Climbing Mont Blanc: How One Ascent Sparked a Gear Brand

By Micheal, founder of Furté Outdoor Co

There’s something magnetic about Mont Blanc — the highest peak in Western Europe. It lures hikers, climbers, and dreamers from around the world, promising an adventure that’s as humbling as it is beautiful.

For me, it wasn’t just a personal challenge. My first (and only, so far) climb of Mont Blanc became the spark behind Furté, my outdoor gear brand. It was the moment I realized how vital trustworthy equipment is in the wild — and how much was missing for everyday climbers like me.

Here’s the full story — what it was like, who I met, how we ate, what we carried, and why gear matters more than you think when you're high above the clouds.

Why Mont Blanc?

I’d done long treks before — the Dolomites, bits of the TMB, and smaller alpine peaks — but Mont Blanc felt like the next step. Not Everest-level epic, but not a hill walk either. It’s demanding, unpredictable, and atmospheric in a way that’s hard to explain until you’re up there.

I wanted to test myself. And I wanted to learn. Both happened.

Travel & Arrival

I flew into Geneva, grabbed a transfer to Chamonix, and found a town buzzing with mountaineers, skiers, and trail runners. Chamonix feels like a hybrid of sport, history, and adrenaline.

We met our guide, Luc, the evening before the climb. He was calm, grizzled, and direct — the kind of guy you’d follow anywhere. He asked about our boots and gear before anything else. When I pulled out my brand-new pack, he raised an eyebrow. “We’ll see,” he said.

The Group

There were five of us: two brothers from Ireland, a German solo climber, a French trail runner turned alpinist, and me. None of us knew each other, but shared nerves forged a quick bond. On a mountain like Mont Blanc, you don’t stay strangers for long.

We compared boots, shared water filters, laughed over altitude headaches, and looked out for each other in the dark. One guy lent me his spare gloves when mine got soaked crossing the couloir. Another split his last energy bar with someone who ran out mid-climb.

That camaraderie was unexpected — and unforgettable.

Food & Fuel

Meals at the huts were simple but life-saving:

• Pasta with tomato sauce or stew
• Lentil soup with chunks of bread
• Breakfast: instant coffee, bread, jam, and cereal

Honestly? It was bland but warming — and exactly what you need. We brought snacks: dried fruit, protein bars, chocolate, trail mix. I learned quickly that you need to eat even when you’re not hungry at altitude. Dehydration and energy dips are the real enemies.

The Climb – What It Was Really Like

Day 1: Chamonix → Nid d’Aigle → Tête Rousse

We took the Tramway du Mont Blanc and hiked up to Tête Rousse Hut. The weather was moody — cloud rolling in and out — and the hut was alive with nervous energy. We ate, stretched, and watched the sky.

That night I repacked my gear three times. I wasn’t sure if I had too much or not enough. Turns out: the lighter your bag, the stronger your legs.

Day 2: Gouter Hut

The Grand Couloir was tense. Loose rock, unpredictable noise, and the constant awareness that speed = safety. Our guide timed it perfectly. No one spoke as we crossed — just heads down, crampons biting into the scree.

The climb to Gouter Hut was steep and exposed. I was glad for the carbon trekking poles I’d modified and field-tested myself. This was when the seed for Furté was planted: I realised how crucial gear is — and how often people use gear that isn’t tested where it matters.

Day 3: Summit

We left at 2 a.m. in pitch dark, lamps flickering like fireflies. Step by step, breath by breath. The Bosses Ridge was sharper than I expected — narrow, icy, and humbling. But it was also surreal: the stars, the silence, the sound of your own heart and crunching snow.

We reached the summit around 8 a.m. The sun hit the horizon like a slow explosion. Italy to one side, France to the other. You feel small up there — and alive in a way I didn’t know I needed.

The Descent

The way down was brutal. My legs were cooked, and focus became everything. One misstep, one lapse in attention, and it’s a very long slide. The poles, gloves, dry socks, and hydration bladder were lifesavers. So was the compressed dry bag — it kept my extra layers dry after the summit push soaked everything.

The Importance of Gear

There’s a phrase in the mountains: “You don’t rise to the occasion — you fall to your level of preparation.”

That’s where Furté comes from.

On that mountain, I realized:

• Most casual hikers buy gear based on color, not performance
• A good dry bag, towel, or pole can literally keep you safe, warm, or mobile
• You don’t need more gear — you need better gear

So I built Furté — gear made for real use:

• Lightweight, compressible, functional
• No flashy features you don’t need
• Tested by real hikers, not models in photo shoots

What I Used (and Recommend)

What I Took Away

Mont Blanc isn’t just a climb — it’s a test of patience, judgment, and gear. It’s where I learned that outdoor success isn’t about strength. It’s about preparation, focus, and having the right tools when it counts.

And that’s why Furté exists — to give everyday hikers gear they can trust, without the mountaineering markup or overdesigned fluff.

Would I climb Mont Blanc again? Maybe. But once was enough to show me what matters. And that’s what I’ve built into every product since.

See you on Mont Blanc!

– Micheal
Founder, Furté Outdoor Co