Summer is at last well and truly underway in the Alps, unlike N Wales where I’m sitting watching the rain come lashing down.
At Dream Guides we are now into week 3 of our summer programme with two of our Mont Blanc courses finished already. The weather and conditions weren’t too kind to us on either week so the teams de camped to the Grand Paradiso in Italy where we all had a great time, with all the gang getting to the summit, including Bryan who at 75 put in a marvellous effort.
The first week was Amanda and friends who were raising money for a hospital ward in Scotland. We all had a hard first few days in bad weather and deep snow but the team dug deep for the final half of the week and I think the pictures tell all. Not even Patagonia like snow features could stop this team from getting to the summit driven on by their goal of raising money for such a good cause. A huge pat on the back to Amanda, Kat, John and Simon for all their hard work.
Week two saw John Royden bring some buddies across again for the Blanc. Poor conditions saw another trip to Italy where again we tackled the 1300m-height gain from hut to summit. Just like the first week there was a bitterly cold wind from the north but when we finally got into the sun sprits rose and we sprinted to the top. All were on the summit by 10ish and back down safe at the hut by 1pm even an ill Kerry. The final day of this week was spent climbing the Via Ferrata at the Col Du Arvais, which proved to be a great day out for all.
I’m sitting now in the climber’s club hut in Llanberis pass on my only week off this summer watching it rain depressed by the knowledge that its 30+ degrees in France, there is no justice.
Pics from the top
1) Sunrise in Switerland
2) Shadow puppets
3) The Guys on the summit well done them
4) John and friends enjoying the Via Ferrata.
