This summer’s mountains
Its been a summer with much precipitation but also many days alone on nice summits in short weather windows and good snow conditions with little rock-fall danger. Here are a few photos from the sometimes sunny and warm season.
The summer started for me with two trips up Mont Blanc, both of which were cold but with great snow conditions and summit success.
Sunset from the new Refuge du Gouter
Some are up early for the sunrise shot over the Mont Blanc range
In July and August I spent some time in the Swiss Valais, these shots are from the Dufourspitze, Nadelhorn, Mont Blanc de Cheillon, l’Eveque and the Wiessmies:
Climbing on the Rifflehorn, acclimatizing for the Dufourspitze seen in the background on the left with Liskamm to the right
Sunset with the Matterhorn and the flag of the Monte Rosa hut silhouetted
The last steps before the Dufour summit
The sun’s first rays on the faces of Lenzspitze and Nadelhorn
The Mischabel hut guardians enjoying a morning stroll on Ulrichshorn
Smiles and photos on the summit of Mont Blanc de Cheillon
Morning views on the traverse of the Weissmies
A party on the summit ridge of the Weissmies
Some good rock climbing on l’Eveque SW ridge
Climbing l’Eveque with the ridge of La Singla behind and Mont Blanc far away to the right
Some trips to the quieter areas of the Mont Blanc range, finished off the summer guiding for me. Here climbing on some of the granite in the Orny area.
Fun scrambling on the Aiguille d’Arpette
Laurie getting stuck into some perfect granite
Great climbing on sunny aspects of the Purtscheller.
Don’t forget your chimneying skills!
We then started on some mountain ice and mixed, in great condition after the snowy summer:
Abseiling down to climb up to the Aiguille du midi again…
The profit-perroux gully, high above the Chamonix valley
Laurie exiting the crux pitch
Enjoying the last pitches up the Arete des Cosmiques
Guillaume in a mixed route on the Tacul triange
Some traffic on the Schmid route on the Matterhorn.
The morning’s rays interrupted by the Hornli ridge
The view down the Hornli ridge with Zermatt below and the north face to the left
Thanks to everyone I climbed with for a good, safe season, hope to see you again next year!
