David Dougherty came back to the Alps again in 2019. This time centered in Chamonix.

We started with a Chamonix classic, the Pyramid du Tacul.

The Pyramid. Roll your mouse over (or touch) to see the route.

The Vallée Blanche "half traverse" on the way over from Point Helbronner.

The last pitch to the summit.

The following day, we were back in the same area, with a traverse of the Aiguilles Marbrées. The route ascends the peak from around the left side, then traverse the ridge seen here, to the right. The descent leads to the high point of snow on the right.

On the climb up.

And the summit.

On the descent, traversing the ridge.

With a little time left in the day, we also made a quick ascent of the Petit Flambeau. We watch another party ascending the North Ridge of the Flambeau.

With our last 2 days, we went into the Aiguille du Tour, for some unfinished business from two years ago.

A beautiful morning on the approach.

We decided to make a somewhat more interesting day of it by traversing the two peaks of the Tour, up the East ridge of the north summit, then down into the notch, and then up the much more popular south summit. This is a view of the north summit from the approach to both. The route up closely follows the right-hand skyline.

Still on the approach.

This is a view of the north summit from the south. Interestingly, the north peak is 1 meter higher, though seldom climbed. Mouse over (or touch) the image for the descent route off the north peak.

Looking east, not long after sunrise. The Weisshorn is the big peak just right of center.