Anna and I climbed another great route in Aiguille du Midi: La Contamine, 8 pitches, all nice! We finished right on time for a quick lunch on the sunny top of the Aiguille.
View over Grandes Jorasses, Rochefort and Dent du Geant from Aiguille du Midi (© A. Gatta)
We took the first cable car to the top Aiguille du Midi and were at the bottom of La Contamine in 15 minutes with 3 teams going to the Rebuffat, just of the left.
Aiguille du Midi: La Contamine (© P. Gatta)
The route is 200m high and graded ED-, 6c or 7a depending on the guide book. There are 2 or 3 bolts at each anchor and some spit and some pegs in some pitches.
Anna in the 2nd pitch, 6a (© P. Gatta)
There are two options for the second pitch, we chose the right one, a nice 5c/6a finger crack.
Philippe in the 3rd pitch, 6b (© A. Gatta)
The 3rd pitch is amazing, 40-45m crack with a small roof.
Anna in the top of the 3rd pitch (© P. Gatta)
Philippe in the 4th pitch (© A. Gatta)
Anna in the 4th pitch (© P. Gatta)
Where are we? (© A. Gatta)
Anna in the Kolhman exit (© P. Gatta)
It looks like we made a mistake on the 6th pitch and climbed the Kolhmandihedral instead of the Contamine.
Philippe in Kolhman exit (© A. Gatta)
Philippe in the last pitch (© A. Gatta)
We took the 6b exit which ends on the top of Aiguille du Midi South East Pilastre.
Rappels from the top (© P. Gatta)
La Contamine with Kohlmann exit: ED- 6c/7a, 200m. 8 pitches. (© Anna and Philippe Gatta)