David Dougherty joined Mark for 6 days in the Alps again this summer. Though the tick-list included such peaks as the Weisshorn, or Dent Blanche, the weather had other ideas. Looking for peaks somewhat less affected by new snow, we decided to start with the Dufourspitze.

After a great climb on a cold but clear day, we moved our base of operations to Chamonix, where the shorter approaches and more varied climbing with more conducive to the fickle weather.

Day 1, up to the Monte Rosa hut.

Though the hike up to the hut threatened rain for much of the day, our summit day was perfectly clear.

The rising sun touches the summits of the Breithorn, Dent d'Herens and Matterhorn.

Looking up to the final summit pyramid.

A cold northerly wind was blowing hard across the West Ridge.

A bit of traffic on this fine day.

On the West Ridge, nearly to the summit.

We capped the day off with the very long and tiring hike all the way out to Rotenboden.

On our third day, we moved to Chamonix. And the following, our 4th, we were up on the NE Ridge of the Grands Montets. Here's a nice view of the ridge with the Argentière Glacier behind.

Climbing on the fine rock of the NE Ridge.

Cumulus clouds rapidly building as we climb.

Off to the west, it is starting to look a bit threatening. But we were finished with our climb and enjoyed a nice orderly retreat to the valley well in advance of the oncoming storms.

The following day we decided to return to the same area, this time climbing ice on the Petite Aiguille Verte.

Roll over the image to see our line.

We did a bit of training first in the wind scoop.

The up onto the face.

The ice was quite hard, but fortunately the pitches were short.

Almost to the top of the second pitch.

Climbing along the upper rocky ridge.

David on the summit of the Petite Aiguille Verte.

Rappelling down our line of ascent.

For our last day we did a traverse of the Aiguille d'Entrèves. In order to avoid the forecast bad traffic on the Italian side, we opted to do the route from the Aiguille du Midi. A long walk, indeed.

The Vallée Blanche traverse getting ever more interesting.

On the Aiguille d'Entrèves.

Some of the fine, exposed climbing on the Entrèves.

After a long hike back to the Aiguille du Midi, we arrive just in time to avoid the usual afternoon thunderstorms.

David on the last steps to the Aiguille du Midi.