Mountaineering Ireland

I've just returned from a fortnight in the Alps, helping on the Mountaineering Ireland meet. This was held in Argentiere this year, familiar ground for myself after several seasons directing the Conville Trust training programme. As always it was great to get out of the office and onto the (big) hill. Due to various factors I ended up guiding on a one to one basis for the first week in preparation for an attempt on the Matterhorn the following week, with a weekend's attempt at Mont Blanc with a different team in between. The weather was pretty reasonable for the first week apart from some evening showers: we completed the Crochue traverse, Cosmique Arete and reached the summit of Point Lachenal. We also completed the mixed approach to the Dent du Geant/Rochefort Arete but decided to withdraw due to encroaching mist and wind. A dodgy forecast added some spice to the Mont Blanc trip but we emerged above the cloud and the forecast galeforce winds never materialised - we had the summit almost to ourselves! Unfortunately the forecast storm in Zermatt certainly did arrive and after a day sculking in the Hornli Hut we had to don crampons to retreat to Zermatt.
Lots more photos here.

Lachenal_038.jpg
Originally uploaded by SteveMLT