Climbing expeditions, pictures and stories (original) (raw)

You only want to see my best climbing pictures ? I have grouped the best horizontal ones for use as a background for your cluttered, overworked desktop. Along with some Antarctic pictures, they are on several special pages for free. The picture on the right is selected at random out of those. They are available in 640x480, 800x600, 1024x768 and also in 5400x3500 and even a lot more !

Before you look any further, you have to read the disclaimer. You know the boring thing that says that climbing is dangerous and just reading this website will get you both maimed and killed before lawyers rip apart what's left and such...

Alaska [[Denali.jpg] My first view of Denali (aka Mt McKinley) ](../Climbing/Alaska.html "Pictures and stories of climbing in Alaska: Denali/McKinley (solo 6194m), Mt Hunter, Prindle... 1995")

I spent 8 months in Alaska, working at the Geophysical Institute of Fairbanks and doing some hiking, biking and climbing. Summer '95. Among the climbs I've done there: a solo ascent of Denali in 9 days, Mt Hunter and some first ascents on Mt Prindle.

Ecuador [[Alpaga.jpg] Alpaga near Cotopaxi ](../Climbing/Ecuador.html "Pictures and stories of climbing in Ecuador: Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, Iliniza... July 1994.")

Ecuador is a nice country, not only llamas and volcanoes. July '94. 6 summits including a new route on the south face of Mt Chimborazo and Mt Cotopaxi.

New Zealand [[NZStatue.jpg] Maori statue from Christchurch ](../Climbing/NZ.html "Pictures of climbing in New Zealand: Mt Cook, Mt Tasman, snow, ice, bad rock and bad weather...")

Numerous ascents in foul weather in autumn '94, 2000 and 2005 including Mt Cook and Mt Tasman via several different routes, a 54 hour epic on the north ridge of Mt Sefton, Elie de Baumont, Hoerchester Dome, Malte Brun, Mt Aspiring, the walk through the Copland Pass, some northern volcanoes and always plenty of wildlife such as birds, whales and diving with blue sharks.

Red Rocks, Nevada [[EpinephrineFace1.jpg] Jenny on one of the upper pitches of Epinephrine, Red Rocks ](../Climbing/Nevada.html "Rock-climbing on the amazing long routes of Red Rocks, Nevada")

What can one do in Las Vegas ? Climb at Red Rocks of course. We went back more than once on this amazing sandstone and bagged plenty of Classics: Crimson Chrysalis, the Prince of Darkness, Epinephrine, Ginger Crack, Eagle Dance, Levitation 29, Solar Slab, Inti Watana, Resolution Arête, Unimpeachable Groping, Power Failure, Rock Warrior and more.

The Alps [[ColPeuterey.jpg] The Peuterey pass ](../Climbing/Freney.html "The central pillar of Freney is considered the hardest way to climb Mt Blanc.")

Numerous winter climbs: waterfalls, ice gullies and mixed routes. I'm not going to waste my time putting pictures of things seen hundreds of times. If you want some, just open any climbing magazine... Well, I only put here my best climb, the central pillar of Freney, probably the hardest way to climb one's first Mt Blanc ! But another way is simply to ski it...

In 2004 we moved to Briançon in the heart of the Alps, near the Ecrins National Park where excellent rock climbing, ice climbing, backcountry, skiing as well as mountain biking abounds. And climbing the Meije.

2007, moving yet again to Grenoble, the big city of the Alps. Plenty of interesting mountain ranges within spitting distance: Chartreuse and its green liquor, Maurienne and its ski, Belledonne, Diois, Devoluy, Grandes Rousses, Taillefer, Vanoise, Beaufortain, La Bérarde, Champsaur, Ubaye... And don't forget the Jacuzzi!

2012, moved yet again, but this time a short distance, up to the Vercors, its WWII fighters, the classic cliff of Presles, the birthplace of climbing at Mt Aiguille, great panorama, ski, an excellent 2012 ice climbing season and daily mountain bike descents.

France [[Corsica_WildPiglets2.jpg] Wild piglets in Corsica ](../Climbing/Corsica.html "Sunny rock climbing in Corsica, long routes at Bavella.")

Besides the Alps, there are plenty of other climbing spots in France, such as the Ardeche, Corsica or even Bretagne.

South of there is plenty of climbing in Provence, particular the cliff of Ceuse, the odd crack climbing of Annot or the seaside cliffs of the Calanques.

Southern Europe [[20081211_140305_Sikati.jpg] Mouth of a shark or Greek cave? ](../Climbing/Kalymnos.html "Climbing on the island of Kalymnos, Greece")

When it gets too cold to climb in France, it may be a good idea to head farther south to Riglos or other spots in Spain or Kalymnos, Greece.

The Dolomites [[CassinRoute.jpg] Via Cassin, Cima Piccolissima ](../Climbing/Dolomite.html "Some climbs in The Dolomites, in the rain but interesting.")

Jenny had wanted to get me to climb in the Dolomites for quite a while, but we managed to find the time only last summer. Great climbs on Civetta and the 3 towers of Lavaredo, but it rained every single day ! August '99.

Nepal and Tibet [[Kitchen.jpg] The kitchen of a buddhist monastery ](../Climbing/Nepal.html "Some pictures of tourism in Nepal before our ascent of Cho-Oyu") On our way to Cho-Oyu we took our time to visit Nepal and Tibet. Here are a few ordinary tourist pictures of temples and such.

Towering at 8201m, Cho-Oyu is one of the fourteen 8000 meter peaks in the world. Not the highest, not the hardest, but quite hard enough for a first experience of high altitude mountaineering without sherpa or oxygen. September 2000.

