Video of the 2008 Chamonix Climbing Trip

As we start to sort out climbing plans for the summer, I would like to review the various options day-by-day. Starting with the French Alps ... the pros include easy access, fantastic routes on ice or rock or mixed ground, huts, culture, while the cons include cost, weather, and crowding on some routes.

This four minutes movie slideshow covers the amazing 14 day trip that Larry and I had two summers ago. With fantastic weather, moments after arriving in Chamonix we were on a tram to a hut at 12,000'. We did 11 routes, with Larry freeing rock up to 5.10a; Hock kept up but just barely, as Larry was seriously fit! Larry also teamed up with a Vermonter that we met and bagged the first ascent of the season on the Jager Couloir ... Euros don't enjoy surprises like that in their own mountains.

Tomorrow we'll consider the pros and cons of a summer climbing trip to the Tetons.