Clocher Clochotons

Mid Winter at the end of June

Turi and Agust went from summer climbing yesterday to full winter conditions on the Cosmique arrete high p on the aiguille du Midi. Nevertheless we got above the clouds and had really good climbing condiions and hardly no one around.

Remarkable Rock Climbing

Turi and Agust spent an afternoon at the local Chamonix crag Les Gaillands. They had never been rock climbing before. They learnt extrordinarly quickly because now armed with the "basic skills" they launched them selves at the most famous rock climb in the Aosta Valley the Bucce d'arancia. A wonderful 10 pitch rock climb.

Still unsettled weather

More poor weather is creating problems. Last night it snowed down to 2000 meters. This photo was taken from our kitchen window by my friend Alan Kimber.

Wendy Crabb becomes an Alpinist

We have just completed an imensely successful three days. Wendy, and I spent a day on the Mer de Glace Ice climbing. We then climbed the Aiguille du Crochue and ran down the snow fields to lac Blanc. On our third day we took the lift up to the summit of the aiguille du Midi and traversed Point Lachanael. Wendy is now a confirmed Alpinist and is going to buy her own mountaineering boots.

Difficult Conditions

The climbing conditions are not good at the moment. There has been a lot of snow followed by hot weather and it has not been freezing high up. Katie Penrose and attempted to climb the Tour Ronde but had to retreat because it was just too dangerous to continue. Later in the week we attempetd to clmb Mt Blanc but only got as far as te Tete Rousse Hut where the winds were horrendous. Once the wind dropped it started to snow. As we walked down to the valley the rain got heavier and it was like being attacked by a garden hose. Some weeks are better than others...

Nevertheless we did have better weather today and climbed the super long Via Cordia which is a unique climb /scramble which is ideal training for long alpine rock climbs.