Perfect snow conditions
Climbing with John and Fiona Fells and Dave Seddon this week Simon Abrahams and I finally got a chance to reap the benefits of all the bad weather we have had this summer. We starte d the week with a great forecast and great snow conditions. We headed up to the Conscrits hut a long but beautiful walk, we traversed the Dome de Miage the next day in the best snow conditions I have climbed it in. perfect neve all the way. The descent to the car was still as long as ever with 2800m of knee jarring before we could take our boots off. Dave wasnt feeling too great so decided to head home, the rest of the team headed for the Bernina. We drove across and took the lift to the rather luxurious Diavolezza hotel. We left early the next morning and took the long trek to the Marco e Rosa hut, its quite a bit longer than the guide book suggests and took us 7hrs. The weather was superb so we had a quick bite to eat then climbed the Spala Grat to the summit of the Piz Bernina, the next morning wasnt to great as I had picked up some food poisoning and was being sick. We finally left the hut about 7am and traversed the Piz Palu in perfect snow back to the Diavolezza. We drove back to Chamonix so John and Fiona could try Mont Blanc with Simon; unfortunately they were turned back at the Vallot hut due to high winds.