Gini Kramer has established a tradition of spending a week or two in Chamonix every summer. This time she was joined both by husband Gary, and friend Tina Rosser. Depicted here, climbing with Kathy, are Tina with her son and daughter-in-law, Gini climbing alone, and with varying constellations of Gary and Tina!

After a few days rest, Gini and Mark climbed together for 2 days. Photos at the bottom of this page.

Other Trips with Gini

Gini and Gary, June 2016
Gini and Gary, June 2015
Gini and gals in Dolomites, September 2010
Gini, September 2009
Gini and Sandy in Chamonix, August 2008

Gini on the Aiguille du Midi ridge.

The first day was family day for Tina and her son and daughter-in-law. We headed up to the Montenvers slabs for some multi-pitch pleasure climbing

The approach to the slabs is not terribly long, but it is rather involved, in an amusing sort of way.

The ambience is truly unusual, the rock is great, the slab climbing good, clean fun.

"En Famille" on the belay ledge.

Day two was Gini's turn, she and Kathy headed up to do the Cosmiques Arête in beautiful weather.

Good company on the approach (that's Mark just ahead, as chance would have it!).

High on the route, the weather could not have been better!

Approaching the famous steep crux pitch near the top of the route.

A forest of rocky spires makes us feel very small!

On the so-called "exit pitches", we're smelling the coffee now.

Ta Dahhh!

Day three we spent cragging at the Vallorcine cliffs. A nice cool shady place to "hang" on a hot day.

Gini struggles to make that first clip, but fortunately she has the technology!

Good fun for all ages here.

The next day, we headed up to the Brévent in the Aiguilles Rouges, for a long ridge ramble called "Mic et Maousse" (French friends, what is the play on words here!?!?) Gini and Tina in the gondola, it's already turning into a hot day!

A rather dizzying perspective on pitch 2.

An airy skyline ramble...

And more air and more rambling.

Heading toward the last pitch...

And enjoying the views from the summit.

On our last day we returned to an Aiguilles Rouges classic, Mani Pulitti.

Beautiful rock on this steep face pitch.

The unforgettable ending to the second-to-last pitch.

Sadly, all good things must come to an end. It's time to head back to terra firma.

Thanking all three friends for some fantastic climbing this week!

After a wee pause, Gini joined Mark for a couple days of climbing. Here we are at the foot of the Aiguilles Rouges classic Cocher-Cochon.

What's the big deal?

The route, after some 9 pitches, ends up on top of the big tower.

Gini on, I think, pitch 7.

The last moves of the last pitch on the tower. This pitch, 6a, is one of the best pitches in the Aiguilles Rouges.

And on the 14th, we did another climb–Somone, one that Gini had enjoyed once before.

Mont Blanc and satellites in the background.

Looking east from near the top of the Brévent. Clouds billowing up from the south.

An easy but fun section of pitch 3.

The last moves on pitch 4, one of the more challenging of the climb.

After 5 rope lengths, we hike across the flats to the last 2 leads, up a buttress.

Mouse over to see the line.

On the second to last pitch.

Almost done now.

Looking across at guide Jeff Banks and Dan on the last pitches of Somone.

Celebrating with a cup of hot chocolate at Planpraz.