mont blanc - grands mulets

New women's record on the FTK

Anna DeMonte, a mountaineer from Utah, made history on June 5 by setting a new women's ski record for the Fastest Known Time (FKT) on Mont Blanc's Grands Mulets route. She completed this demanding route in just 7 hours and 29 minutes, carrying all her equipment. The Grands Mulets route is one of the most traditional routes to the summit of Mont Blanc on skis, renowned for its technical challenges and sometimes unpredictable conditions. This record underlines his endurance, physical strength and mountaineering expertise.

It's an impressive achievement, not only for its speed, but also for the fact that DeMonte achieved this feat with all her own equipment, without assistance, reinforcing her achievement on this iconic Alpine climb.




Anna DeMonte came very close to the overall women's Fastest Known Time (FKT) record set by Hillary Gerardi, missing the previous feat by just two minutes, despite slipping 30 metres during the ascent on an icy section. However, this setback did not prevent DeMonte from achieving an impressive time on this extremely technical route.

©Aaron Rolph

The Grands Mulets route - a great mastery of ski-mountaineering

The Route des Grands Mulets, which covers some 3,800 meters of vertical drop, requires exceptional mastery of several disciplines. It combines technical trail running, ski-mountaineering on steep slopes, and complex glacier navigation, dealing with potentially perilous conditions such as crevasses and live ice. This feat highlights DeMonte's physical and mental stamina, as well as his ability to adapt to high-mountain challenges.

"I'm both happy and humbled by the effort I've put in," said DeMonte. "We spent so much time and attention training, scouting, acclimatizing and waiting, all in a new country, and yet conditions were far from optimal. I'm happy and proud to have achieved it in this way, carrying my own equipment from start to finish."


Preparing the athlete - Anna DeMonte


Anna DeMonte and her partner Jack Kuenzle spent the spring in Chamonix, a veritable Mecca for ski-mountaineering and mountain adventure enthusiasts. During their stay, DeMonte quickly decided to attempt a Fastest Known Time (FKT) on Mont Blanc, preparing herself mentally and physically to tackle this iconic mountain. The route she chose, la voie des Grands Mulets, represents a major challenge, combining different mountain disciplines.



The ascent begins with a 1,000-metre trail climb above the Mont Blanc tunnel, followed by a traverse of the Bossons glacier, one of the most impressive glaciers in the Alps. Next, complex navigation between crevasses and towering seracs precedes the final ascent of theArête des Bosses, a technical ridge leading directly to the summit of Mont Blanc. This route requires a combination of mountaineering skills, altitude resistance and high-mountain skiing abilities.

The descent is no less impressive, with a thrilling ski descent down the north face, which DeMonte called "one of the best ski descents I've ever done". Her feat could well become a source of inspiration for other women, as she hopes to see more female skiers try their hand at speed challenges on Mont Blanc.

Her adventure to Chamonix, in search of new challenges with Kuenzle, is a testament to her passion for the mountains and her willingness to push back her own limits.


Anna DeMonte was equipped with the ultra-technical textile from the Rab brand.

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