• Climbing as it should be - lots of fun!

  • Meanwhile Pete was powering his way through their 6a

  • Is that rock attached?

  • Ian showing us how it was done on his 1st pitch

  • caption

Aiguille Rouge

After the adventures of yesterday we were looking for a more relaxed day today. We headed to the top of the Index chairlift.

The easy way to the top

It was a short, friendly walk to the base of Aiguillette de la Floria avoiding all the nasty boulder fields in the area that I particularly dislike. Working out the start of all the routes was proving tricky, but Tish and I thought we were ok setting off on our route, although we were not 100% certain which of two choices it actually was.

Pete and Ian had already set off so it was time to get going.

Ian showing us how it was done on his 1st pitch

My first pitch was reasonably straightforward, although next to one of the bolts there had been a significant rock fall and much of the rock was friable.

Is that rock attached?

As Tish led the next pitch she let out a little cry of distress above me – loose rock again causing the alarm.

Tish’s belay was directly under a massive corner – we now quickly realised accurately our location. We were not ready for 6a on loose rock so we beat a retreat.

Meanwhile Pete was powering his way through their 6a

Back at the bottom we reassessed the situation and set off up….Tish going first so that I could have a chance at some 5b leading. This time the climbing was a delight and a real jug feast at first. My 5b was lovely, although rather run out. I was particularly pleased to find one hidden bolt above a steep step that otherwise would have had a 20 foot run out.

Climbing as it should be – lots of fun!

Tish tackled the steep wall with commitment despite the pesky loose rock making a return. The final pitch just had one thought provoking section and then we were at the top. Brilliant and well in time for the lift!

Series - Chamonix '12

  1. At last a day without paint – L’ile aux Razmokets
  2. Eperon Nord, North West slabs of
    Aiguille du Peigne
  3. Aiguille Rouge
  4. Alpine Flower Quiz
  5. Shutter Renovation
  6. Aiguille du Tour
  7. Last Day of Cragging at Gaillands

5 thoughts on “Aiguille Rouge”

    1. Well, I must have bought all my trousers at the same time back in 2005 or thereabouts, as I’ve worn through the seat of two pairs of climbing strides in the past two weeks! So just before this trip Laetitia bought me the light weight trousers seen here. However these won’t do for less sunny locations – I’ll shiver to death. I’m gonna have to invest in another pair of middle weight trousers soon…

      1. Why not buy two different pairs. You could have some climbing trousers (with a re-enforced rear end) and some approach trousers. Maybe you could get some sort of layered system for different temperatures with velcro attached over legs 💡

    1. Your mum had the best of the weather apart from yesterday, so we went swimming – the water flume is brilliant!!! :star: :star:
      It’s now gone even wetter and very cold :freeze: . The boys are doing more diy and I’m pretending to help 😀 😀 😀

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