The bouquetin was not pleased to see us and had a pretty low opinion of our performance on the beautiful slabs of Les Chéserys, a side-encrustation of the Aiguilles Rouges and just up the valley from Chamonix. He wanted us off the crag tout de suite.
In fact we had done pretty well by our standards, stepping with ibex-like ease up a route called Sortie Ravanel, at the far right as you look at the crag. The guide gives it a badge of 5a.
James (below) is leading up the third pitch. Cracking day.
And here I am showing off my lapping. Les Chéserys is blessed with lovely south-facing rock. The views of the Mont Blanc hillocks opposite are stupendous. There is a half-hour walk up from the road, which is a slog in the sun.
Previously we have zimmed up several more of the easy routes here, thanks to James's generous hospitality. A trip up the longest one, Aubade, turned into an epic with the dark descending and multiple abseils still to complete. We were a trifle late for dinner...
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