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- Dent du Géant
13,166 ft · Mont Blanc Group, France/Italy
Dent du Géant
Dent du Géant is a 13,166 ft peak in the Mont Blanc Group, France/Italy. The standard route is the Normal Route via SW Face: 9 mi, 4,593 ft of gain, AD-.
Dent du Géant at a glance
- Elevation13,166 ft4,012 m
- RouteNormal Route via SW FaceAD-
- Distance9 mi4,593 ft gain
- Time2 daysVery Hard effort
- SeasonJul–Sep
- RangeMont Blanc GroupFrance/Italy
Climbing the Normal Route via SW Face
From Courmayeur, Italy, ride the Skyway lift to the Torino Hut, then climb the SW face (AD-) of one of the most striking rock spires in the Alps, an unmistakable tooth of granite. The route climbs the famous Burgener slabs, equipped since 1882 with thick fixed ropes; using them the grade is AD- with UIAA III/IV, and without them it is a much harder V+. It is strenuous and often crowded, with two summit points, Pointe Sella and Pointe Graham, 27 m apart. Watch rockfall and cornices on the approach. Budget two days for the outing.
Gear and hazards
What to bring
Backpack (40–55 L)
Mountaineering Boots
Crampons
Ice Axe
Helmet
Harness
Rope
Carabiners
Belay Device- Prusik Cord
- Ice Screw
Base Layer
Midlayer
Insulated Jacket
Hardshell Jacket
Hardshell Pants
Warm Hat
Buff
Midweight Gloves
Glacier Glasses
Sunscreen
Headlamp
GPS Device
Satellite Communicator
Water
First-Aid Kit
Emergency Bivy
Heavyweight Gloves
Goggles
Offline Maps
Power Bank
Whistle
Approach Shoes- Slings
- Nut Tool
- Cams / Nuts
What to watch for
- Technical climbing
- Steep exposure
- Knife-edge ridge
- Rockfall
- Loose rock
- Cornices
- Snow near summit
- Ice near summit
- High altitude
- Extreme cold
- High winds
- Storms
- Low visibility
- Remote location
- Glacier travel
- Crevasses
- Altitude sickness
- Rapid weather shifts
Quests with Dent du Géant
Alpine 4,000ersPeaks near Dent du Géant
Frequently asked questions
How tall is Dent du Géant?
Dent du Géant is 13,166 feet (4,012 m) tall. It is in the Mont Blanc Group, France/Italy.
How does Dent du Géant rank among the Alpine 4,000ers?
At 13,166 feet, Dent du Géant is the 78th highest of the 82 Alpine 4,000ers. The highest is Mont Blanc.
How hard is it to climb Dent du Géant?
The Normal Route via SW Face is graded AD- on the alpine scale, meaning fairly difficult: sustained snow, ice or rock that needs real climbing skills. Yak rates the overall effort very hard: 9 miles with 4,593 feet of elevation gain.
How many days does it take to climb Dent du Géant?
Most climbers plan 2 days for the Normal Route via SW Face, with at least one night on the mountain.
Is Dent du Géant dangerous to climb?
It has real risks: avalanche and icefall danger, crevasses on the glacier and exposed sections where a fall would be serious. Teams rope up for glacier travel, and many first-timers climb with a guide.
Do you need crampons and an ice axe for Dent du Géant?
Plan on it. Crampons and an ice axe are on the gear list for the Normal Route via SW Face for the snow and ice on the upper mountain, along with mountaineering boots that take crampons. Glacier travel also means a rope, harness and crevasse rescue skills. Conditions vary through the season, so check recent reports before you go.
Do you need to acclimatize to climb Dent du Géant?
Most people feel the altitude above 8,000 feet, and Dent du Géant reaches 13,166 feet. Spend a night or two at elevation first, drink plenty of water and turn back if a headache, nausea or dizziness gets worse.
When is the best time to climb Dent du Géant?
The usual climbing window is July to September. Outside it, expect snow, storms or closed access, and check the summit forecast before you go.
Climb Dent du Géant with Yak
Plan your route on a topo map, check the summit forecast, then log your climb and see what is left on your list