On Friday, May 16, French trail runner and ski mountaineer Élise Poncet carved her name into the alpine record books with a stunning speed ascent and descent of Mont Blanc the highest peak in the Alps, at 4,807 metres.
Starting at 5 a.m. from the steps of the church in Chamonix, the 29-year-old completed the full round trip via the Grand Mulets route in 6 hours, 54 minutes, and 47 seconds, setting a new women’s ski fastest known time (FKT). The route, which climbs over 3,800 metres in just 35 kilometres, is a brutal test of endurance, alpine skill, and mental strength.
Poncet didn’t just break the women’s ski record, she obliterated it by over 30 minutes, surpassing the previous mark set by American Anna DeMonte. In doing so, she also outpaced Hillary Gerardi’s overall women’s FKT, previously the fastest known time on Mont Blanc by foot.
“It was really a way to mix these two things,” Poncet told POWDER, referring to her dual passions for trail running and ski mountaineering.
This was her first FKT attempt, a remarkable debut. Known for her prowess on the trails, Poncet is a former winner of France’s national trail running championships and a regular podium finisher in the European mountain running circuit, finishing 5th at the uphill race at the Mountain Running European Championships I 2024 in Annecy. However, Mont Blanc is a totally different kettle of fish: glaciated, crevassed, and often wind-raked above 4,000 metres.
She tackled it solo, moving fast and light in near-perfect spring conditions, a narrow window where snow cover remains solid, and crevasses haven’t fully opened.
Former record holder Anna DeMonte took the news in good spirits:
“It’s never fun when your record gets broken,” she said, “but I’m happy to see more elite women going for this, that shows real progression in the sport.”
Poncet’s effort is not just a personal triumph, it’s a milestone for women’s high-alpine endurance. In a sport where gains are often measured in seconds, her time represents a seismic leap forward.
Mont Blanc has long been a proving ground for mountain athletes. With this effort, Élise Poncet has proved she’s one of the very best.
