Surprisingly, there is a mobile network available up here at the Gouter hut at 3800 meters, so I can post a short update.

We left Chamonix at 8.30 today, first by bus to Les Houches, then we took a telepherique up to 1800 meters and a tramway up to 2100 meters. From there we had to walk.

Chamonix was cloudy and grey, but above 2000 meters the sun was shining. We saw several ibex (ibexes?) and chamois very close by on our way up.

After three or four hours we reached the most difficult part of the climb: le Grand Couloir – a steep passage with constant risk of rockfall. Le Grand Couloir stretches over 400 meters altitude difference, so it takes about one and a half hours to climb it. Julian and I built a rope team, and Aldo, Friederike and Philipp the other one. Julian and I reached the Gouter hut at the top of Le Grand Couloir at 5 PM. The others arrived about half an hour later.

The hut is pretty overcrowded, so I’m not sure if we’ll get any sleep tonight. Then again we’re going to get up at 1 AM to start our ascent to the summit. The weather forecast is excellent: clear sky and full moon! Now: dinner.