Larry True was back in the Alps after a three year hiatus, to climb with Kathy. We started in the Chamonix area and then moved over to the Val d'Anniviers.

Larry on the Pigne de la Lé, on a foggy morning.

We started out in the Mont Blanc massif, riding the cable car up to Pointe Helbronner from the Italian village of La Palud. Kathy just got a kick out of this cryptic update notice at the bottom lift station.

We began with a climb of the Aiguille du Toule from the northwest. We descended the Géant glacier to get to the start of our climb. Some folks coming up from the Traverse of the Vallée Blanche.

Other climbers on the glacier. The Mer de Glace curves around in the far distance, with the Aiguille Verte and Les Drus in the background.

Larry starting out on the second of two ice pitches on the north side of the Aiguille du Toule.

Once above the technical ice pitches, a steep arête leads to the summit rocks.

Near the summit, a pause to take off crampons and have a bite to eat.

We next moved over to the Moiry hut, high up in the Val d'Anniviers. We opted to approach the hut via the Moiry Glacier, shown in the center here, rather than by the trail.

Wandering among the open crevasses near the top of the Moiry Glacier icefall.

Nearing the edge of the ice, where we find a climber's trail up to the hut. The Pointe Mourty in the background.

Other climbers on the climber's trail, the chaos of the upper icefall in the background.

In the hut, the picture windows in the reading nook show a view of the upper icefall which is mirrored in an old photo on the wall. Makes it easy to compare the state of the glacier now and in the past. Sobering!

The following day was quite rainy and foggy in the morning, but with an improvement in the forecast, we got a late start and headed up the Pigne de la Lé. Larry pauses halfway up the climb, no clearing in sight yet!

A short while later, it's a whole new world!

From the summit of the Pigne de la Lé, views open up and we can see back down to our hut (looking like a big boulder above the glacier on the right).

Enjoying the sunshine on the summit.

Glimpses of the Grand Cornier and Dent Blanche through the dissipating mists.

On descent, a view to the east shows us the Obergabelhorn and Wellenkuppe.

An expansive view of the Moiry Glacier.

The tumbling upper icefall of the Moiry Glacier.

Larry descending toward the hut. It's great to see him back in the mountains!