Grandes Jorasses
The Grandes Jorasses, crowning at Pointe Walker at 4,208 meters (13,806 ft), is one of the most celebrated mountain massifs in the European Alps, rising along the Franco-Italian border in the Mont Blanc massif. Its legendary 1,200-meter sheer North Face is revered as one of the Six Great North Faces of the Alps.
Mountain Safety & Conditions Disclaimer: High-altitude climbing, glacial travel, and technical ascents entail severe objective risks including avalanches, serac collapses, rapid weather collapse, and altitude illness. Historical route descriptions and summit claims on Mountanity reflect documented archival sources and must not be used as live operational safety assessments. Local regulations, permits, and physical glacial topography change continuously.
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Geographical Setting & Topography
Graian Alps subrange, Mont Blanc Massif, situated above the Mer de Glace basin north of Courmayeur, Italy, and east of Chamonix, France.
Historic First Ascent
Date: June 30, 1868
Ascent Team: Horace Walker with Melchior Anderegg, Johann Jaun, and Julien Grange (via Normal South Flank)
Key Statistics & Topographic Figures
- Official Elevation
- 4,208 m (13,806 ft)
Topographic Survey
- Topographic Prominence
- 843 m
Relief Metric
- First Ascent
- June 30, 1868
Horace Walker with Melchior Anderegg, Johann Jaun, and Julien Grange (via Normal South Flank)
- Territory Codes
- FR / IT
Sovereignty
Archival Primary Source Quotations
“The mountains are calling, and we must honor their grandeur with truth and historical precision.”
Defined Alpine Terminology & Concepts
- Topographic Prominence
- The vertical elevation difference between a mountain summit and the lowest contour line encircling it that contains no higher summit.
- Alpine Zone
- The ecological and climatic zone above the treeline characterized by severe weather, glaciers, and permanent snow cover.
Grandes Jorasses Mountain Weather Forecast
Detailed 14-Day Summit Window & Weather Timeline
Explore day-by-day summit push safety windows, wind shear analysis, and extended multi-day forecasts for Grandes Jorasses.
Explore Grandes Jorasses (4,208 m) in Interactive 3D
Inspect steep glacial walls, hanging seracs, ridge approaches, and elevation relief with 360° rotation and terrain tilt in WebGL.
Documented Climbing Routes (1)
Walker Spur (North Face)
The Walker Spur on the North Face of the Grandes Jorasses is one of the supreme classic alpine mixed routes in the world. Ascending 1,200 metres directly to Pointe Walker (4,208m), it features sustained technical climbing across granite slabs, icy dihedrals, and exposed arêtes graded ED1, with difficulties up to UIAA VI / 5.10a. Conquered in August 1938 by Riccardo Cassin, Gino Esposito, and Ugo Tizzoni, it achieved modern acclaim when Tom Ballard made an astonishing solo winter ascent in March 2015.
Historical Expeditions (1)
2015 Tom Ballard Solo Winter Six North Faces of the Alps
In the winter of 2014–2015, 26-year-old British solo alpinist Tom Ballard completed the historic 'Starlight and Storms' project, becoming the first person in mountaineering history to solo all Six Great North Faces of the Alps in a single calendar winter without support teams.
Summit Chronicles & Stories (1)
Starlight and Storms: Tom Ballard's Solo Winter Hexalogy of the Alps
In the winter of 2014–2015, British solo climber Tom Ballard made history by becoming the first person to solo all Six Great North Faces of the Alps in a single winter.
Frequently Asked Questions: Grandes Jorasses
What is the verified elevation of Grandes Jorasses?
Grandes Jorasses has an official elevation of 4,208 meters (13,806 feet) above sea level.
When was Grandes Jorasses first climbed?
Grandes Jorasses was first summited on June 30, 1868 by Horace Walker with Melchior Anderegg, Johann Jaun, and Julien Grange (via Normal South Flank).
What mountain range and territories encompass Grandes Jorasses?
Grandes Jorasses is situated in Haute-Savoie, Aosta Valley, Mont Blanc Massif across territory codes FR, IT.
Documented Sources & Archival Citations
- American Alpine Journal: Cassin's Ascent of the Grandes Jorasses North Face(American Alpine Club)
Supporting claim: Historical evaluation of Riccardo Cassin's 1938 first ascent of the Walker Spur
Accessed/Documented: 1939 - Starlight and Storm: The Ascent of Six Great North Faces(Gaston Rébuffat / J.M. Dent)
Supporting claim: Classic alpine literature detailing the severe conditions on the North Face
Accessed/Documented: 1954