Champex and Orny hut

Over a couple of days (10 and 11 July) was guiding in Switzerland but the royalty I was guiding does not want her pretty face on my blog!!!!!
Orny hut, if you zoom in on this photo you should see a mallard duck! I realise they are not usually seen at this altitude but the hut guardian is trying to encourage duck shooting!

8 and 9 July Monte Rosa ascent

The new Monta Rosa Hut, 2795m. Its amazing, but so expensive to build that now they have to encourage lots off day tripper to come and buy lunch! Not a place to go if you are searching for peace and tranquility!

Nigel and Liz on the DUFOURSPITZE (Monta Rosa), 4633 m, the highest point in Switzerland

Zermatt days!

The Matterhorn from Zermatt this afternoon.

Nigel (left) with Liz on the summit of the Briethorn this morning. The Matterhorn is behind.

(Above) A team of climbers on the traverse!
This morning we woke at 4.00 am at the Ayas hut. After breakfast we climbed back up the glacier to the foot of Pollux glad that the cold night had firmed up the snow and made the crevasse bridges a bit more solid! Liz was particularly pleased as today she did not fall into any crevasses. We did a traversed of the Briethorn which is a pretty cool thing to do! An ace day!

Mountaineering around Zermatt

The Ayas mountain hut: where we spent last night. This is a private mountain hut owned by the Italian mountain guides.
Liz and Nigel on the summit of Pollux, 6th July10. Monta Rosa in the background!

The twins, Pollux and Castor, Pollux is on the left.

Bishorn from Zenal

View from Bishorn towards Mont Blanc

The Tracuit Hut, ( Swiss Alpine Club) . Its about a 5 hours steep walk from Zinal.
Nigel, Liz and myself on the summit of the Bishorn this morning.

After Mont Blanc, a mornings rock climbing in Chamonix!

Interesting times, when men and mountains meet!
The last day of a weeks mountain guiding with Peter and Keith, it's been a blast and we have taken in some good climbs and summits.Thanks guys!

Keith at the crag!
Peter abseils down one of our climbs

Mont Blanc

Keith, Peter and S on the summit 7.25 am on the 2 July.
Another wonderful Mont Blanc ascent. We departed from the Cosmiques mountain hut at 1.45 am and arrived on the summit of Mont Blanc at 7.25am. Our route took us along the "trois Mont Blanc's", Mont Blanc Du Tacul, Mont Maudit and then Mont Blanc. We enjoyed a wonderful sunrise and there was absolutely no wind, a rare occurrence indeed. We traversed the mountain by descending the normal (Goutier route). An ace couple of days!

Keith and Peter on the summit, Aig du Midi behind!


Looking back from the Col du Brenva on our way to the summit of Mont Blanc