Le Contamine

7/9/09

After a successful days climbing the day before and a well earned sleep where the only sound that could be heard was the sound of giant seracs falling down in the distance every so often which is slightly relaxing when you know you are no were near them. We set off to get the first lift up to the top Midi station. We then put our crampons on and headed down the well trampled Midi arête to the base of the South East Pillar. After swapping big boots and crampons for rock shoes we started up the Contamine Route which went at 190m of TD+ (VI , A1). The route is very sustained with a very strenuous crux pitch that goes at (VIII-) if climbed free. Euan put in a great effort on the crux pitch, he freed as much as he could but had to aid a few of the hardest moves. After a few more easier pitches we finished on the top of the pillar and rappelled into the Midi station which was very welcoming after 6 days of climbing 3 of which were spent in the mountains.All in all it has been an awesome week and I’m looking forward to some more climbing after a well needed rest day.