Headmaster at their former school said Mr Gauntlett and Mr Atkinson were hugely determined and passionate about climbing.
Mr Gauntlett from Petworth and his friend James Atkinson from Wisborough Green were killed when they fell on a route on the east face of Mont Blanc.
John Franklin, of independent Christ's Hospital School in Horsham, West Sussex, said pupils and staff were informed of their deaths at one of its chapel services.
Mr Franklin said: "They were fine young men; quietly spoken, hugely determined and passionate about their climbing.
"Their deaths come as a terrible blow to us all and the only faint consolation is that they died in the mountains doing what they loved best."
To leave your tributes to Rob leave your comments below, email the newsroom at
news@chiobserver.co.uk or ring reporter Jenny Mouland on 07801 195 419.
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