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31 July : Les Arêtes de Rochefort. A traverse of ridges at 4000m altitude; A magical voyage ! Currently in perfect condition. Les Arêtes de Rochefort are always a pleasure for lovers of the higher altitudes, however, they can be tricky, especially if there are lots of people around ! |
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The
Aiguille de Rochefort in the background. |
 Superb tapering ridges ! |
 The return trip, facing Mont-Blanc and the Dent du Géant. |
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Photos
: E. Favret
30 July : The Aiguille de la République. A route of anthology in Chamonix, first achieved in 1905 by Joseph Simond with the aid of a crossbow for the final passage which is completely smooth! Geographically, it is also the last grand peak from Chamonix before the Mer de Glace. |
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 Gilbert at the summit of la République ! |
 The long and sometimes vertiginous descent ! |
 There is also lots of downclimbing, mountaineers be warned ! |
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Photos
:L. Pernollet
29
July : Index, south ridge. Small
summit in the Aiguilles Rouges, the Index is an initiation
climb par excellence. Ideal for discovering
the ambiance of a rock climb in the mountains. It often all starts here ... |
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Second
pitch, a small diedre and a beautiful slab. |
 The summit, an exceptional viewing balcony ! |
 The king of the mountains ! |
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Photos
: E. Favret
28 July : East-West traverse of the Barre des Ecrins. The highest summit of the Dauphiné (4102m). The Barre des Ecrins is an extremely aesthetic mountain, proposing a magnificent voyage at 4000m.... |
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 Michel and Jacques first thing . |
 A traverse : A voyage! |
 Very good conditions. |
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Photos
: Y. Delevaux
27 July : Climbing under the Charpoua. ‘Princesse Salomé’ is a new balcony route at the Mer de Glace. A lot of slab climbing and small, technical steps worthy of les dalles sous l’Envers . |
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Friction
under foot, Very delicate ! |
 A fissure where positioning is crucial ! |
 A lovely diedre with a view of the sea ! |
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Photos
: E. Favret
26 July : The Bettembourg-Thivierge route at the Pointe Aolphe Rey. A modern route, almost ahead of its time. The beauty of the rock and the climb are what dreams are made of. Not to be missed for experienced climbers.. |
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 ... and perfect diedres. |
 What climbing should be. |
 The Tacul pillars: future projects ! |
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Photos
: L. Pernollet
25 July : Mont-Blanc du Tacul. The most popular 4000m peak in the Mont-Blanc massif. Although it has easy access, it involves serious engagement with a minimum of technical knowledge being essential, but what a view ... |
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 The
route, straight ahead ! |
 A voyage at 4000m is always a grand adventure. |
 Satisfaction at the summit ... |
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Photos
: E. Favret
24 July : Limestone climbing at the Grandes Suites. Superb rock face above Lake Annecy. Steep and technical climbing. The pleasure doubled by the physical training which will bear fruit ! |
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Huge
slabs with rain holes. |
 Super slabs followed by a small overhang ! |
 A bit of abseiling then off to the lake ! |
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Photos
: Y. Delevaux
23 July : The Aiguille de la Charlanon. Another pretty little summit in the Aiguille Rouges with some beautiful climbing routes. |
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Some
lovely gneiss. |
 And some careful climbing. |
 In short, a great day. |
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Photos
: E. Favret
22 July : Midi-Plan. A ‘must’ in the Mont-Blanc massif; Not too difficult (in good conditions) but extremely delicate. A beautiful voyage on magnificent ridges ... |
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 Daniel arriving at ‘Rognon du Plan’. |
 L’Aiguille du Plan : simply majestic. |
 Back to the Aiguille du Midi before the bad weather arrives ! |
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Photos
: D. Lavigne
21 July : Climbing on limestone at Les Tours d’Areu. What a joy to climb on limestone which could be compared to that in the south, and with Mont-Blanc as a back-drop ! |
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 Bucolic
approach under the Pointe Percée. |
 Limestone to die for ... |
 Suppleness is all Important for a climber ! |
 The summit! The Arve valley in the background. |
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Photos
: L. Pernollet
20 July : L’eau Rance d’Arabie’ at Blatière. A beautiful climb, which we owe to Michel Piola. Superb movements in a beautiful ambiance, then a descent by abseil. A good full day’s climbing in the mountains. |
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 A
route with ambiance ! |
 A basic diedre, but very steep ! |
 The final pitch. A true Chamoniard fissure ! |
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Photos
: L. Pernollet
19 July : Traverse of the Petits Charmoz. A short training course in the Aiguilles Rouges. A classic route worth doing even if it has been abandoned in recent times. |
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 At the foot of the open book ... |
 Mathieu in front of La République. |
 The summit, behind: the Spencer couloir at Blatière. |
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Photos
: Y. Delevaux
18 July : The North Face of Grand Paradis. A superb summit in the Aosta valley culminating at 4051m. The north face of Grand Paradis has very good conditions even at the beginning of this unsettled summer. |
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 In the middle of the ascent. |
 Leaving the place to another rope party. |
 Gilles with the statue of the Virgin Mary at the summit. |
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Photos
: D. Lavigne
17 July : The Pyramided du Tacul. A climb of level 4+ (French) on exceptional rock in the heart of the Mont-Blanc massif. Stunning !. |
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 Fabulous fissures before the slabs. |
 The summit, with the Grand Capucin behind. |
 Abseiling down the south-east face. Impressive ! |
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Photos
: Y. Delevaux
16
July : Pointe Adolphe Rey, Salluard route.Again,
one of the most spectacular parts on the eastern side of Mont-Blanc
du Tacul.