Antarctica [[TopIceberg.jpg] The highest, hardest and last iceberg Grosnitho and I managed climb. ](../Climbing/AntarClimb.html "Pictures and stories of iceberg climbing in Antarctica in winter. But no big walls. 1993.")

Well, I didn't do much climbing there, except for a couple of icebergs (positively the worst ice in the known universe), some crevasses (a little unstable, he Grosnitho ?) and some bouldering on penguin shit with plastic boots. But the center is dead flat, hopeless for climbing, although when I flew over the Transantarctic Range, I saw some mighty mountains and big walls awaiting their first climbers.

Anyway, don't miss my iceberg climbing pictures.

Peru [[ToclaSerac.jpg] Serac on the normal route of Toclaraju (6035m) ](../Climbing/Peru.html "Pictures and stories of climbing in Peru: Huascaran (solo), Alpamayo, Chacraraju, Chopicalqui, Ranrapalca, Tocllaraju, Cashan, Vallunaraju...")

I spent 7 weeks in Cordillera Blanca in summer '96, around Huaraz and climbed (or tried) 9 summits including the first solo ascent of the north face of Huascaran nord, in a day, the solo ascent of the south face of Huascaran sud, the 2nd ascent of a Slovenian route on the north face of Ranrapalca...

Australia [[BigMouth.jpg] Weird Tasmanian Tawney Frogmouth bird ](../Climbing/Tasmania.html "Pictures and stories of animals (kangaroos, possums, birds) and hiking in Tasmania (Federation Peak...)")

40 days climbing in scorching heat in Australia in early 2006: Blue Mountains, Arapiles, Mt Buffalo, Grampians, Point Perpendicular...

On the other hand, no climbing story for Tasmania, but some hiking on the Overland track and the southwest rain forest, an ascent of Federation Peak, biking on Brusny island and some pictures of cool animals (kangaroos, Tasmanian devils, fairy penguins or this Tawney Frogmouth on the right). Dec '92, Feb '94 & March '98.

Arizona [[TheStep.jpg] The long step to get onto the highest tower (summit) of the Mace ](../Climbing/Arizona.html "Rock-climbing on the Mace in Sedona, Arizona")

Several interesting areas in Arizona: The Mace in Sedona (Dec '01, just 45 years after the first ascent), Granite Mountain, Mt Lemon and the beautiful winter destination of Cochise Stronghold.

Moab, Utah [[CastletonSunset.jpg] Castleton tower, the most classical desert tower ](../Climbing/Utah.html "Climbing desert towers: sandstone, indians and John Wayne")

Besides Colorado, we are also exploring nearby areas, like Moab in Utah. A place of sandstone towers in the middle of the desert, super cracks, soft sandy rock, John Wayne hotels and so much more...May 2001.

Go read the stories and pictures about the Six-Shooters, Indian Creek, Castleton, Arches NP, Ancient Art as well as climbing Jah Man and Moses Tower, more desert towers, the unmistakable Zion and hiking through the Anasazie ruins of Grand Gulch.

California & Yosemite [[HalfDomeSquirel.jpg] Squirrel eating Power Bar on the top of Half Dome ](../Climbing/Yosemite.html "Pictures and stories of climbing in Yosemite: granite, big walls, Half Dome, the Nose of El Cap, the DNB... I wish I was there now !")

There is more to California than just Yosemite, but it took me 8 years to notice:

Sarek, Sweden [[NightStorm.jpg] Stormy night: the wind trying to blow our tent away ! ](../Climbing/Sarek.html "Pictures and stories of two weeks skiing and climbing in Sarek Nat Park, northern Sweden.")

Teaching Jenny to ski in the Sarek National Park, in northern Sweden. Nice place but bad weather. April '99.

Croatia [[20100421_141027_SeaTraverse.jpg] Starting a 200m traverse above the cold sea. ](../Climbing/Hvar.html "Climbing in Sveta Nedjelja on the island of Hvar, Croatia")

After passing too briefly through Slovenia, we spend 2 weeks visiting Croatia and climbing long routes in Paklenica canyon and sport routes above the sea on Hvar island. A couple years later we went back to Newcanoe and spear fish between the islands.

Still in the mediterranean, we spent some time climbing on the tiny historic island of Malta.

Year 2000 was very busy:
First coming back from my fourth Antarctic mission in February; then more than a month of vacation in New Zealand with Jenny; then a bit of work; then getting married on May 20th; then honeymoon in the Alps followed by the total destruction of our car and all our climbing gear, photo equipment, wedding gifts... Then a bit of work mixed up with a lot of time with lawyers and insurances; then off to Nepal, Tibet and the summit of Cho-Oyu in August 2000 and then a bit of work (again !). And then we moved to Colorado after I found a job in Fort Collins !

So after all this we are taking it easy in Colorado. No big expensive expedition for 2001 and 2002, but lots of lazy week-ends climbing in the Rocky Mountains, in Colorado but also Utah and Wyoming, Nevada and Arizona.

Our 2003 climbing road trip around the western US is over and in 2004 we moved to Briançon in the heart of the Ecrins National Park in the Alps; but while Jenny stayed there for a while, I headed off to Antarctica again until 2006 where we had another serious road trip in New-Zealand and Australia. Say, after 370 days of work without a single rest day, I'm entitled to a bit of vacation, no ? The main problem was that Jenny now climbed a good 3 grades harder than me, but that didn't last. And now we are back home in Briançon.

2007 brought a new change of scenery yet again: from atmosphere science and Antarctic trips to nuclear physics and outer space cosmology for work, and from Briançon to Grenoble for home.