North face of Dent du Requin (Alpine climbing)

Wednesday 20 February 2008 06:20PM

Weather still absolutely stellar out here. Ian Parnell over on a flying visit, and Andy Benson just down off a two day ascent of the Eiger north face. On a tip off from local guides, we went to do “the route to do this winter”, the north face of the Dent du Requin above the Requin hut.

The climbing could best be described as “retrospectively pleasureable”. Much of it was easy, with five hardish pitches, only one of which was great (a total classic), the other four including an awkward aid pitch, two dangerously loose free pitches and an enormous snow mushroom. Andy did a stirling job tunnelling through the mushroom, only for it to collapse just as he set up a belay, narrowly missing me and Ian on the belay below.

So, a good route to have done, but not much fun to be had while climbing it!

Photos here.