Les Bossons Glacier

I spent the morning looking for the bouldering area - I found some Midnight Lightning problems - but none of the promised easy problems. So, I hiked up to the chalet by the toe of the glacier for lunch.

Another good day in Chamonix

Sunny - hot actually - and it looks like we will dodge the predicted showers.

I had a nice run this morning for just under two hours. In the afternoon, Emma and I (a Brit without a partner until tomorrow) went bouldering at the Argentiere moraine. Actually she went bouldering, I spotted, and managed about 1.25 problems! Turns out everything was thin edges and smears ... not so great for approach shoes.

UTMB ... an evening of running films

For about 45 minutes before the films we were on the Chamonix main street cheering OCC and TDS finishers.

More on UTMB week

Well the energy and hype has accelerated in the past 30 hours! The final TDS finishers are still coming in, having run 145k. An American gal finished second, in a hard fought race that was not decided until the final kilometers.

I had two great runs yesterday. We went to Bighorn Bakery and Bistro, which is STRAVA headquarters until the end of UTMB week. I picked up my free - incredibly ugly socks - for showing a recent run on their app with more than 200 meters of vertical gain. Finally, last night we went to the North Face speaker series to wish Rory Bosio good luck.

Now I am on my way back to the campground after a few hours of bouldering. The UTMB starts tomorrow at 6pm local time.

Climbing the Viperes Crag at Gaillands

I lead a bolt protected 3c Route - roughly 5.4 - and then did seven top rope laps which included a 4c pitch (5.5-56). Mark's leg has not healed however he gimped up for a few laps.

Camping du Glacier d’Argentiere

Well, we have been here for about ten days and it is a superb place.

You get a free pass for the bus when you stay here. It is clean. Hot showers. They never turn away walk ins. They sell beer and wine. They have a small library and community room, as well as a covered cooking area.

They sell Ben and Jerry's ice cream. Two nights a week a local Italian family comes to cook pasta dinners for seven Euros; then on Monday (tonight) and Wednesday a truck comes in with pizza oven.

Finally, your jaw drops with the fancy vans, tents, and caravans the Euros set up ... it is awesome!

UTMB WEEK JUST STARTED

The PTL participants are on their way ... 125 three person teams, 152 hours, 300k, 25,000 meters ascent, and semi-self supported. I may jump on a train and see how they look at 21k. Later in the week I am going to hike up to a high pass and take another look after 200k. (I assume that will convince me to never sign up.)

Destination - an ultraviolet smoothie - and back to the campground

One week left in Chamonix.

I had a great 15k run (1300') today on the Petite Balcon Sud to Les Paradis de Praz for a fantastic smoothie, and then back to our Chosalets campground.

Tomorrow I am up early to watch the start of the PTL ... 152 hours, 300k, and 25,000 meters ascent. Then a day at the crag, and on Tuesday it's up to a hut, to do a snow route on Le Tour.

I hope the rest of your summer has gone well.

Afternoon run

Saturday was another warm one, as will be Sunday and Monday. Having scratched rock all morning, I washed socks, shopped for more groceries, and did an easy 45 minute shakeout run.

Global Climbing Day ...

Did you get out on some rock today?

Another good day in Chamonix

The town is beginning to be taken over by skinny, Lycra clad, trail runners as running vests begin to out number climbing packs. The first of seven races, involving almost 10,000 runners, starts Monday. The first race - the PTL - is the most unusual. Three hundred teams of three have 152 hours to complete a 300k route with 25,000 meters of ascent. The route is semi-self supported, involves easy rock climbing and glacial travel, and it is not flagged so expertise with map, compass, and GPS is critical.

Today I hiked up to the Blatiere pasture for the Chamonix livestock. After the 80 minute 2300' ascent I stopped at the farmhouse to sample some goat cheese products.

Great day: cragging in the morning and a hilly run in the afternoon

Great burgers at Poco Loco

My favorite Chamonix burger place - the Midnight Express - is no longer. However, the food at Poco Loco was awesome, although the decor was definitely not politically correct!

Petite Balcon Sud (other direction)

A short run on the Sud Balconfu Chamonix

Two semi-rest days and ...

a glorious chalet to stay in! A windfall from our TMB trip: DVD player, sauna, kitchen, showers, real beds and a spectacular view. Saturday-Sunday-Monday while we are here, the plan for me is easy hour-long runs, yoga, bouldering, and reading.

Failed attempt on Crochues Traverse

I did the route 11 years ago, when lifts were operational and the approach casual. Older, and doing a 3500' approach, with heavy packs for a bivy, we got in the vicinity of the route by noon ... no way we were going to make it back without a second bivy.

Still, it was a great outing ... Lac Blanc, the views, reminisced about our first route on the Geant 40 years ago, luck on our side and it did not storm.

Sorting out in Argentiere ...

We got in late last night, drank some wine, cooked dinner, and set up the tent in the dark.

Our plan for Chamonix

This afternoon we take an Alpybus from the Geneva airport to Chamonix and camp somewhere.

Tomorrow we will check topos at the guides office and then rock climb at Gaillands in mountain boots. The next day - August 15 - we hike to Lac Blanc and bivy near the hut. Friday we traverse Aiguille de Crochues and descend. The next day we move into a hotel for two days, compliments of Round Lake Campus, and we will climb the Petite Verte using the Grand Montet lift.

Then we assess our progress or lack there of.

In Geneva For The Day

Off to Chamonix tomorrow.

Heading to Geneva in a few houts