CHAMONIX FRENCH ALPS August 2010
Meet Chamonix , Sunday 1st August 2010 ( More details to follow nearer the time ) Take a look at this. http://www.lesrandonneurs.fr/ I have stayed here before and found it to be cheap and clean. Or we could camp here http://www.chamonix-camping.com
Have a look at the Chamonix Home Page http://www.chamonix.com and photo gallery.
Take a look at this piece of kit.http://www.blizzardsurvival.com/section.php/6/ac7854444df44f565a83140799557b38 I have used one of these for several years now as a one night emergency bivvy bag. Much lighter than the normal “orange plastic bag” and a great deal warmer. I have used it in my tent for extra warmth and to keep my sleeping bag clean and dry..
Here are some of the walks / climbs we could do.
:
Vallee Blanche Traverse. From the top of the Aiguille du Midi (accessed from Chamonix by the cable car) descend the steep and exposed snow arête and out on the plateau of the glacier. Group is roped up and wearing crampons. Continue across the glacier among large crevasses and climb up to point Helbronner. Return using the cable car to the Aiguille du Midi. Usually takes about 4-5 hours.
Mont Blanc du Tacul, NW Face (4248m) – a snow and glacier climb with some rock at the end. Mostly low angled with some steeper sections. The ascent from the Aiguille du Midi or from the Refuge des Cosmiques takes about 3-4 hours. The descent takes 2 hours.
Arête des Cosmiques – one of the most popular routes in the Mont Blanc Massif. A relatively easy but exposed climb on both rock and ice usually requiring crampons. The starting point is once again the Aiguille du Midi or Refuge des Cosmiques. The ascent takes 4-5 hours.
Aiguille d’Entrèves Traverse (3604m) – another interesting but easy climb to the summit of this granite spire, most on which is on rock. Towards the summit there is a narrow and exposed ridge. The descent is down the east ridge. The starting point is either the Aiguille du Midi or the Rifugio Torino.
Les Dômes de Miage Traverse – a 2-day outing of moderate alpine mountaineering. The traverse crosses 3 summits and the route is on both rock and ice, much of which is along an exposed but well-tracked path on the ridge of the arête. The start is from Les Contamines on the west side of Mont Blanc, from where it is an easy 5 hour climb to the Refuge des Conscrits. Day 2 starts with the traverse of the Tré la Tête glacier and the ascent to reach the Col des Dômes. Continue along the vertiginous edge to the Central Dôme (3633 m) and the Occidental Dôme, the highest point of the route. Descend back via the south-east side to Les Contamines. Total duration on day 2 is 10 hours
Others in the Chamonix valley, Le Buet @ 3100m and Tete Blanche 3200m ( Walks). Aquille Rouge, various climbs and scrambles @ 2500m
