thanks for the encouragement! Unfortunately some pictures aren't showing up for me locally, and I'm travelling for the next week. I'll try to fix that...
Avant la Verte on est alpiniste, à la Verte on devient montagnard... ;) Grand Montets Ridge or Couturier Couloir (with a ski descent of the Whymper) would have been a nice choice.
Rebuffat! You are well-read Young Master! Indeed, I felt humbled because of the bivy. One guidebook writes "...if a party is to acquit itself with honor on the Aiguille Verte." Ahem. At least we took our licks. But I think this mountain has at least 5 excellent routes.
I don't know, I sure hope not...that just might be my tendency to imagine the worst when it comes to commercial arrangements. Because I too will be so disappointed if it's somehow gone, it's such a great place.
Pshaw, thanks Charles. My real mission is destroying internet bandwidth with big pics because I'm philosophically opposed to the SETI project :p. WE MUST HIDE!!
Is it common for people to call for a helicopter if they did not bring bivy gear? It is awesome there is reception out there on those peaks. Here in Sierra the cell phones are fairly useless (at least mine doesn't usually get reception).
On a trip up north a friend of mine and I day hiked full north ridge of Stuart (with Gendarme) from Stuart lakes TH. While trying to find descent to Sherpa glacier we descended way too low (on the other side) and missed the right couloir on several occasions. When we finally found it, it got dark 1/3 down it. Descending neve, on 45 degree slope, with one crampon, above a fully opened house sized shrund, at night freaking sucked. Was one of those "want to get away from here" moments. Finding the way through mountaineer's creek was also interesting. It is nice to know the area well to avoid taking wrong descents, which cause many epics...or maybe someone should invent a light weight alpine teleport.
Interesting pictures and story. But it is 'Refuge du Couvercle', not 'Coveurcle'. Should be a matter of copy & paste, whatever the mangled pronunciation might be.
Har! Hi Hamik, yeah, she is going off on some kind of tour to South America or something and "starting over." Good to record some anecdotes because they are hilarious!
as - Aug 31, 2012 9:03 am - Voted 10/10
as usualthe best of "trip reports" on SP is from you
mvs - Aug 31, 2012 1:25 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: as usualthanks for the encouragement! Unfortunately some pictures aren't showing up for me locally, and I'm travelling for the next week. I'll try to fix that...
Senad Rizvanovic - Aug 31, 2012 12:41 pm - Voted 10/10
....Amazing pictures!
hiltrud.liu - Sep 3, 2012 5:03 am - Voted 10/10
Wonderful trip report...and such very beautiful pictures!!!
Cheers, Hiltrud
mvs - Sep 10, 2012 12:12 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Wonderful trip report...Thanks Hiltrud! I see why Rahel was so taken with the Chamonix mountains, they are spectacular if demanding!
alpinpete - Sep 4, 2012 1:51 pm - Voted 10/10
Entertaining, as always!Avant la Verte on est alpiniste, à la Verte on devient montagnard... ;) Grand Montets Ridge or Couturier Couloir (with a ski descent of the Whymper) would have been a nice choice.
mvs - Sep 10, 2012 12:11 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Entertaining, as always!Rebuffat! You are well-read Young Master! Indeed, I felt humbled because of the bivy. One guidebook writes "...if a party is to acquit itself with honor on the Aiguille Verte." Ahem. At least we took our licks. But I think this mountain has at least 5 excellent routes.
Jurgen - Sep 9, 2012 5:56 am - Voted 10/10
Is it really going to be closed?I stayed several times last years at the Belvedere in Argentiere. The place is just awesome. Is it really going to be closed?
mvs - Sep 10, 2012 12:09 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Is it really going to be closed?I don't know, I sure hope not...that just might be my tendency to imagine the worst when it comes to commercial arrangements. Because I too will be so disappointed if it's somehow gone, it's such a great place.
Charles - Sep 10, 2012 9:12 am - Voted 10/10
fabfab trip report - as usual! You hero you .o))
mvs - Sep 10, 2012 12:08 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: fabPshaw, thanks Charles. My real mission is destroying internet bandwidth with big pics because I'm philosophically opposed to the SETI project :p. WE MUST HIDE!!
Vitaliy M. - Sep 10, 2012 1:39 pm - Voted 10/10
Good reportIs it common for people to call for a helicopter if they did not bring bivy gear? It is awesome there is reception out there on those peaks. Here in Sierra the cell phones are fairly useless (at least mine doesn't usually get reception).
On a trip up north a friend of mine and I day hiked full north ridge of Stuart (with Gendarme) from Stuart lakes TH. While trying to find descent to Sherpa glacier we descended way too low (on the other side) and missed the right couloir on several occasions. When we finally found it, it got dark 1/3 down it. Descending neve, on 45 degree slope, with one crampon, above a fully opened house sized shrund, at night freaking sucked. Was one of those "want to get away from here" moments. Finding the way through mountaineer's creek was also interesting. It is nice to know the area well to avoid taking wrong descents, which cause many epics...or maybe someone should invent a light weight alpine teleport.
mvs - Sep 10, 2012 2:08 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Good reportI don't know if it is or not. I am not advocating what we did. I am glad that the response was to tell us to calm the hell down and leave them alone.
Capricorn - Sep 12, 2012 7:56 am - Hasn't voted
Refuge du CouvercleInteresting pictures and story. But it is 'Refuge du Couvercle', not 'Coveurcle'. Should be a matter of copy & paste, whatever the mangled pronunciation might be.
mvs - Sep 12, 2012 8:42 am - Hasn't voted
Re: Refuge du CouvercleSorry about that, thanks for the note I have fixed it.
Capricorn - Oct 16, 2012 5:53 am - Hasn't voted
Re: Refuge du CouvercleAppreciate that.
Some overwhelming pictures, now that I see them back.
:-)
hamik - Sep 13, 2012 12:21 am - Voted 10/10
Aw...The little Kiki anecdote at the beginning sounds just like her. I miss her and Le Belvedere! What a splendid read--it took me right back to Chamonix.
mvs - Sep 13, 2012 3:47 am - Hasn't voted
Re: Aw...Har! Hi Hamik, yeah, she is going off on some kind of tour to South America or something and "starting over." Good to record some anecdotes because they are hilarious!