Granite still as magnificent as before with mixed climbing on a route where you shouldn’t hang about if you want to catch the last cable car down ! |
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 Large slabs after the fissures and diedres at the start: phew! |
 Caro deciding to go for it ! |
 Summit of the Pointe Adolphe Rey. |
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Photos
: Y. Mansart
15 July : Eperon de Bayères. A magnificent granite route in an area with grandiose views of the north side of the Aiguille Vert and Les Drus. |
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 Just look at that view ! |
 Superb slab after a good diedre !. |
 Looking over Mont-Blanc... |
 ... and Chamonix ! |
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Photos
: S. Frendo
14 July : La Meije, le Z. A major climb on one of the magnificent summits in Oisan. For experienced climbers, this is a ‘must’. |
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 La Meije (3974 m.) |
 The attacking couloir and gully. |
 Ambiance guaranteed ! |
 Arriving into sunlight ! |
 Long slopes in superb condition. |
 The rock face above an impressive void ! |
 The summit, with Mont-Blanc on the left side of the horizon. |
 The wooden statue of Christ on the summit of La Meije. |
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Photos
: Y. Delevaux
13 July : Eperon des Cosmiques. A perfect outing to find your climbing legs on fabulous granite. |
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 The pleasure of climbing on granite. |
 Warm rock, easy gripping. |
 Abseiling. |
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Photos
: E. Favret
12 July : The Aiguille du Tour. The first ‘grand’ summit east of the Mont-Blanc massif. The classic route of the Aiguille du Tour presents no major technical difficulty but remains a handsome voyage with spectacular views between France and Switzerland. |
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 View of the Mont-Blanc massif: the Aiguille du Chardonnet, the Aiguille Verte and Mont-Blanc. |
 Tight icy passage due to the wet spell ! |
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Photos
: E. Favret
11 July : Climbing at Pré de Bar. in the Italian Val Ferret some beautiful slabs await you. An attractive climbing school... |
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 David and Phil learning to lead climb ... |
 ... a little nervous perhaps, but spot on ! |
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Photos
: E. Favret
9 July : Traverse of Les Crochues. A lovely little outing to discover summer mountaineering ! |
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Arriving
at the Index lift system on this lovely July day. |
 The crampons are on for this route normally done in climbing shoes ! |
 The well named Lac Blanc ! |
Photos
: E. Favret
6 July : " Venus ou bien Venise". Superb climb at the top of the Italian Val Ferret. Beautiful granite climb on slab then fissures, level 6a -6b (French) . |
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 Attractive, bucolic approach. |
 Exceptional slabs at the start... |
 ... and Superb fissures further up. |
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Photos
: Y. Delevaux
4 July : ‘Topo Bianco’ - rock face at Machaby (Italy). The weather is humid in Chamonix, luckily, not far away in Italy the sun is shinning on Machaby. Superb granite rock face with numerous routes and something for everyone ! |
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 A balancing act for Bernard ! |
 No stress for Elodie ! |
 The final curve before the shoulder on Mont-Blanc du Tacul. |
 Magnificent final slab. |
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Photos
: Y. Delevaux
3 July : "Razmoket" in the Bérard valley. A pretty rock climbing school route for a gentle climb in pastoral countryside. |
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 Huge, smooth slab ... |
 ... luckily there are karabiners ! |
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Photos
: L. Collignon
1 July : North North-East side of l’M. A classic outing some years ago somewhat abandoned today due to the two hour approach. Tranquillity reigns here on this balcony above Chamonix ! |
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 Attacking the slab rock face above the Mer de Glace. |
 A beautiful level 4+ (French) diedres typically ‘Chamoniard’ ! |
 ‘Boîte aux letters' for the summit. |
Photos
: Y. Delevaux