Chamonix 28/08/03 - After such a storming trip to the Alps in July we returned to attempt some harder routes. The conditions were very thin with the high sitting over the alps continuing to produce record temperatures. Unperturbed we flew out on 29 August to be greeted by large storm, the drive to the Richmond, was uneventful but very wet.

Chamonix 29/08/03

After three hours sleep or so we hoping that the weather would have cleared enough to attempt the Papillon arête on the Peigne. Unfortunately this was not the case, we spent a lot of time staring out at a damp Chamonix before deciding to head up to Vallorcine to have a crack a some slabs. We moped around Chamonix munching croissants and coffee before jumping a train and heading up the valley. From Le Buet the slabs come into view on the right but the best approach is from Vallorcine. We meandered up and inspected the slabs. They were damp to start and then soaking wet as a brief shower passed as we were inspecting them. After a cheeky knap under a leafy canopy the slabs were still wet.

We left the slabs and heading into kicking vallorcine. After a 5minute inspection it was clear that that our best chance of entertainment lay back in Chamonix. A brief pint at a place by the railway and we were off again. Instead of going all the way to Cham we stopped at Les Praz, checked into Les Lanchers and leaving the small sacks wandered into Chamonix, picked up the sacks and meandered back.  Dumped the sacks and jogged up to the train station to try to get an evenings cragging back up at Vallorcine.

Back at the slabs (for the second time today) we managed to get in a couple of pitches as a sharpener and header back to the hotel.
The outlook for the next day wasn't too great. But we resolved to have a lie in the following morning and the head up the Index lift.