Grand Couloir no relation Mont Blanc
Description
The ascent usually takes 2 days. From Saint-Gervais-les-Bains, climbers must first reach the Nid d'Aigle, either via the Mont Blanc Tramway or by foot. From here, climbers hike to and then ascend a lateral moraine to the Tête Rousse Hut and the Tête Rousse Glacier. After crossing the Tête Rousse glacier, climbers access a short stretch of rock and immediately afterwards reach the infamous Couloir du Goûter or Grand Couloir. The 100 m-long section is protected by a steel cable, intended to be used in avalanche emergencies only.The unstable rocks in the couloir have become infamous as more and more climbers attempt Mont Blanc up this route. In the period between 1990 and 2011, 74 people have died and 180 injured in accidents along this section. This is attributed primarily to the fragmented rocks in the area, the rising popularity of the route, and lack of technical and athletic skills. The increasingly infamous reputation of this short section and the scramble above it have also created a positive feedback loop, where climbers to attempt to get through the area as rapidly as possible, in turn exacerbating existing risks. Most accidents occur when climbers slip off of unstable terrain or are hit by rockfall from above. While still highly risky, the vast majority of climbers make it through the section with no trouble.Beyond the couloir, one scrambles up a crest of rock leads up to the top of the mountain face, soon reaching the former Goûter Hut (an old mountain hut) where the path increases in steepness. This section is equipped with protective steel cables, above which climbers reach the ridge of the Aiguille du Goûter at the altitude of 3817 m. From here, climbers go 200 metres to the south to find the new Goûter Hut, which opened in 2013.Beyond this, the climb continues on straightforward, if sometimes exposed terrain. While the most technically difficult part of the climb has concluded, climbers should be aware of increasingly hazardous weather, a highly strenuous ascent ahead of 1000 m, and the risks they face on descent. 
The ascent from the summit from the Goûter Hut consists of a continuous progression on snow across the following landmarks:
Aiguille du Goûter (3,863 m)
Dôme du Goûter (4,304 m)
Vallot Hut (emergency cabin, 4,362 m)
Grande Bosse (4,513 m)
Petite Bosse (4,547 m)
Rocher de la Tournette (4,677 m)
Summit of Mont Blanc (4,808 m)The final approach typically involves walking (with crampons) on the top of an arête, ending at a flat spot that is the summit area.
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