Now this is high.....

milleboy · Post by **milleboy** » Thu Aug 20, 2009 6:08 pm

Denis from Kortel sent us this link through of a small flight the Kortel team had on Wed! Only the secondtime anybodies landed there, and never such a large group!

http://www.korteldesign.com/spip/?+Mont ... ng-for-the+

Mad! Bet they wish they had our weather....that way they'd get more work done.

Jim Bittlestone · Post by **Jim Bittlestone** » Thu Aug 20, 2009 8:11 pm

Great photos and great that they could all stick together and get so high, did they take off from Aiguille du Midi I wonder?
It's gotta be a light wind day to land up there, been on top three times now (climbing) and always windy.
The Alps are a fantastic place to play, but I keep hearing scare stories, I really want to fly there but want to be sure I'm ready. Seems to be a whole new ball game? I think one needs a lot more knowledge/ experience to make the most of a trip to the Alps than I have. Depends when you go I guess and what time of day you fly?
I've read a bit about flying Annecy to Chamonix, Laragne, Zermatt, Dolomites, all await.
I'm still excited about seeing Hartside cafe from the air!

milleboy · Post by **milleboy** » Thu Aug 20, 2009 9:11 pm

Launched from Plan Joux allegedly, flew round into Italy, and came up the back! Sounds easy eh!
You cannot fly Midi, or anywhere on that side of the valley in summer, due to helicopter restrictions.
Looked light winds on top, still a brave move to land, you'd be in a world of grief if you couldn't launch again!

Post by **gary stenhouse** » Thu Aug 20, 2009 9:43 pm

how high is mount blanc?

funny i was thinking what the hell do you do if you could not launch as i would of thought that helicopters would not be able to recue you if required.

mind what a way to climb a mountain

ceers gary

John Watson · Post by **John Watson** » Thu Aug 20, 2009 10:03 pm

Do you think John Miller would get back off

Excellent pics, and like you say a very brave move.
I'm walking the tour de Mont Blanc in two weeks time, can anyone tell me how cold it gets at nightime in the valley's? and higher up in the passes? Wondering what gear to take.

John Wallis · Post by **John Wallis** » Thu Aug 20, 2009 10:56 pm

John phone Peter Rutherford or Dave Vallely they've done a lot of climbing camping at high Altitude around Mt Blanc /Chamonix. I wonder how the altitude effected the pilots? Been up the Aguille Du Midi n million times skiing down the valley blanc and you get very light headed even there. France is great the frogs are wild!

Jim Bittlestone · Post by **Jim Bittlestone** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 1:07 pm

Some useful information here for the Tour du Mont Blanc
http://thetourdumontblanc.googlepages.com/equipment.htm
I think you said you were camping?
Which makes weight a big factor, take less and smell a bit.
Take a good sleeping bag as at this time of year there's always a chance of some snow. You get up to 2,500m which can be chilly at night, but if you are camping near the refuges to use their facilities, you could always nip in if the weather gets out of hand?

Always worth popping your head in to speak to the hut guardian, especially if the weather is crap, they may let you kip down in the boot room for nowt?
It's worth considering one night in a hut or gite in the valley to dry wet kit and get yourself sorted.
The weather in the valleys won't trouble you unless you have an exceptional year.
On the good days you can walk in shorts getting burnt, on the bad days you will be in waterproofs leaning into a full gale wishing you were somewhere else.
I would take one spare set of clothes only.
Definitely take walking poles, they take the weight off the knees on the big downhills.
Kev Reynolds writes great books on Alpine routes and his is the bible for the TMB, published by Cicerone.
Some more info here
http://pagesperso-orange.fr/dmtmcham/rescue.htm

I'm sure you've got everything you need, but if you are missing anything, give me a shout before you spend out as you can borrow it if I have it.
Cheers
Jim

bdoub · Post by **bdoub** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 1:32 pm

Hi,

This is interesting. I have heard about these huts, but haven't found where I can get information about them, where they are located, how much they cost, etc. Does anyone have a good website listing them? do they all charge? I was told that there were some free.

Jim Bittlestone · Post by **Jim Bittlestone** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 2:11 pm

Hi Brian, the huts I've used in the Alps are generally quite pricey, but when you consider that they are where they are, get supplied by heli, they work out ok.
Normally open and staffed between June and September. Owned and ran by their Alpine Club owners depending on the country they are in, C.A.F., C.A.S., C.A.I. etc. Google the club to get locations and prices.
If you were to use several huts on a trip, in a hut to hut tour for example, it is worth joining an Alpine club to get cheaper rates, I use the Austrian Alpine club, always have done, probably 'cos it's cheap?
Any huts that are free are either emergency refuges which are as the name suggests, or normal refuges, used out of season which have winter rooms which you sometimes have to dig into. There are not many free tho.
These are not to be confused with our bothies, found all over Scotland mainly, but some exist in other parts of the UK. These are free, locations are a closely guarded secret, unless you join the mountain bothy association. One such bothy is Glen's hut at the back of Cross Fell.
Basic info can be found here
http://www.thebmc.co.uk/Feature.aspx?id=1367,
Cheers
Jim

Post by **colin keightley** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 3:43 pm

Jim Bittlestone wrote: One such bothy is Glen's hut at the back of Cross Fell.

Is that not greg's hut

Jim Bittlestone · Post by **Jim Bittlestone** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 4:50 pm

aye, soz

John Watson · Post by **John Watson** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 7:24 pm

You Bad lad Jim

your trying to frighten me again arent you

Jim Bittlestone · Post by **Jim Bittlestone** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 8:04 pm

Eeh, i was just trying to help

no problems for a man of your calibre.
You should get some great photos too. Looking forward to seeing them. One thing i forgot to mention, take a dry bag or two, rucksack liners are okay, but dry bags are better for cameras, phone and spare clothes etc.