Tuesday 16 March 2010

Aiguille Verte: Couloir Couturier

Green line, Bettembourg-Thivierge. Red line, as far as we got :(
15th-16th March

Yet to do any Alpinism really yet this winter, Plum and I headed up to the Grand Montets to stay for the night with the aim to climb the Bettembourg-Thivierge finish on the Couturier Couloir to the summit of the Aiguille Verte. We took ski's with the interest of abseiling the Whymper Couloir and skiing home.

Sparkling Rosé but no pan!

Let's go chill on the balcony at home. On the way down.

Strapping on the ski's for the last stretch of the Couturier

Perfect weather was forecast but with a few cock ups on our behalf (forgetting a pan to cook with, my ski flying off down the mountain at 4.30am, not managing to fit in the warm toilets to sleep so bivvying out in the -26 temps etc) we decided to bail off the route after getting beasted by spindrift and strong winds.

We managed to get just below the 'rock fin'. Snow conditions were good and it turned out to be a nice day as expected but not until lunchtime. We just weren't feeling the love today (I think it would have been pretty windy towards the top), so bailed out on Abakalov's until we decided to put our ski's on for the last 200m or so.

Still..... more good weather this week. Might go over to the Chardonnet. Boss de Bosses tomorrow!

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