gabriele wrote:I could suggest you a test :
as first route choose the Gervasutti Pillar to Mont Blanc du Tacul, if you can do it without problems you can start thinking to Eiger N wall ... otherwise this last one could really be the coup de grace, but for you and your partner ...
don't underestimate Alps !!
I definitely won't be underestimating them. I'm confident I have the experience to attempt it right now but I have a bunch of climbs that I plan on doing before I jump on the Nordwand (the Gervasutti Pillar being one of them) to measure myself, hence the reason I'm planning the trip for a couple months. And if it isn't in condition, I won't do it. This trip is not focused on one objective; it would just be nice if I could at least attempt it this go around. This definitely will not be my last trip to the Alps. And if the Eiger NF doesn't come into condition now until spring than I'll hold off and just do a bunch of other climbs.
I plan on being based out of Chamonix and doing most of my climbing out of there. Would September/October be a good time to plan for? How would that compare to July/August?