Thanks Rob, yes - it was an enjoyable 2 weeks. And for the record thanks again for the HTML help - those large panoramic pictures have turned out really well.
Cheers, Mark
Thanks a lot Jake - and special thanks for your photo "of us" on Gran Paradiso on 6th Sept - that is a real stroke of luck and a superb picture as well!
Cheers
Mark
"Above the Oeschinensee is the trinity of peaks I climbed in 1973"
Your the same age as me so I presume you had climbing parents as you would have been 12 in 1973.Funny enough that's the year I became fascinated with mountains after my dad took me to the alps when I was 12. Great to see pics of the infamous rgg also.
Thanks for your kind words and yes, I was 12. I had been mad on mountains for a couple of years by then having been introduced to hill walking in Snowdonia, Wales by my Mother - who had 'got it' from her Father. The Alps trip was a sort of an accident, when a family friend who just so happened to be a climbing instructor with 2 weeks scheduled in the Alps, when at the last minute his own companion pulled out - and he rang my mother...
Anyway all my 12 year old dreams came true.
Glad you liked the pictures - but maybe rgg would prefer to be referred to as 'famous' rather than 'in'famous... ;)
Hello Colleague!
Congratulations on an interesting, very thorough report! You mentioned that you are 51 y/o as if wondering whether you are up to the exploits of younger climbers. Actually you are still "young" and still very enthusiastic. Myself, an Infectious Diseases specialist who is still fascinated by alpinism, I started climbing high peaks on a regular basis at the age of 52. I am still climbing every summer even though my guide told me this last July (while climbing Lagginhorn at my current age 66) that I don't have the endurance I had when I climbed Matterhorn 8 years ago! But what does he really know about aging, since he is only 42 ?
Anyway, keep it up, you have many more years of climbing in store !
Why thank you Sir - and pleased to meet you! And here's to old gits continuing to climb mountains! I have read the bit on your home page about Ulrich... somehow I doubt I'll still be walking let alone climbing if I am blessed to make 90. But I shall follow your advice and struggle up a few more in the meantime - as you evidently are doing (congratulations on the Lagginhorn!).
best wishes
Mark
Just one remark about Albert 1er hut : http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Ier_de_Belgique
Your report is a new invitation to bring my daughter to those easy tops. Thanks :)
Thanks for your kind words - and thanks for the link to Albert 1er's wiki page - hadn't realised where the hut name came from.
Good luck taking your daughter to the Alps
bw
Mark
Very interesting and entertaining to read your full report on those days in early september '12 in the Alps. You made a nice pick of beautiful mountains in all three countries. Me too made plans for Mont Blanc around those weeks but the weather just didn't comply. Well, sooner or later we shall have another go and I'm sure one day you'll have a successfull bivy on top of MB! I also hope you made your wife a nice crunchy sallad with swiss Thommy dressing on your return back to the UK :-)
Thanks Andre - yes I hope so, re the bivy - and we're on the 2nd bottle of Thommy salad dressing now (2 more to go!). Best of luck for your plans next year (Peak Lenin wasn't it?)
best wishes, Mark
rgg - Oct 28, 2012 5:30 pm - Voted 10/10
Great read, MarkAdmittedly, I'm biased, but I thoroughly enjoyed it, reliving our expedition, and reading your witty observations. Jolly good show!
Right, I'm off to grab a bite to eat now.
Cheers, Rob
markhallam - Oct 29, 2012 2:00 am - Hasn't voted
Re: Great read, MarkThanks Rob, yes - it was an enjoyable 2 weeks. And for the record thanks again for the HTML help - those large panoramic pictures have turned out really well.
Cheers, Mark
Sarah Simon - Oct 29, 2012 3:20 pm - Voted 10/10
Fantastic AdventureMark - Thank you for sharing this adventure story! -Sarah
markhallam - Oct 30, 2012 2:21 am - Hasn't voted
Re: Fantastic AdventureThanks Sarah - and I hope you are still getting up a few things as well
best wishes, Mark
Jake - Oct 31, 2012 6:04 am - Voted 10/10
Great!Great trip report Mark, thanks for sharing!
markhallam - Oct 31, 2012 1:48 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Great!Thanks a lot Jake - and special thanks for your photo "of us" on Gran Paradiso on 6th Sept - that is a real stroke of luck and a superb picture as well!
