Rochefort Ridge From Torino Hut

The Torino Hut in Italy (3375m). Accessed direct by cablecar from La Palud (saves a 5hr walk up 2000m !!)

After the 4.30am breakfast, off we went into the dark towards the Col du Geant.

Still dark, now, leaving the snow and gaining the steeper loose rock ground - very loose!! I was very glad that there was nobody above us!

Dawn... Still on the rocky approach. There are lots of people below us now, but hopefully they are not directly below.. It is near impossible to not send some rock down..

Spot Alison in blue near the bottom of the photo - still dark , but headtorches are off now... Spot the Midi at the top of the photo - looking stunning in dawn light..

The Midi with the Vallee Blanche

Alison marching off along the Ridge. At this point the wind was strong, and soon started to gust at whatever speed mph...

Little bit of a cornice, let's not go near it !! ...

Mer de Glace

Alison going down into the teeth of the wind, this is where she realised it was time to turn back

Mer de Glace in the background - we're on our way back now

Well, I had to take a look at the Dent du Geant SW face as well. This is half way along the first pitch.

Cosmiques hut on the left. Cosmiques ridge leading up to the midi, and then the Midi-Plan traverse on the RHS...

Looking back up at the rocky approach, after we down climbed it. This is tracherous ground, with almost all the rocks loose, and route finding a little tricky. We were glad to get off before the crowds started down, throwing rocks down as they went!!

Lost my rucsac!

So after hours and hours yesterday morning trying to make a plan, looking at weather, a million new guide books and maps, a decision was made to head for the Torino hut and do the Rochefort Ridge, hoping the bad weather of Monday night doesn't come in early. James Thacker and Mark Walker were on the Frontier Ridge. After an early start for us, but an earlier start for them, we were off... We saw their headtorches in the distance making progress up their ridge - into the bad weather, clag and wind. We had strong cold wind to deal with, and on the way down we even had SNOW! OMG - snow in the Alps, whatever next! When I come here next - I'll be wearing a Himalayan suit !!