Jurgen on top of the Aig Marbree
Its been a strange couple of weeks out here in the Alps, the weather has been less than prefect and so its been lots of travel here and there. But its been good fun and we've got loads of climbing done.
First up there was Jurgen and Seb who had their sights set on the Matterhorn. A big snow dump early in the week put pay to any Matterhorn ideas, so we spent a few days up high climbing the Cosmiques and Traverse of the Entreve before a couple of great days rock climbing. The really strange thing was Seb managed to get frost bitten toes rock climbing in the sun!!!!! (see the photo)
The last day we decided on a crack of dawn start and knock off the Weissmeis in Switzerland. All was going well until Lori's car gave up the ghost. It must have been a funny sight, 4 climbers stood at the side of the road at 6am, in the rain, all looking at the engine not knowing one end from the other....it turned out to be an injection problem and we limped rather slowly back to Cham.
It was a great week despite no Matterhorn, but don't worry boys it will be there next year!!!
Lori enjoying some sun kissed rock in Chamonix
Seb's 'frost bitten' toes, strange he got it in 20 degree sunshine....now what colour do you think he's boots are????
This week I was based over in Grindelwald, one of my favourite places to Guide with the family Silver. Nick and Asher, who is only 11 had climbed Mont Blanc with Dream Guides last year, as well as the Grand Teton when asher was only 9!!!!. This year sites were set on the Eiger!!
Leaving poor Jennifer (Asher's Mum) all alone in Grindelwald the three of us set off to the Jungfraujoch on the train. Its an amazing journey through the middle of the Eiger. Dropping our extra things at the Monchjoch Hut we set off to the Monch. Its a short route but great fun, with an airy summit ridge that always has ones heart in the mouth.
The North Face of the Monch in the Evening light
A big storm came through that night which wasn't expected so with the morning we decided back to the valley and spent the afternoon rock climbing....and getting very wet in a huge down pour of rain.
With a bad forecast for Grindelwald we de camped to Saas Grund where we had sights on the N Ridge of the Weissmeis. Its a really long rocky ridge which the boys did an amazing job on. Both Nick and Asher were out of their comfort zones but both manfully battled on until I decided we could escape to the glacier a little early and miss the summit. Their was disappointment not to get to the top after so much effort but all were rather pleased when we made the last cable car by a mere 10 minutes.....GREAT EFFORT GUYS!!!!.
Thursady was a complete wash out so the afternoon was spent in the Kletterhalle (climbing wall) in Interlarken. Asher climbed extremely well....even winning a pen knife in a bet off his father for getting up one of the routes....nice one fella!!!!!
Fri was also poor weather so we all went to the Reichenbach Falls....the waterfall made famous by Conan Doyle and his Character Sherlock Holmes!!! Its a cool place with the chance to jump on some Monster Trotties and whizz down the road. After lunch it dried up and we all got the chance to hit the rock once again. We all were a little tired from the week and the prize must go to Jennifer who made her elegant way up her first ever rock climb!!!!
It was a shame that Asher didn't get to climb the Eiger but like Seb and Jurgen the mountains never go anywhere and it will always be there next time.
I also got the chance to meet with a good friend of mine....Joby Ogwyn. His a base Jumping wingsuit flying superstar from the states, we had dinner together of Thursday evening. Although Nick and Asher didn't get to climb the Eiger we can see it in all its glory here as Joby flies along the NE Ridge
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlE-Q45gHZ4&feature=related
Thanks to all of you that made the last 2 weeks so much Fun KC and team DG
