| dmiki | Unstable couloir  Date Climbed: Aug 29, 2011 | |

| Day 1: Hiked up to Tete Rousse from Les Houches through the lovely forest and the soon to become standard trail they are currently securing. Still had enough time to go up to Gouter hut but opinion was divided about the Grand Couloir.
Day 2: Set out at 2 after a restless night and minor acclimatisation issues. The couloir had been unstable throughout the night and was also tricky when we tried to cross. Reached the new Gouter hut at dawn. Lost some gloves while fixing a loose crampon on Dome du Gouter (had spares luckily). Turned back at Vallot around 8 o'clock due to the ~50 km winds and fatigue. (Many people summited Mont Blanc but quite a few people turned back.) 2 Spaniards had a near-fatal fall on the loose rocks below Gouter on the Bionassay side. The couloir was again in full motion, but at least we could see what we were up against. Hiked down to Les Houches the same day and did some very enjoyable ferratas in the following days. |
| Posted Sep 16, 2011 11:06 am |