Any suggestions of climbs to do during Dec. How are conditions in general?

hopefully a lot of snow + cold

it would be helpful, if you would write were you plan to go....

I'll likely be in France in Dec if you want to hook up. I'll be there next week & will be in a position to get much more beta then. Where are you thinking of?

Mönch 4.109m in Bernese Alps

What kinda grade?

PD+ / 600m from the station Jungfraujoch / 3 hours up and 2 hours down

You could start / stay in the winter room of Mönchsjoch hut.



the route goes from the station (left side of the image) to the right ridge (SE)

Our trip report by bad weather:

http://www.summitpost.org/trip-report/227513/m-nch-at-16-09-2006.html

http://www.summitpost.org/album/229392/m-nch-climbing-trip-at-16-09-2006.html

i think you have to go with ski

Sorry, meant what kinda grade to the guy who started this thread. Was gonna provide some of my own ideas.

nothing too crazy: max ice 4 and rock 5'8ish - how does the Hornli ridge on Matterhorn go in Dec?

Hey Eileen, are you climbing anything in particular?

I'm living in Volonne while there, which is not too far from Les Ecrins. We're pretty mobile though. Like I said, I'll have more beta once I'm there next week. Let's keep in touch.

E

I'd get the lift to the Aiguilles du Midi from Cham and do some climbing around Tacul. Always hard to say what will be in or out until you're there but you'll have plenty of options. Plenty of great routes on the Tacul triangle and along the East side. The Abri Simmonds bivi hut will be open and it's generally a good crack to stay there. Plus the area has easy access so you'll have more climbing time.

The Aiguille du Midi cable-car is closed from November 11th, 2007 to December 14th, 2007. There is not much to do in Chamonix in December before the lifts open for ski season. The only area with reasonable access would be the Lecshaux Hut for ice routes on the Petites Jorasses, but who knows if there will be any ice. The valley ice routes won't be in by December. And the weather is often really unstable. I wouldn't bother with Chamonix. If you're happy skiing, Chamonix is a cool place in the winter. But for climbing, it can be a huge let-down. I've been there 3 times in the winter and only found good climbing on one of the trips. If you live in Europe and can shoot down to Chamonix when conditions are good, it's fantastic for winter climbing. But traveling from overseas for a winter CLIMBING trip is a bad idea.