Friday November 23, 2012
Over the last few years I have been adjusting my work over the spring, summer and fall from rock climbing in NH to traveling more and trying to guide more alpine terrain. This year was the culmination of that change with what amounted to a 5 month road trip with a focus on alpine climbing in the Alps and in the North Cascades. The only thing I could add next year to make it even more alpine would be an Alaskan trip in spring. No plans for that but one never knows what opportunities might come around.
I am now home for the ice season and will be starting to make forays out to see what early ice is climbable so check back for reports here or friend me on facebook to get alerts as to when I update the conditions. Enjoy the photos.
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Jon on the Petite Aiguille Verte with the Dru behind, Chamonix France |
Kathy on the Petite Aiguille Verte with the Aiguille de Chardonnay in the background, Chamonix France |
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Kathy on the Arete des Cosmiques, Chamonix France |
Kids, families and beginners climbing at the Gaillands, a roadside crag in Chamonix France |
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A warm and sunny summit of Mont Blanc 15,781 feet (4810m) Chamonix France |
One of the great things about working in Europe is getting to work with guides from all over. Matteo a fun Italian Guide from Alagna Italy |
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Kevin Mahoney leading one of the rock pitches on the Frendo Spur Chamonix France |
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Kevin Mahoney on one of the ice pitches of the Frendo Spur, Chamonix France |
Jane (my wife) near the top of an easy day up the long Voie Calline with the Chamonix Valley behind |
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The little (and very nice) buvette at the top of the Voie Calline, what a great way to finish a nice scramble before the one hour hike down to our apartment. |
Stacey on the Chapelle de la Gliere in the Aiguille Rouge with Mont Blanc in the background, Chamonix France. |
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Stacey higher on the route up to the Chapelle de la Gliere, Chamonix France |
Stacey on the Arete Des Papillons on our way to the summit of the Aiguille du Peigne, Chamonix France |
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One of the crux sections of the Arete Des Papillons, Chamonix France |
The Triangle du Tacul with the Contamine-Mazeaud route up the center, Chamonix France |
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Stacey on the Contamine-Mazeaud |
Stacey on the direct finish of the Contamine-Mazeaud |
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Stacey on the Frendo Spur on the Aiguille du Midi, Chamonix France |
Stacey on the Frendo Spur on the Aiguille du Midi, Chamonix France |
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Stacey higher up on the ice section of the Frendo Spur |
Near the top of the Frendo Spur |
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Stacey in the Aiguille Rouge with the three big routes she climbed, the Frendo Spur, Contamine-Mazeaud, and the Arete Des Papillons. |
September in the Cascades, our first camp on the north side of Mount Forbidden near Marblemount, WA |
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Crevasse rescue practice on the Forbidden Glacier |
The short knife edge ridge on Concord Spire in Washington Pass near Mazama, WA |
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Dorado Needle and Early Morning Spire from Marble Creek Cirque near Marblemount, WA |
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Sunset at our camp in Marble Creek Cirque |
Our camp in Marble Creek Cirque with Dorado Needle and Early Morning Spire in the background |
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Our camp near Winnie’s Slide on Mount Shuksan near Glacier, WA |
Making our way through some crevasses as we go from the Upper Curtis Glacier to the Crystal Glacier on Mount Shuksan |
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Descending Mount Shuksan just before sunset with a very smokey horizon. |
Finally some rock climbing in Red Rocks near Las Vegas |
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More desert climbing but now in Joshua Tree with Jane near Palm Springs, CA |
Jane and my ride during our little getaway to Joshua Tree |
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Back to work with a course in Smith Rock with some November snow near Bend, OR |
Cold rock at Smith in November to wrap up the season, must be time to head home for some ice climbing. |
