Contamine route on Mont Blanc du Tacul

John on the technical crux

Self timer worked ~ us on the summit 4248 m

John on the traverse, after the technical climbing there is a long ridge to the summit

This route was first climbed on the 4th July 1968 by G Gren, G. Grisolle, A Poulain and M Ziegler with Andre Contamine.

Grand Paradiso

Richard and James resting by the edge of the glacier on descent ~Glacier du Mont Grand Paradis

The Vittorio Emanuele II refuge at 2714m

James and Richard by the summit Madonna~4061 m.

bad weather here in Chamonix so yesterday we drove around to Italy and walked up to the Refugio Chabod. We awoke at 4.00 am and then did a traverse of the mountain descending by the V Emanuele refuge and then the steep walk back to Breuil. It was very windy and cold with menacing clouds on the summit. The sun came up and the clouds cleared sufficiently for Richard and James to bag their first 4000 m peak!

Arete des Cosmiques. Chamonix Mont Blanc

These photos show Richard and James/ green jacket: on various pitches of the arete. The weather closed in this afternnon and it was getting stormy as we finished.

Aig du Tour

James and Richard on the summit

Arriving back at the Albert 1er Refuge later in the day

Rock climbing yesterday before we walked up to the Albert 1er mountain refuge

In the mountains

James and Richard crossing some serac fall debris in the Vallee Blance earlier today

The Harker twins

Rainy Day in Chamonix

Patagonia do make usefull hoods on their jackets!

Kathy, with fine view

Floria is a nice cafe on the petit balcon sud

More rock climbing

Kathy leading a nice climb at Le Fayat du Bas which is granular gneiss and good for footwork, 5b and 5 c were the routes we climbed this afternoon.

Here we are climbing on the Rochers Blanc, near the village of Onnion where there is friendly limestone climbing!