Debbie Marks was back in the Alps with Kathy this year, this time with friend and colleague Suzanne Hiramatsu.

Other Trips with Debbie

Mont Blanc et al with son Andrew, August 2016

Suzanne and Debbie on the Aiguille du Midi.

Our first day we did the traverse of the Vallée Blanche from the Aiguille du Midi, to Pointe Helbronner in Italy. The day we met up was also the first day of the Arcteryx Alpine Academy workshops, so we had lots of company doing all kinds of activities including some ski mountaineering training. Cohorts in the exit tunnel...

Heading down the ridge from the cable car station.

The Arcteryx hurly-burly: actually they did an excellent job of routing traffic away from the main track.

The hardest part of the day is over now!

Some folks going for a more committing photo opp.

Underway on the traverse, mists roll in and out along with HOT sun!

About halfway across the traverse, the skies claer as we navigate among the crevasses.

Dramatic glacier features.

Once in Italy, who can resist a "real" coffee and a treat? We demolished this chocoate cake pretty fast between the three of us.

On our second day, bad weather forced us to abandon our hopes of another alpine climb. We opted for the one thing you can always do in wet weather, a via ferrata! Orchids on the approach march cheered us up.

Suzanne had never done anything remotely like this, but looks like she's coping really well!

Through the mists.

It's getting steep out!

Dramatic passage near the top.

It ends with a bang!

What a great time, thanks to Debbie and Suzanne for coming out, and here's hoping to see you back again.