22nd July, Midi Plan Traverse PD

Somewhere just out from the ice cave near the beginning of the traverse. Lena looking set to go, waiting for somebody perhaps !!

You can see the Midi telepherique in the distance on the RHS (a small dot!). The Midi is impressive at the top of the mountain in the distance, showing the start of the Traverse.

Jacket now on! Weather has deteriorated significantly, visibility is reducing, wind picking up, storm clouds are developing, as predicted - let's not stay here for too much longer! Impressive scenery though!

Middle section of the traverse

Who's that !

Quick - everybody back to the ice tunnel and safety! The storm is fast approaching. This team is just about to do the steep and narrow snow/ice ridge to easier ground.

Today was the day for altitude and snow, but hopefully in safety away from rock/ice fall. We chose the Midi Plan Traverse. After research in town the day before we knew that it had changed significantly after the last couple of weeks, and it had been stripped of much of it's snow, leaving bare dangerous scree slopes in places. These could however be negotiated safely - just! The weather did show that an afternoon storm was on it's way, so definitely a day to know when to turn around! As predicted we found that the snow was in fact ice for much of the traverse. It was a day where so often in the alps, the weather can change in minutes from blue skies one min, to storm clouds and lightning the next min!

We got down Safe!