Ian- just back from ten days climbing at Ailefroide in the French Alps with John D. On Tues 31st July we flew from Edinburgh to Geneva then travelled south by hire car.
We stayed, as usual, at the excellent municipal campsite. Over the course of our nine days there we did six super multi-pitch routes and had a day’s single-pitch cragging lower down the valley. We missed one day due to being rained off at the Eperon de Bouchier , and on one day JD had a stomach upset, so we didn’t climb.
While John was recuperating, I had a walk up into the Vallon de Clapouse, which took me up to 2500m. I also managed to squeeze in a couple of 50 minute training runs for the forthcoming Coll half-marathon.
At Ailefroide campsite, we met up with our friends Stuart and Jeannie, who had exciting news; and Helen C and her partner Vicky, so there was some pleasant evening socialising.
Highlights of the trip for me were the arête of Serfouette Express, the wonderful La Cocarde, and the relatively easy but mega-long Pets du Rupricaprins.
Feeling a wee bit tired after that, so Mhairi took me out to an all-day party at Scott and Anne’s housewarming on my return, then a 36 mile cycle run “round the Forth” on Sunday. Jings!