Rhys Maccalister on the North Face of the Tour Ronde during the BMG Aspirant Training Course
The following is a list of routes climbed during the 2023 Alpine/summer season
May
Convenor on the British Mountain Guides Aspirant Training Course. We climbed the Traverse of the Perrons AD, The Arete de Midi – Plan AD+, The Marbrees PD, The North Face of the Tour Ronde AD+ and the South Arete de la Vierge de l’Aroletta AD
June
2 week’s sailing and rock climbing in Scotland’s Western Isles onboard SV Marin including Muck, Eigg, Pabbay and Sandray.
NE Arete of the Petite Floria and Saint – Georges Gendarme AD+ (descent via Kaboul and voie normale)
Madigaskari D+, Aiguille de la Floria
Aiguille d’Argentiere by the Arete de Fleche Rousse AD
Aiguille de la Refuge by Gateau de Riz
July
La Somone, Brevent
Gendarme d’Orny via Papa Paye 5B
Aiguille d’Orny via Classique Sud 5A
Travers of the Ecandies via the Fenetre de Chamois D 5C
Pointe Isabella PD+ voie normale
Strahlhorn 4190m PD
Allalinhorn 4027m via the Holaubgrat PD+
Traverse of the Perrons, Emosson, CH
Gendarme Rouge du Peigne 3078m via the Peigne voie normale
Traverse of the Crochues PD
Weissmies 4017m via the Rotgrat PD+
Jagihorn 3206m via the Sudkante 5A+
Becco della Tribolazione 3360m via the Grassi-Re TD 6A, an outstanding route
La Pera via La Meta e il Viaggio 6A
La Coléggiens TD + 6B, Le Rocher de Leshaux, Haute Savoie, France
August has been a sabbatical (refitting an aluminium expedition yacht) though I have guided the following:
2 days climbing in the North West of Scotland. The first at Rubha Ploytach (Reiff) then the iconic Old Man of Stoer which includes a swim, a Tyrolean and a free hanging abseil. One of the UK’s finest adventures.
September
Traverse of the Crochues
Aiguille de Tour voie normale
Ecole de Glace, Mer de Glace
Rock climbing at les Gaillands
Petit Fourche and col Blanc (found a way through on foot) to Trient Refuge
Aiguille de Tour and descent via the col du Midi des Grands
Traverse of the Pointe Lachenal
Ecole de Glace col de Rochefort
Gran Paradiso voie normale via Chabod (x 2)
Rock climbing in the Aosta valley
SW Ridge of the Dent de Fenestral
Voie Rouge 5A Les Cheserys & Aiguilette d Argentiere by the Fissure Diagonal
Arete a Laurent
The 2023 alpine summer has been better than the previous 2 but we have still seen soaring temperatures and permafrost melting resulting in rockfall at times. I am increasingly avoiding the high granite massid in August. Next season is booking fast so get in touch to secure dates/objectives.