The last two weeks has been a very busy period both for work and climbing. I've spent a bit of time with various friends including Owen who I climbed a couple of routes with (Mirrors on the Ceiling 7A and Si le lichen ne revenait pas.. 6C+) at 'Barberine' and 'Chatelard'. These superb granite crags lie on the Swiss/French border and provide good 8 pitch or so bolted routes on both slabs and roofs! I also spent a day with the super strong Alison in the l'Arve valley where we adventured up the excellent and sustained bolted limestone route 'Geva 6C+' with Ali showing ingenuity at the thin traverse crux. I've driven past these walls every time I come to Chamonix so was pleased to finally do a route on them. As we climbed quickly we had time to pop in and see the indomitable Mark Ryle in Rumilly and drink panache in the town square with him.

Work wise I've been in Switzerland climbing things like the Grand Muveran (D), South Ridge of the Lagginhorn (AD, probably the best mountaineering I've done this season), Pointes du Mortes (PD) and the Pigne D'Arrolla (F) as well as rock climbing in the Rhone Valley. These were all climbed whilst working for ISM on an Alpine Ascents week and Student week. The images are from the last couple of days on the Gran Paradiso whilst working for Icicle where I've mostly been drinking coffee in the excellent, and very Italian Vittorio Emanuele II Hut.