The team: Colin Stump, Hayden Measham, Richard Pratt, Graham Stump, Rod Shaw, assisted by guides from St Gervais. A video of our climb is on YouTube.
30 August
Walk to Tre la Tete Glacier from les Contamines.
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| Aiguille Gouter from the Autoroute |
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| St Gervais |
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| View to Les Contamines Valley |
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| Warm-up walk to the Tre-la-Tete Glacier |
Acclimatisation day: ascend to Albert Premier Refuge from La Tour and overnight. Storm develops overnight.
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| En route to the Albert Premier Refuge |
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| Moraine path to the Albert Premier hut, alongside the Glacier du Tour |
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| My brother Graham at the Albert Premier refuge |
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| Richard and Graham at the Albert Premier Refuge, 2702m |
Acclimatisation day: glacier training on Glacier du Tour. Poor weather and Graham suffers from altitude, so early descent to valley.
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| At the Albert Premier Refuge |
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| Dawn start to the Aig. du Tour |
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| Crampon practise on the Glacier du Tour |
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| Descent from Albert Premier Refuge |
Guided ascent of Pont Lachenal via the Vallee Blanche. Graham and Rod climb on the Brevent.
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| Hayden about to confront his vertigo! |
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| Exit from the ice cave on the Aiguille du Midi 3800m |
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| Aiguille du Midi from the Vallee Blanche |
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| Guide testing for crevasses on the Vallee Blanche |
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| Climbing Pont Lachenal from the Vallee Blanche |
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| On the Vallee Blanche |
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| Climbing the snow arete back to the Aiguille du Midi |
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| Return to the Aiguille du Midi |
Rest day
5 September
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| Setting off for Mt Blanc -TMB St. Gervais |
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| The walk in from the Nid d'Aigle |
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| Preparing to climb Aiguille Gouter |
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| Steep ground to the Gouter Hut |
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| Ascending Aiguille Gouter |
6 September
Ascend Mont Blanc 4808m via the 'Ordinary Route', commencing 0230. Hayden and Colin summit at about 0800, but Richard (and, therefore Rod) forced to turn round below Bosses Ridge due to AMS. Long, tiring descent, but succeeded in getting last train back to St Gervais.
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| First light on the Bosses Ridge |
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| Summit in sight - final section of the Bosses Ridge |
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| Hayden and Colin on the summit of Mont Blanc, 6 September 2002 |
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| Summit view towards the Vanoise |
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| View N.E. from Mt Blanc to Aig. du Midi & the Aig. Verte |
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| View west from Mt Blanc to Aiguille de Bionnassay |
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| The summit ridge |
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| Exhaustion on Mont Blanc! |
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| Monte Bianco di Courmayear from the summit |
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| Hayden on the summit |
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| Descent from Mont Blanc |
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| Vallot Refuge 4362m |
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| View from Vallot Refuge |
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| View from the Gouter Hut |
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| Richard on the balcony at the Gouter Hut |
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| Celebration Lunch - Brevent |
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