Refuge Des Envers day 2

The next morning we woke up at 06.00 am, ate a quick breakfast and took off towards the second pillar of the Nantillons to do the route Fleurs du Mal. For todays mission we had recruited a third member to our climbing party. Thor a friend of Evas showed up during dinner yesterday evening and had a plan to do some sort of solo mission but we talked him in to come with us instead.

Said and done our three men strong team started climbing at about 07.00 am. We decided to lead in blocks with me starting. The first pitch was a really nice crack/slab pitch. The second one which was the 6b+ crux-pitch was ok but a bit to contrived for my taste, there’s an easier but much nicer crack just next to it that led up to the same stance.

After I was done leading the first five pitches Eva took over and linked some nice pitches past the traverse on pitch seven. Quickly covering ground, it was soon Thors turn to take over the leading who did the last pitches to the summit with ease.

The descent took us about an hour and a half and from the bottom of the route what we had left was the long way back to the train. We walked, down climbed ladders and rails on to easier ground, walked on the glacier, climbed back up ladders and walked the gravelled path zigzagging between tourists until we got back to the Montenvers train station.

Two very good and intense days were finished and we were tired and very happy!

Fleurs Du Mal

The first pitch followed a beautiful crack

Thor belaying, Me climbing and Eva doing something else :).

Nice crack pitch half way up the route

On the tiny top preparing the abseil

Nice little top picture