chamonix climbing

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Ice Climbing, Mountaineering course, Chamonix ski guide, haute route, chamonix climbing, Chamonix freeride, Chamonix mountain guides, Swiss mountaineering

a cogne classic

That familiar ring tone of the alarm that breaks the silence of the night, an unwelcome visitor arriving well before sunrise, this is the standard start for a day trip to the ice centre of Cogne in Italy. After the obligatory coffee and croissant stop in a warm Italian café, Magnus and I set off down the trail as the first glow of a new day toyed with the jagged horizon of the Gran Paradiso range. Being early and Monday we were first at the foot of Repentance in the Valnontey valley.

repentance

repentance

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starting

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Magnus reaching the belay, pitch 1

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Start of pitch 2

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leaving the belay on the third pitch

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topping out on the first steep wall

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the team on the plateau above the route

Le Tour, Swiss Alps, Mountaineering course, Chamonix ski guide, haute route, chamonix climbing, Chamonix freeride, Chamonix mountain guides, Swiss mountaineering

ski and ice pics

Some skiing and ice climbing shots from the last week of outings:

Sunset on Swiss Alps from Tete de Balme on an evening ski tour a few weeks back.

Sunset on Swiss Alps from Tete de Balme on an evening ski tour a few weeks back.

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Moody sunrise on the rime plastered granite spires of the Grand Charmoz

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Climbing through the mixed section of Lillaz Gully with the village of Cogne 600m below.

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Couloir skiing off the Grands Montets yesterday.