Struck by lightning on the Aiguille du Chardonnet - 12546ft (3824m) | ||||||||||||
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Introduction | ||||||||||||
-The snowfield | ||||||||||||
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We moved easily up above 'La Bosse' and drew closer to the arete. The slope broadened right out to become a wide snowfield and the angle eased considerably. We could walk around freely on the snowfield which gently rises over a couple of hundred metres to join the crest of the mountain. I was able to relax, perhaps for the first time since leaving the base of the Chardonnet. As I scanned the sky some scraggy bits of cloud were coming our way, presumably the early cloud that had been forecast. Thankfully the cloud was above the mountain and in the bright early morning sunshine our views remained spectacularly unspoilt. At the top of the snowfield right by the ridge crest, a short steep slope and a small rimaye gave us a few problems. Getting onto the ridge was harder than it had looked and I didn't enjoy the awkward, teetering moves that were needed to do it. However once on the arete I felt a little more secure. We were on rock for the first time that day and I hoped we would make good progress. | ||||||||||||
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