This late summer week that was forecast to be pretty challenging weather wise started and ended well, but yes, sure, it was a pretty damp in the middle! Well done & thanks to Andrew and Simon who came back to climb with us in the Alps for yet another time without completing their main objective, but they had a great time climbing ‘other stuff’ along the way….
This is a big theme in the Alps. Turn up fit and keen, great. But turn up flexible too and you are on to a winning formula for a great alpine climbing holiday, even if there is the odd wet pants day in there like there was mid this week! OK, so the Plan A objectives weren’t met, but lots of good climbing was done and bring on the continued training for next year!
After enjoyable and productive high alpine sorties earlier in the week on Pollux, the Riffelhorn and Moiry Valley. Kev and Simon enjoyed 2 brilliant contrasting days on the sun rock of the Aosta Valley and the fresh snow & steep ice of the Triangle du Tacul.
After the major mid week precipitation there was actually only around 10cms of fresh snow on the Col du Midi and the approach slopes to the Triangle du Tacul have been nicely transformed white in to autumn mode…
The route was in good condition and probably feels a lot steeper that it used to for people who climbed it a long time ago when there used to be more ice!
The normal route on Mont Blanc du Tacul was also being done and Jim, Emma and Isabella enjoyed the high alpine air and sunshine today on this 4000m peak above the Col du Midi.
Although there are some quite spooky crevasses, and the seracs are ever present.
Andrew and Mark reaped the rewards of a wet and tough steep ascent to the brilliant Mischabel Hut with an ascent of the Nadelhorn, looking stunning in the fresh snow conditions and, at 4327m one of the major peaks of the Alps and intimately linked to nearby giants of the Dom, Lenspitze etc.
The north faces of the Dom and Lenspitze looking great with a fresh white coat of paint and it wasn’t that long ago we had reports of good conditions on the famous climb up the north face of the Lensptize.
Plenty more snow is on the way above around 2500m in the next few days which should help further build high mountain snow and ice conditions. Autumn is a often a great time to be climbing in the Alps, especially potentially this year after a wet and snowy end to the summer which is promising for improving mixed climbing conditions in October – November. Check out our autumn & winter mixed route info below and get in touch for details…..
Winter / Spring / Autumn Mountaineering in Chamonix & The Alps
We now only have a very few spaces left on our late summer alpine mountaineering courses plus an early autumn opportunity to climb Gran Paradiso and Mont Blanc in early October…
- 2 Places available on our Mont Blanc Training / Intro Alpine Mountaineering day, 2nd Oct
- 3 Places available on our Climb Gran Paradiso course, 3-5 Oct.
We also have places available on group courses and for private guiding for our UK Mont Blanc & Matterhorn training weekends.
Plus we have started taking bookings for winter ski touring & off piste courses based in Chamonix and our popular Chamonix off piste & touring skills course dates are up and taking bookings for Jan 2022 through to April 2022. We hope to climb – train – ski with you this coming autumn and winter season.
