Climbing: Gaillands and Cosmiques

Tues 1st: Climbing down Gaillands. Tom Tom and Robyn bought down their BBQ as well as a ton of food. Everyone else brought beer and meat. Loads of people turned up (like 20+). Had a few climbs with Sunny, few with Tom Tom then climbed with Flynn for a while. Great food and an awesome afternoon. Slacklining, football. It had it all.

Slacklining

Pulling some weird move

Lo Lo, Flynn and Lee belaying

TT's arty photo

Roberta lead-climbing

Flynn leading

Sunny on the crack

Looking down

Big crowd

Liam and Charlie, TT climbing in the background

Weds 2nd: Had work until 11am. Rushed back and was up the top of the Midi by 12, ready to start Cosmiques arête with Flynn. The weather was moving in and we didn't want to miss the last bin so we decided to blitz it.

Two and a half hours later we were back in the station. We didn't even move that fast once we realised how ahead of schedule we were. Its a fun, not too difficult route, with a lot of exposure. First time I've climbed in Crampons. Flynn and I simul-climbed most of it with him leading and putting in some protection every so often as I haven't trad climbed before. Used a separate 40m rope for the two abseils which was the perfect length and saved time. Hand belayed the only technical pitch. The last scramble was fun although it's pretty tight for someone my height with a big pack.

Walking to the Simond hut

Midi in the background

First abseil

Flynn following up the technical pitch

Don't fall / look down

Top of the arête

Thurs 3rd: Went down Gaillands with Flynn and Jesse for a few hours so Flynn could teach us the basics of trad climbing. Only did one easy route but just worked through the various means of protection and anchor building. Flynn and I fully weighting a trad anchor for the first time was interesting...

NB. Most of the photos from Gaillands were taken by Charlie / Tom Tom