Avalanche kills nine mountaineers

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Very sad, but that is the nature of the "sport". Mrs the esk did the Cosmique route almost exactly a year ago.
 
Apparently the Mt Blanc area is in a ****e state for climbing this year. Really high temps during the daytime and massive storms at night have made most routes unstable, lots of avalanche risk and loads of new crevasses have popped up on the glacier du Tacul.

Even on the "safer" Gouter route, the risks have increased with massive daily rockfalls in the Grand Couloir.

check out this video from 2010 showing rockfall down the Grand Couloir - The white snowy bit is the only way to traverse this part of the mountain - you simply have to cross it to get to the summit.

[video=youtube;B6HXQxEX910]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6HXQxEX910[/video]
 

Mutzo Nutzo said:
Apparently the Mt Blanc area is in a ****e state for climbing this year. Really high temps during the daytime and massive storms at night have made most routes unstable, lots of avalanche risk and loads of new crevasses have popped up on the glacier du Tacul.

Even on the "safer" Gouter route, the risks have increased with massive daily rockfalls in the Grand Coulouir.
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I was talking to the guide we use in the Dolomites last weekend and he was saying that conditions so far this summer have been very poor. So much so that he has refused to take clients on certain trips - as he says going up is optional, coming down is mandatory.

Where do you climb Mutzo?
 
the esk said:
I was talking to the guide we use in the Dolomites last weekend and he was saying that conditions so far this summer have been very poor. So much so that he has refused to take clients on certain trips - as he says going up is optional, coming down is mandatory.

Where do you climb Mutzo?
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In the UK - mostly in Snowdonia, occasional trips upto Scotland (The Torridans are ace) and of course The Cuillens on Skye.
I get the occasional long weekend pass and head over to Chamonix.

This summer I'm off to to a small town in SW France (St Antonin Nobel Val) that is right near the gorges de l'aveyron, so I'll be doing a wee bit of gorge climbing/canyoning. Can't wait...How bout you?

And yeah It holds true that local knowledge is everything in these conditions - I would always be speaking to the local guides on a daily basis, before making any decision to go high.
 
Mutzo Nutzo said:
In the UK - mostly in Snowdonia, occasional trips upto Scotland (The Torridans are ace) and of course The Cuillens on Skye.
I get the occasional long weekend pass and head over to Chamonix.

This summer I'm off to to a small town in SW France (St Antonin Nobel Val) that is right near the gorges de l'aveyron, so I'll be doing a wee bit of gorge climbing/canyoning. Can't wait...How bout you?

And yeah It holds true that local knowledge is everything in these conditions - I would always be speaking to the local guides on a daily basis, before making any decision to go high.
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I used to spend many weekends in Snowdonia when I lived in Liverpool, in fact my daughter is at Plas-y-brenin for the whole of this week.

We do quite a bit of gorge climbing/canyoning/water rambling in the Gorges du Verdon - in fact are going there tomorrow for 2 weeks with the family.

We also go to Corvara in the Dolomites in late August for climbing and via ferrata.

Would love to spend more times in the mountains, will definitely retire there!
 
the esk said:
I used to spend many weekends in Snowdonia when I lived in Liverpool, in fact my daughter is at Plas-y-brenin for the whole of this week.

We do quite a bit of gorge climbing/canyoning/water rambling in the Gorges du Verdon - in fact are going there tomorrow for 2 weeks with the family.

We also go to Corvara in the Dolomites in late August for climbing and via ferrata.

Would love to spend more times in the mountains, will definitely retire there!
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Sounds real nice! Mountains and family - you can't beat that combo. My two girls are too young yet, but I'll be taking them to Snowdonia real soon.

And yup a mountain retirement home would be ideal...
 
Mutzo Nutzo said:
Sounds real nice! Mountains and family - you can't beat that combo. My two girls are too young yet, but I'll be taking them to Snowdonia real soon.

And yup a mountain retirement home would be ideal...
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I started both of my kids on indoor climbing walls when they each reached 5 years old - did wonders for their confidence and co-ordination besides introducing them to the wonderful world of climbing/mountains/outdoor life.- - sure you will do the same!
 

the esk said:
I started both of my kids on indoor climbing walls when they each reached 5 years old - did wonders for their confidence and co-ordination besides introducing them to the wonderful world of climbing/mountains/outdoor life.- - sure you will do the same!
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That's a great idea - That'll sort them out this summer!
 
Very very sad. Those two lads were raising money for a school and they both have young children in year 5. Tragic. Rest in peace.
 
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