I was climbing with John and Fiona Fells this week, we met in Chamonix with a plan to try and climb Mont Blanc after a period of acclimatisation. The weather had put down a lot of snow in the mountains so we had to think about where we could climb that would minimise avalanche risk and not mean to much wading in fresh snow. We decided to go the Dix hut above Arolla we walked in very Scottish misty conditions but woke to a perfect alpine day. We climbed La Luette in great conditions and didn't see a single person all day before getting back to the hut for one of their famous Rosti's. The next day we climbed Mont Blanc de Cheillon in very snowy conditons the summit snow crest was superb feeling very airy and requiring good footwork from the summit there was great views in every direction.
We spent the night in Arolla then drove through to Grindelwald and took the Jungfraujoch railway to the Monschjoch hut, the hut was wonderfully quiet with only 2 other people staying the night, we climbed the Monch the next morning in great conditions though the new snow made the final ridge a bit exciting. After a day off in Chamonix we headed up to the Gouter hut, the ridge to the hut is in great condition with crampons on from below the Tete Rousse hut. On Sunday morning we left the Gouter hut at 3.30am and were standing on top of Western Europe at 8am in very cold windy conditions. The descent was quick and easy on great snow being back at the train by 1430.
I drove over to meet Dan and Chris in Interlaken to find Dan being violently ill and stuggling to leave his room so the planned traverse of the Oberland was out and we needed a new Plan. Chris and I decided to go for a day hike on the hills above Grindelwald, we had great views of the North Faces of the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau. Dan was feeling much better the next day so caught the first train to the Jungfraujoch and climbed the Monch in perfect conditions. The boys had to be on a train to Luzern the next morning so we had a high speed run up a hill above Interlaken where we had great views of the lakes and the Oberland behind.
North Faces, Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau Dan on the summit of the Monch
