Friday 28 June 2013

Chamonix

Aviemore last Sunday, Bo'ness on Monday, Newcastle on Tuesday, ferry and road journey on Wednesday and then Chamonix very early last Thursday.
So we've now been here a week and had some good days cragging with Sandy then a few acclimatisation days. We climbed the Cosmiques Arete, sneaking up a couloir part way along to avoid the usual queues that form at the abseil then went back up to climb Mont Blanc du Tacul the following day with quite different weather - mist and light snow compared to the blue sky and sunshine of the Tuesday.
 The Marmotte driving the boat!
 Looking up the Cosmiques Couloir

 Looking down the gully behind the second gendarme...
 ...and back up
 The crux wall is a good bit shorter due to the build up of snow at its base
 Looking down the final chimney
Mont Blanc du Tacul - what a difference a day makes!