The weather held out for one last weekend in the mountains a week ago, just in time to celebrate Darin's birthday before the first major snow fall of the season. Both days we found ourselves climbing in t-shirts with the wintry mass of Mont Blanc just across the way, savoring the perched view of the massif from the Aiguilles Rouges. The first day was a brand-new-this-year route featuring freshly scrubbed and comfortably bolted rock, while the second was more of a mountain itinerary on the Aiguille de la Persévérance. And persevere we did, hanging in there with a 3-hour approach through an endless scree field, a dropped (and later recovered) nano down jacket, and some minor altitude sickness for Darin. All in all an excellent weekend in the mountains with two longtime friends, who have guided me along my France adventure since 2006.
Barberine cliff: Voie Piola - TD, 6b
LEFT: Darin leading through the 6b pitch on nicely featured granite.
RIGHT: Topping out the route with troublemakers in tow, Christophe on the left and Darin on the right.
Aiguille de la Persévérance: Arête sud - AD+, 4c
LEFT: Aiguille de la Persévérance (2901 m) with the south ridge in the sun.
TOP RIGHT: Leading about halfway up the route... que demander de plus?
BOTTOM LEFT: Birthday boy Darin happy to have persevered after all.
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| Bro summit, unfortunately not sponsored by Petzl. |
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| Descending with the "Jardin féerique" across the way. Days like we had are perfect for stoking the long-term fires of motivation for Type-II fun... |
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