Alpine Start..

I spent the last Tuesday and Wednesday with British Mountain Guide Kevin O'Neale in Saas Grund along with Dave and Mark.

Wednesday saw an ascent of the rock route 'Panorama' F5b to the summit of the Jagihorn (3206m), a good route on sound gneiss.

On Thursday, we took the first lift from Saas Fee to access the Hohlaubgrat on the Allalinhorn (4027m), before descending to the Mittel Allalin.

Conditions in the western alps remain quite snowy for the start of the season with many steep ski descents being made. The North Face of the Tour Rhonde has been skied recently and Tim Blakemore witnessed a descent of the Lenzspitze via the Dreieselwand. (Photo - Jon Watts climbing in the Mont Blanc Massif years ago!)

Back in Chamonix there are rumours of the 'Colton-MacIntyre' receiving ascents on the North Face of the Grandes Jorasses, but with the weather warming up I'm not sure for how long that will remain a good idea..