In reply to Mercian14:
I've gone alone and I've gone with partners. Both time's I've planned to go alone I managed to find partners to line up between when I made travel arrangements and when I arrived in town. First time I went was like this and I was inexperienced (no alpine, but could lead easy rock competently and moderate ice, plus had basic self rescue skills), but the trip was still great.
It all comes down to how much you can afford to take the hit if it doesn't work out, but I'd say you probably have a good shot at making it work. If you can't get someone to commit ahead of time, book your tickets, put out the word among your friends that you're looking for a partner between X and Y dates, post up on climbing forums, find accommodations in Cham somewhere you're likely to cross paths with other climbers, and on your first day there go put your name down in the partner book at the OHM office.
Also, reconsider the Gouter route. On the one hand it has a nice 100m snow ridge just before the summit. On the other hand it also features a super mario style "dodge the nonstop boulder stream" spot down on the trail before reaching the hut. People talk about this, but I wrote it off as hyperbole. It was mind boggling to see in person. It's unbelievable that people run that gauntlet to hike up such an unremarkable route (we descended the Gouter at the end of a long ass day, never climbed up it).
Post edited at 06:52