A walk on the not so wild side

What a view! (photo by Paul) Today, the weather was as forecasted, fantastic. The clear crisp morning would have been perfect conditions for heroic activities at 4000m, but not for us. During the early hours of the morning, there was sudden and alarming activity in the Sterling residence; as first Pete, and then Boris, made

Laetitia gets the Swiss Army knife out…

Laetitia contemplates a knife? (photo by Paul) Pete’s plan A today seemed to also be plan A for every beginner in the valley. We approached Valorcine and found it heaving with would be climbers. Every route was occupied by young students learning the ropes. Crowds of beginners! We managed to find a route that isn’t

Plan B

Paul and Boris We said we’d get back to Le Chapeau (it was good last time) – and today the poor forecast coupled with our forgetting the guidebook meant we needed a plan B; Chapeau… Paul, Boris, Laetitia and Pete grabbed four excellent granite slab routes before today’s thunderstorms started. Testing moves on a 6c

Le Chapeau

Another sunny day in the Chamonix valley, and another chance to get some cragging done while Britain suffered in the floods! 8) This time we chose another new venue; Le Chapeau. These amazing granite slabs test your ability to stand on nothing and trust the friction of the rough granite to what felt like the

Joux

Checking out a new venue recommended by Ian, La Joux, just outside Chamonix was fun. Although, being next to a mountain stream and pasture ensured that the monster horse flies ate more of our blood than we ate French bread and cheese at lunch time! After some fun cragging we went to Argentiere to meet