Anyone on here go Alpine climbing?

[LDC]

As it says, anyone here get to the alps for climbing?

 

[kebabking]

As it says, anyone here get to the alps for climbing?

used to, a lot, but kids and idleness have got in the way.

we did a family summer holiday near Interlaken last year and me and Mrs K managed to get away for a day of walking and glacier bashing in the Bernese Alps, and the odd morning pretending to be rock gods, but that was about it.

i believe chilango is still young, slim and not bone idle, and enjoys a sweaty hut...

(i should point out that neither my ability to climb, nor the regularity with which i do do it, are any constraint on the amount of money i spend on shiny things i might use to do it...)

 

[chilango]

Not me. Not really. Unless you're using the BMC's pretty open definition of climbing, in which case yes!

My actual "rock" climbing is strictly indoors and limited to very low grades (4+ at best thus far).

I've done a bit of hiking (and snowshoeing and boarding) in the Alps. The huts in Italy are great. I'll vouch for them at least!

I still hope to knock off a few easy Alpine 4000ers one day maybe though. Am happy enough with crampons, axes etc. So there's a few possibilities I guess. I'm not over familiar with Alpine grades though.

 

[UnderOpenSky]

I did 3 weeks a few years ago. Mate I went with was far better then me. Did some frankly terrifying routes on the Agile du Midi. Weird putting rock boots on whilst on a glacier. Didn't complete it in time and ended up sleeping in the toilets

 

[LDC]

Just arrived in Chamonix now. Death by rockfall or over spending in gear shops awaits shortly. Or possibly overdose on cheese and wine.

 

[kebabking]

Just arrived in Chamonix now. Death by rockfall or over spending in gear shops awaits shortly. Or possibly overdose on cheese and wine.

How much have you spent?

It's been a whole day, if you're in Cham you should now either be broke or in love with a woman you've not spoken two syllables to - or both, which I've certainly never done, oh no, not me...

 

[LDC]

Nowt yet. Unless you count the mind blowing price of £20 or so for a sandwich and beer a couple of times in cable car cafes. Done a couple of routes so far, another planned for tomorrow, then Saturday looks like shit weather so will have a day off to peruse the stores of Cham.

 

[baldrick]

Just arrived in Chamonix now. Death by rockfall or over spending in gear shops awaits shortly. Or possibly overdose on cheese and wine.

You just missed utmb then. Bunch of nutters.

 

[LDC]

Yeah, saw some of them wandering/hobbling about when I arrived. A friend has it on their list of things to do (they've done some ultras already) but it doesn't appeal to me tbh.

 

[baldrick]

A couple of friends did it. One finished, very respectably. One got timed out at a checkpoint.

Considering I find fell races tough I don't think it's making it on to the bucket list. Fair dos if you make it though, even qualifying is a challenge.

 

[kebabking]

Nowt yet. Unless you count the mind blowing price of £20 or so for a sandwich and beer a couple of times in cable car cafes. Done a couple of routes so far, another planned for tomorrow, then Saturday looks like shit weather so will have a day off to peruse the stores of Cham.

Come on then, us wage slaves are on tenterhooks - are you broke or dead yet?

 

[UnderOpenSky]

This thread is useless without pics!

 

[chilango]

This thread is useless without pics! scans of receipts and swing tags

ffy

 

[UnderOpenSky]

Nah. Pictures of mountains are way cooler. Buying gear in Chamonix is a mugs game.

 

[UnderOpenSky]

.

 

[UnderOpenSky]

Some pics then.

 

[kebabking]

... Buying gear in Chamonix is a mugs game.

Yeah, we know that now....

(Liver for sale, also firstborn - all reasonable offers considered. May deliver)

 

[chilango]

Last time I was in Chamonix I saw this (from the comfort of the terrace bar at Montenvers)

 

[UnderOpenSky]

Yeah, we know that now....

(Liver for sale, also firstborn - all reasonable offers considered. May deliver)

I here it used to be a lot better, but the rents just got to expensive for anything other then the top end stuff.

I'd really like to go back but don't have a solid partner. Tbh I route I pictured above was a bit top end for me, I didn't do any of the leading and if I go back with him that's what he'd want to do, where as more plodding and easy climbing is more my style. I think it works out at as E2 for fuck sake. I don't even try that in the UK.

 

[WouldBe]

I prefer trees, you get a better view from the top and succulents tend to be a bit slippery.