RAB athlete Anna DeMonte has set a new women’s ski Fastest Known Time (FKT) on Mont Blanc’s Grand Mulets route. On 5June 2024, the Utah-based mountaineer completed the course in an impressive 7 hours and 29 minutes, carrying all her own gear. There’s an insightful, dynamic video documenting the project to enjoy HERE.
DeMonte’s time came within two minutes of the women’s overall FKT, set by Hillary Gerardi, after a 100-foot slip on the icy ascent. The route, covering approximately 12,600 vertical feet, combines technical trail running, steep ski mountaineering and complex glacier travel.
“I am both happy and humbled with the effort I put together,” said DeMonte. “We put so much time and focus into training, scouting, acclimatizing, and waiting, all in a new country, and still conditions were far from optimal. I’m stoked to have done this in a style I am proud of, carrying all of my own equipment, from start to finish.”
The Grand Mulets route presents a true challenge, including a 3,300-foot trail climb past the Mont Blanc tunnel, traversing the Bossons glacier, navigating massive crevasses and seracs, and ascending the Arete des Bosses to the summit. The descent involves a thrilling ski down the north face, which DeMonte described as “one of the best skis I’ve ever done.”
Photos: ©Aaron Rolphi
