31 May 2001

French Alps

May 2001


A 'boy's trip' with Colin Stump, Hayden Measham, Richard Pratt, Graham Stump and Rod Shaw. 
This was my first 'independent' trip to the Alps and soon realised that it was far too early in the season to enjoy walking at any decent altitude without encountering the last of the winter snow! 
But good fun was had, with a climb to the chalets at the Refuge de Loria (where we sat on the roof for lunch above the snow),  a visit to the Gorges de la Diosaz, taking the cable car up to the top of the Aiguille du Midi (where we all manfully committed to climb Mont Blanc the following year) and walked a section of the TMB (GR5) above les Houches.


Above Argentiere, climbing to the Refuge de Loria
Refuge de Loria, 2020m 
Five Go Mad in the Alps!

Towards Argentiere from Ref. de Loria
Gorges de la Diosaz
Chamonix Valley from Aiguille du Midi
Aiguille du Midi: Hayden, Colin, Rod, Richard and Graham
Graham and Richard, Aiguille du Midi 
Stumpy with the Grandes Jorasses behind

Mont Blanc (and a commitment made to climb it the following year)
The ridge leading to the Vallee Blanche from the top of the Aiguille du Midi 


A well earned beer (well almost!). Les Contamines