A Tale of Two Halves – Chamonix 2015 Trip Report

: Mark on the approach to Poeme a Lou, complete with handy fixed rope!

: Debs getting us going on the first pitch in blistering heat

: Mark sends the the “slab” pitch – a sustained technical wall on poor, tenuous holds

: With a massive grin Debs follows the slab pitch and relishes the exposure

: On the first pitch of the brilliant Lepidopteres with the crest of the Papillons Ridge above. Photo credit: Mark Reid

: Lost in a sea of granite – the formidable Peigne Slabs on the left

: After the first pitch the route follows a continuous crack in the slabs for another two superb rope lengths

: One happy climber!

: Mark in his element, levitating up pitch three

: The tricky bit – mislead by the route description I headed up and left only to have to retreat back into the corner and continue direct. Photo credit: Mark Reid

: The morning after the night before – not a bad view to wake up to! Photo credit: Mark Reid

: The approach to the Red Pillar routes heads up the rock-filled depression then cuts up right to access the ledges. Photo credit: Mark Reid

: The team ahead of us, halfway up the “scramble” to the ledges. Photo credit: Mark Reid

: A serious place – the Red Pillar and West Face of the Aiguille de Blatiere (left) round to the Aiguille du Plan and North Face of the Aiguille des Pelerins. Photo credit: Mark Reid

: Morning light in the Chamonix Aiguilles. Photo credit: Mark Reid

: Great climbing on the first pitch of L’an d’Emile

: Nothing too tricky but some “adequate” bolt spacing made this pitch quite exciting…. Photo credit: Mark Reid

: The key to unlocking the crux sequence was to found at the third belay. Photo credit: Mark Reid

: Wild moves on the steep third pitch – Mark doing the business

: Beautiful light to enjoy on the retreat

: Beating a hasty retreat, currently unsure of the damage to Mark’s knee

: Symmetry – The Charmoz and Grepon are projected on to clouds between the L’M and Blatiere. Photo credit: Mark Reid

: Climbers – experts in fashion and colour co-ordination

: The Ecoles des Echelles area of the Montenvers Slabs

: Debs cruising the first pitch of Aspirant Sunrise

: A moody Mer de Glace

: The Aiguille de L’Index emerges briefly from the clouds – spooky!

: The Aiguille du Grepon (Left), Nantillons Glacier and Aiguille de Blatiere framed by the constantly shifting clouds

: An alternative to the wet first pitch of Manhattan, still bloody freezing though

: A bit higher up and the sun makes a welcome appearance – Debs on pitch two

: Just past the exciting crux section of Manhattan

: The brilliant fourth pitch heads up through the bulges and mini roofs above Debs

: No set of photos from Chamonix is complete without one of the stunning Aiguille Verte and Aiguille du Dru – maybe next year!