Once again, Chris Kulp joined Mark for some climbing in the Alps. This year, we had a bit less time than in previous years, owing to the constraints of both of of their schedules, But the 2 weeks was plenty enough to enjoy some good climbing. Nearly all of these routes were new for Mark as well, which both peeked his interest and kept him on his toes.

  Arête de l'Innominata

With the tunnel closed, we had to get into Italy via the Mont Blanc panoramic cable car. Here Chris contemplates the east face of the Mont Blanc du Tacul.

  Arête de l'Innominata

The south side of Mont Blanc from the little restaurant at La Visaille in Val Veni. The route up to the Monzino Hut climbs the grass and rock slopes on the left.

Arête de l'Innominata

This shot was taken on the hike up to the Monzino Hut. The impressive pyramid is the Aiguille Noire de Peuterey.

 Arête de l'Innominata

The Monzino Hut and Mont Blanc. The Punta Innominata is the dark summit in front of and to the right of Mont Blanc. The route to the Eccles bivouac hut and the Innominata is up the Brouillard Glacier on the left.

  Arête de l'Innominata

  Arête de l'Innominata

Part way up the route to the Eccles Bivouac hut. The hut is up in the rubble just below the longish horizontal snow patch.

  Arête de l'Innominata

The view of the upper route from the top of Pic Eccles. The route traverses the two lowest snow/ice patches right to left, then gains the ridge of the left skyline.

It was the unusually warm weather, with the prospect of possible rockfall in the large central couloir, that turned us back.

  Arête de l'Innominata

On the descent, Chris, expresses something????

  Arête de l'Innominata

Descending the via ferrata like route below the Monzino Hut.