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Tuesday
Benvolo Hut to
Pont (Hotel Gran Paradiso) via Pt Basei 3338m; Distance 17km climb
1000m.
We left the hut at
08:15 and followed a good line to col Basei reaching there around
1200 we then booted up the ridge to near the top of Pt Basei,
after some discussion we elected not to top out in view of time
restraints. So down we went enjoying some great skiing until reaching
around 2700m where it turned to porridge. A long hot slog along
the Piano del Nivolet ending in a hike down to the hotel due to
the snow running out.
We reached the hotel Gran Paradiso ( also or originally called
the Albergo Gran Paradiso ) at 17:30. Very nice, we had a room
for 4 and one for 2, we all made good use of the shower.
Good food and accommodation.
Wednesday
Pont to Vittorio
Emanuele hut; distance 4Km, climb 775m
We left the
hotel 09:45, something of a leisurely start, up the valley for
some 2Km before starting the climb up, this soon became a boot
up due to the lack of snow and the steepness. We started skinning
again around 2400m and reached the hut (2732m) around 13:45. Beer
and lunch on the terrace followed by some brushing up of crevasse
rescue techniques.
The hut was
cramped and disorganised.
Thursday
Gran Paradiso
4061m and down to Chabod hut 2732m; distance 10Km climb 1350m
Breakfast
at 06:00 left at first light
at 06:50. Tried to stop every
hour for quick drink and bite to eat worked well made good progress
and one of the first groups to reach the ski depot. All topped
out on the Madonna summit at 12:30, lots of congestion getting
on and off summit. All but one of the team then climbed the true
summit as we had plenty of time in hand. Both climbs easy but
extremely exposed to the NE. Some great
skiing to start with but got heavier and heavier as we got to
the hut reached there 15:15 very nice and good food.
Friday
..
Chabod hut to
Valsavarenche Road;
distance 3Km down 800m.
Left hut at 08:30 and reached taxi rendezvous point at
10:30 an hour and half early. The first half of the decent was
on hard breakable crust that was hard work and the send was a
walk due to no snow.
We were back in Chamonix
by 14:00
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