Sleeping on the Géant glacier, facing the legendary peaks of the Mont Blanc massif, is an extraordinary experience. This is what awaits the two winners of our contest, accompanied for this Stellar Camp by a guide from the Chamonix Guide Company and Lucy Paltz, Crosscall ambassador.
Here is their story.
8:00 a.m., in the center of Chamonix:
It’s cool, the sun is shining, the conditions are ideal for two days in the high mountains! On the agenda: ski touring, but also bivouac on the Géant glacier, a unique experience for the two winners of our contest.
The battery of our STELLAR-X5s Edition Chamonix Mont Blanc is fully charged, but we immediately activate Outdoor mode to minimize its use and thus increase its performance.
Outdoor mode allows you to put non-essential apps to sleep to prevent them from running in the background and wasting battery. It’s a real advantage compared to airplane mode because you remain reachable by phone or SMS, and the available apps can be customized.
9:00 a.m., on the other side of the Mont Blanc tunnel:
Our adventure begins in Italy, as we take the Skyway cable car to get as close as possible to the Géant glacier.
Arriving on the terrace of the Torino refuge opens the doors to high mountain with Mont Blanc within reach.
Wherever you look, the view is breathtaking. Our guide explains the different peaks revealed on the horizon and gives some tips for the upcoming hike.
10 a.m., skis on!
We left our bivouac gear for the night in one of the refuge corridors to carry less weight for the ski touring day.
We start our walk with a beautiful descent into the Vierge valley with a mandatory photo stop in front of the bluish seracs.
Arriving at the bottom of the bowl, we put the skins on to ski back up to the Entrèves pass.
I check the elevation gain on Iphigénie, the mapping app on my Stellar: 600m of ascent planned.
An hour and a half later, we admire a breathtaking landscape of a myriad of peaks over 4000m, from the Barre des Écrins on one side to the Matterhorn on the other.
After the picnic, we enjoy a descent on still fresh snow; the conditions are ideal for late April.
3 PM, we put the skins back on!
We have to go back to get our bivouac gear and repack the backpacks for the night. While the other climbers and visitors descend into the valley, we look for a flat enough spot to set up our camp.
The guide explains how to check the spot to avoid pitching the tent on a crevasse, how to make a good platform for more comfort at night, and how to melt snow. We set up the tents facing the Dent du Géant!
5 PM, alone in the world!
Gradually, the temperature cools and the silence is only broken by the cries of choughs that come to visit us to pick up crumbs from the biscuits shared around the tea. The stoves are running at full power to rehydrate us.
It’s an extraordinary feeling to be alone in the heart of the Mont Blanc massif while the sun warms the horizon. We explore the camp surroundings to add some souvenir photos to the gallery of our STELLAR-X5s!
6:30 PM, dinner time.
On the menu: freeze-dried meals! Chicken curry, beef stew, or pasta with fried onions, it’s very filling and tastier than it looks. The guide even planned desserts, and while it’s a bit strange to pour boiling water into a pouch to rehydrate chocolate mousse, it’s enjoyed facing the sunset over Mont Blanc.
8 PM, everyone warm!
Once the sun is gone, the temperature drops suddenly. We each head to our tents to slip into the thick cozy sleeping bags lent by the Guide Company. Goal: pile at the bottom everything that fears cold and moisture. Ski boot slippers, overpants (we will sleep in first layer and fleece), and also the phone.
Even though it has held up perfectly since this morning (still 63%) despite heavy photo/video and mapping use, it’s best to avoid polar night temperatures to optimize its battery.
6:50 AM, up!
Upon waking, frost covers the tent and the sleeping bag, but it was so cozy that we were not cold.
The altitude gave some members of the group a slight headache: acclimatization takes time, we must not forget that we are sleeping at 3500m!
Around a tea, we share our feelings and especially fully enjoy the last moments alone in the world on the glacier.
By the time we pack up the tents, store the equipment, and start the return path to the cabin, the first climbers are already arriving.
9:30 AM: the fog is getting thicker.
What was just a mist at dawn becomes so intense that you can't see three meters ahead. Heading to the Skyway to descend into the valley and have a cappuccino in Italy before returning to Chamonix!
The experience was incredible, a true immersion in the magical landscapes of the Mont Blanc massif.
The STELLAR-X5s is the ideal tool for this kind of adventure since instead of carrying an external battery (which adds even more weight to an already heavy load), you fully benefit from its endurance.
Not to mention that its waterproof and shock-resistant features allow it to handle all the challenges of high mountain evolution!
