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| Strange light on the Bossons glacier |
Peter Little and I have been climbing together for over 30 years. In that time we have seen every sort of weather. This year was no different. The weather forecast changed every day which made planning a challenge, nevertheless we made the most of it. This is what we did over six days of climbing together.
On our first day we did a climb which did not even exist when Peter and I first started climbing together.
La Via Cordia , high above the middle station of La Flegere. It is a ideal first day climb which finishes at the top of the L'Index chairlift. Plus because the weather was so unpredictable it is a good choice because there are plenty of escape opportunities. Thankfully, the weather held, and we were able to complete the route albeit in rather thick mist.
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| Final section of La Via Cordia |
On our second day we awoke to rain. It was intermittent rain but still rain. We headed back up this time to try the via ferratta les Evettes.
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| Final bridge. |
On our third day, we again headed up La Flegere and attempt the multi pitch rock climb Athena on the Grand Floria cliff. All was good and the weather was fine until it was not fine. The rain came in and we were forced to escape and scuttle off back to the valley floor. We identified a gap in the weather, by studying the predictive weather radar. This allowed us to sneak in the excellent Via Ferratta in Le Buet and stay dry.
The forth day we climbed the Bel Ouseaux which is a strange name for a mountain. This is high above the Lac du Emossom. We were accompained not by a guide dog but by a Guide's dog, our Golden Retriever Milo.
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| Peter & Milo just below the summit |
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| looking towards Aiguille Verde |
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| Post walk ice bath |
The fifth day it chucked it down. We made a futile attempt to out run the rain by visiting some beautiful crags in remote valleys in Switzerland, yet each time we thought we had a chance to start climbing, it started raining again.
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| Lunch in Switzerland |
On our final day all was good. We drove through the Mt Blanc Tunnel, rode the Skyway cable car and emereged on to the glacier with wonderful views. Mind you it was cold with a biting wind.
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| Thought I'd seen it all: Man drags rolly suitcase across the glacier |
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| Mont Blanc from the summit of Aiguille Marbree |
Everywhere was plastered in a coating of fresh snow which made the scene even more beautiful. It was also surprisingly quiet as we headed over to climb the Aiguille Marbree. This would be our second ascent of the mountain. Peter reliably informing me that our first ascent together was on 1st July 1997!
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