Lots of high mountain activity today with fine summery weather and a decent overnight freeze at least high in the mountains. Snow conditions are fine at the moment albeit perhaps a bit lean for mid June. Conditions were good this morning with stiff snow all the way up to the Dent du Geant and on to the Arete Rochefort. A fast Italian team reported good conditions for the route and were on to traversing the Marbrees extension by 0800 – packing it in!
Starting the beautiful but delicate snow ridge of the Rochefort…
The Dent du Geant was dry and in good condition despite the strong cool winds. The approach gully from the glacier was in good condition with a big boot track – no obvious crevasse yet and stiff snow this morning. Obviously there is lots of loose rock on the approach and even though a good boot track heads off left in ascent – it’s probably safer to stick closer to the blunt rib taking a more central line up the face – as this snowy traverse track is exposed to stone fall from teams above.
The spectacular setting of the Rochefort snow arete leading to the 4000m peaks Aiguille & Dome de Rochefort…and the Grands Jorasses beyond…
Also quite dry & rocky conditions for the classic local ridge traverses of the Marbrees & Entreves although with a decent stiff snow track up the N. Ridge of the Petit Flambeau. The Tour Ronde was getting ascents from the Freshfield arete / col area and a snow gully well left of the classic winter couloir route which is in hideously loose rock conditions – to be well avoided – even on the glacier below as constant stone fall was observed.
Over on the Chamonix side of the range teams were climbing all the classic col du Midi ridges as well as there being a large track up Mt Blanc du Tacul and up Mont Blanc from both the Grand Mulets and Gouter Refuges.
Conditions over on the Gran Paradiso were also reported as good with a well filled in glacier from Rifugio Chabod and a fine rapid snowy descent almost all the way to Vittorio Emanuelle Hut.