Cheers
Mark
Capricorn - Nov 4, 2012 5:19 pm - Hasn't voted
NoThis might have been an 'adventure', or 'experience', but I would rather use the word 'expedition' more appropriately.
markhallam - Nov 6, 2012 1:10 am - Hasn't voted
Re: NoSorry if you feel that way - we just thought it'd be a laugh...
; )
Harryk - Nov 5, 2012 2:41 am - Voted 10/10
Great story with great in depth pics"Above the Oeschinensee is the trinity of peaks I climbed in 1973"
Your the same age as me so I presume you had climbing parents as you would have been 12 in 1973.Funny enough that's the year I became fascinated with mountains after my dad took me to the alps when I was 12. Great to see pics of the infamous rgg also.
markhallam - Nov 6, 2012 1:29 am - Hasn't voted
Re: Great story with great in depth picsThanks for your kind words and yes, I was 12. I had been mad on mountains for a couple of years by then having been introduced to hill walking in Snowdonia, Wales by my Mother - who had 'got it' from her Father. The Alps trip was a sort of an accident, when a family friend who just so happened to be a climbing instructor with 2 weeks scheduled in the Alps, when at the last minute his own companion pulled out - and he rang my mother...
Anyway all my 12 year old dreams came true.
Glad you liked the pictures - but maybe rgg would prefer to be referred to as 'famous' rather than 'in'famous... ;)
EastKing - Nov 6, 2012 3:59 am - Voted 10/10
Awesome!!Amazing adventure!!!!
markhallam - Nov 6, 2012 4:58 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Awesome!!Thanks - really glad you enjoyed it!
bw
Mark
JanG - Nov 7, 2012 1:10 am - Voted 10/10
Don't get discouraged by age, aches or pains!Hello Colleague!
Congratulations on an interesting, very thorough report! You mentioned that you are 51 y/o as if wondering whether you are up to the exploits of younger climbers. Actually you are still "young" and still very enthusiastic. Myself, an Infectious Diseases specialist who is still fascinated by alpinism, I started climbing high peaks on a regular basis at the age of 52. I am still climbing every summer even though my guide told me this last July (while climbing Lagginhorn at my current age 66) that I don't have the endurance I had when I climbed Matterhorn 8 years ago! But what does he really know about aging, since he is only 42 ?
Anyway, keep it up, you have many more years of climbing in store !
Regards
JanG
markhallam - Nov 7, 2012 5:54 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Don't get discouraged by age, aches or pains!Why thank you Sir - and pleased to meet you! And here's to old gits continuing to climb mountains! I have read the bit on your home page about Ulrich... somehow I doubt I'll still be walking let alone climbing if I am blessed to make 90. But I shall follow your advice and struggle up a few more in the meantime - as you evidently are doing (congratulations on the Lagginhorn!).
best wishes
Mark
macintosh - Nov 10, 2012 8:00 am - Voted 10/10
Nice report :)Just one remark about Albert 1er hut : http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Ier_de_Belgique
Your report is a new invitation to bring my daughter to those easy tops. Thanks :)
markhallam - Nov 10, 2012 1:40 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Nice report :)Thanks for your kind words - and thanks for the link to Albert 1er's wiki page - hadn't realised where the hut name came from.
Good luck taking your daughter to the Alps
bw
Mark
andre hangaard - Dec 9, 2012 5:13 pm - Voted 10/10
the bivy will come...Very interesting and entertaining to read your full report on those days in early september '12 in the Alps. You made a nice pick of beautiful mountains in all three countries. Me too made plans for Mont Blanc around those weeks but the weather just didn't comply. Well, sooner or later we shall have another go and I'm sure one day you'll have a successfull bivy on top of MB! I also hope you made your wife a nice crunchy sallad with swiss Thommy dressing on your return back to the UK :-)
markhallam - Dec 11, 2012 4:41 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: the bivy will come...Thanks Andre - yes I hope so, re the bivy - and we're on the 2nd bottle of Thommy salad dressing now (2 more to go!). Best of luck for your plans next year (Peak Lenin wasn't it?)
best wishes, Mark