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Thread: NSR: Chamonix Ice Climbing TR

  1. 01-12-2006, 05:47 AM #1
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    NSR: Chamonix Ice Climbing TR

    A climber friend of mine - who doesn't like to ski - came to visit last week. So dispite the great snow conditions I was up freezing my ass off, -15 C in the sun... here's some pics from our trips:

    Attachment 9475
    Day 1: L'Arveyron... ice not quite stable/cold enough yet...

    Attachment 9476
    ...but a beautiful spot!

    Attachment 9477

    ------------------------------
    Day 2: Up to the Midi for a bailed attempt on the Chere Couloir:

    Attachment 9478

    ...but a lovely view down the valley from the Simond-Abri hut (courtesy of my partner's $5000 digital camera):
    Attachment 9479
    Last edited by bbirtle; 01-12-2006 at 05:50 AM.
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  2. 01-12-2006, 05:52 AM #2
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    A wonderful sunrise, but high winds and extreme cold turned us back:
    Attachment 9480

    -----------------------------
    Day 3: Back up to the Midi and finally tick off the Chere Couloir:

    Attachment 9481

    Rappelling off:
    Attachment 9482

    Another stupendular sunset from the hut:
    Attachment 9483

    -----------------------------
    Day 4: Albinoni-Gabarrou Couloir

    Ski approach in the early morning:
    Attachment 9484
    Last edited by bbirtle; 01-12-2006 at 05:55 AM.
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  3. 01-12-2006, 05:59 AM #3
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    Nice pics!

    edg
    Do you realize that you've just posted an admission of ignorance so breathtaking that it disqualifies you from commenting on any political or economic threads from here on out?
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  4. 01-12-2006, 05:59 AM #4
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    The first hard pitch:
    Attachment 9485

    Playing around for the camera:
    Attachment 9486

    Excellent conditions and a great climb:
    Attachment 9487

    Prussiking up to retrieve a snagged rappel line = not fun
    Attachment 9489

    Another fantastic sunset, unfortunately from a lot higher up on the route than we would have liked... leading to a moonlight ski tour back up to the hut:
    Attachment 9488

    All photos taken by my partner, Jon Griffith. (Thanks Jon!)
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  5. 01-12-2006, 06:03 AM #5
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    sweeeeeeeet!
    well done, bb!
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  6. 01-12-2006, 06:14 AM #6
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    Wow, really nice stuff Brian.
    Ein Berg ohne Absturzgefahr ist nur noch Attrappe. (Reinhold Messner)
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  7. 01-12-2006, 06:49 AM #7
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    Great pics!
    fur bearing, drunk, prancing eurosnob
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  8. 01-12-2006, 07:05 AM #8
    shirk
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    That should have been your first thread here.

    Great work. Hope we run into you for the mico-mini lots of maggots are going to be in Cham in the next couple weeks.
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  9. 01-12-2006, 07:31 AM #9
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    Thumbs up

    ah, ze lazy american eez not so lazy
    If it weren't for serendipity, there'd be no dipity at all
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  10. 01-12-2006, 09:09 AM #10
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    Thanks everyone for the compliments! We're headed back up for one last climb tomorrow - a big 10 pitch climb way up the Argentiere glaciar - so should have an update coming soon.

    Quote Originally Posted by shirk
    That should have been your first thread here.

    Great work. Hope we run into you for the mico-mini lots of maggots are going to be in Cham in the next couple weeks.
    Yeah should be cool to meet all you crazy virtual people... I'm behind on everything including PMs and emails but I'll get in touch soon as things calm down.

    FYI, my first post was far better than this one, IMO --- http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=38504
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  11. 01-12-2006, 10:21 AM #11
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    Angry

    WAS IT HARRRRRD TO CLIMB WITH YOURRRR POCKET PRRRROTECTORRRR?

    COOL PICS, EVEN FORRRR A nnnNNNERRRRRRRDDDD
    NO NERDS! NO NERDS! NO NERDS! NO NERDS!
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  12. 01-12-2006, 10:27 AM #12
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    nice pics! this one is great:

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  13. 01-12-2006, 11:46 AM #13
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    The Chere Couloir is a great line and a great place to take photos from. The setting is amazing with the Mt Blanc right there, it's a short walk from the Midi station, and you can stay in the hut so easily, too. The Chere was one of my first real ice climbs in real mountains and it made a major impression on me. I love Cham.
    Nice TR, and nice work!
    another Handsome Boy graduate
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  14. 01-12-2006, 11:50 AM #14
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    Ice climbing scares me. Stuck ropes on a rap piss me off.

    Sweet pics though man.
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  15. 01-14-2006, 12:44 PM #15
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    Nice to see you gettin' some, and something different.

    Great pics too.

    Makin' me want to try it.
    Ski, Bike, Climb.
    Resistence is futile.
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  16. 01-14-2006, 12:54 PM #16
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    Very nice.
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  17. 01-14-2006, 01:07 PM #17
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    Day 5-6: Attempt on the "Petit Viking" in the Argentiere Basin ~

    Skinning up the piste at Les Grands Montets:
    Attachment 9544

    Jon's falling into a cravasse:
    Attachment 9545

    A bergshrund of biblical proportations stopped us cold before we even got on the route:
    Attachment 9546

    But a beautiful, remote area we explored mostly alone:
    Attachment 9547

    Attachment 9548
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  18. 01-14-2006, 01:16 PM #18
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    Thumbs up

    More great photos - keep em coming!
    fur bearing, drunk, prancing eurosnob
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  19. 01-14-2006, 01:18 PM #19
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    Man, those are some really, really great pics. Nice work!
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  20. 01-14-2006, 01:20 PM #20
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    More pics from the same, ordering here is pretty random...

    Skinning up onto the glaciar, with one of the most famous ice climbing spots in Chamonix in the background:
    Attachment 9549

    Touring ACTION SHOT:
    Attachment 9550

    More night shots, Jon showing off his $5000 digital camera (top of Les Grands Montets in the top-right:
    Attachment 9551

    The route we had planned to do:
    Attachment 9552
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  21. 01-14-2006, 01:23 PM #21
    greg
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    hmmm thanks. hopefully I'll meet you the next time im in cham. (probably end of march)

    so what's the story behind the guy enjoying his personal crevasse?
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  22. 01-14-2006, 01:24 PM #22
    greg
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    Quote Originally Posted by bbirtle
    The route we had planned to do:
    Attachment 9552
    damn that looks scary..
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  23. 01-14-2006, 03:11 PM #23
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    these images rock!!!
    Quote Originally Posted by blurred
    skiing is hiking all day so that you can ski on shitty gear for 5 minutes.
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  24. 01-14-2006, 04:39 PM #24
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    Quote Originally Posted by bbirtle
    The route we had planned to do:
    That looks hardcore.
    Awesome.
    My dog did not bite your dog, your dog bit first, and I don't have a dog.
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  25. 01-14-2006, 07:08 PM #25
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    Yeah Brian, that's pretty nice, great pics! Your friend Jon has a good sense of humour no?
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