A rather ridiculous route in the Aigulles Rouges, involving multiple abseils, a lassoed tyrolean traverse and a few pitches of climbing thrown in between. All climbed in French Alpine Style (avec baguette).
Owen was very keen to climb Mont Blanc. I'd never climbed it and was quite interested to join him. With a perfect three day weather window, we joined the hoards on the Goûter Route for the long hike to the top.
We hadn't yet been high this trip, so we took a rather slow approach to our acclimatisation which included time for two spagbols en route. Our plans paid off as we summited just in time for a beautiful sunrise bathing the Matterhorn on the horizon in golden light.
Wet weather in Chamonix? You could do much worse than Via Corda Alpina - 600m of easy slabs up the rising ridgeline above the Arveyron Gorge. We made a leisurely afternoon ascent in big boots on small smears.
After a very wet first day in Chamonix, Owen and I took a chance on there being good weather above the clouds and caught the early lift up the Brevent. It was an atmospheric day in the craggy mists, with long easy pitches punctuated by some short scrambling and abseils (Owen's first!). We finished the day with the first half of Hotel California, before the rain and last lift loomed.
This was a micro adventure we had thought about doing for a long time. An evening climb to Lunchtime Ledge, dinner and wine, followed by a morning ascent to the top and return to work. Erinna and I were joined by Liv and Owen, our friends the microadventure pros.
The days are getting shorter, but there are still a good few hours after work to make the most of the gorge. Owen and I popped down to Main Area for a trip up Clarion and Aftermath, two more classic Avon VS routes I'd never done before.
