ‘don’ts’ from Pablo and we were on our way. Rather than go on about it, we put together a quick video of the escape. Check out our little adventure below.