American Anna DeMonte is the fastest woman to ski Mont Blanc and back. On June 5, 2024, the Utah-born skier made the round trip to the summit in 7 hours and 29 minutes, four minutes faster than Hillary Gerardi’s women’s record on foot, set in 2023. Anna DeMonte had meticulously prepared her ascent. However, she fell some 30 metres in a traverse on the way up with the skins, a fall that could have ended badly given the crevassed area. Fortunately, she escaped unharmed and completed the return trip to Mont Blanc as planned, in 7 hours 29 minutes.
The first confirmed women’s record was set in 7:53 by Emelie Forsberg in 2018, on foot. Anna DeMonte therefore set a new benchmark time on skis, but did not beat Hillary Gerardi’s absolute women’s record on foot. The men’s record is still held by Kilian Jornet in 4:57. Round trip.