2. 2009

Mt Blanc in July.

In summer I enrolled in a five day mountaineering course, aimed at climbing Mt Blanc - Europe's highest mountain at 4,807m - via the 3 Monts route. Whilst significantly more vertical than the standard Gouter track, this route is considered more aesthetic. I discovered that in the mountains, this can also mean 'terrifying.' Don't miss the published story of this adventure!
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    Petite Verte N face climbers.jpg
    North face. Our guide, however, informed us we'd be going straight up the middle of this 90 m, 60 degree ice face. 'Righto' we said, with no idea how. Ignorance can sometimes be a good thing.
    We climbed in three, 30m pitches, with our guide hacking out miniature stances at the end of each rope length, and bolting us to the wall with ice screws, which we removed as we ascended. As the leader his maximum fall would be 60m if he fell - assuming I was able to successfully belay him. Perhaps given that I was a non-French speaking beginner, he hadn't bothered to attempt instruction. For entrusting their lives to strangers such as I these guides receive their modest daily fees. I must try to complain less about my job in future.