Day 2 Aiguille du Midi

The cable car to the Aiguille du Midi was just across the road from our apartment. In 16 minutes it took it's passengers from the sunny and warm street to 3800 meters and into a world of snow and ice. Again, Chamonix seemed to have it all, summer sunbathing on the balcony or winter climbing a short cable car ride away.

At the top we strapped on our crampons, donned some extra clothes and stepped out onto the Cosmique Arette which starts just through a little gate that has a sign warning that your about to do something dangerous. The arette is literally two boot widths wide and a real stomach in mouth traverse gradually down to the open snow fields below. Combine the dizzying drops on either side with the first taste of altitude woozyness, it's a challenging start to the route. Apparently in ski season the authorities put up handrails for the skiers but for the climbers it's just up to balance and a head for heights.

The route took us around the rock that the Aiguille sits on and follows the arette back up to finish on the viewing platform. The climb was mixed between snow and rock, a high end scramble with a bit of easy rock climbing, pretty similar to Tower Ridge in winter.

The finish was up a metal ladder lashed to the viewing platform which necessitated swinging your leg over the balcony rail trying not to boot a tourist in the face. A great finish to a great route.

John and I hung around waiting for Chris then had a beer in the restaurant with Andy, Matt and their guide Irwine. We wandered around for a while trying to maximise our time at altitude then headed back don the packed cable car to the apartment and the office for our usual evening classes then out to dinner.