In what the Chamonix Meteo reports described as 'scorching' hot weather Tom, Gaz, Noel and I enjoyed 2 solid days of Alpine training based in the Chamonix Valley.

A day based from the top station on the Grandes Montets lift allowed us to practice the different rope techniques used for glacier travel, moving together on steep snow, ice and rock as well as pitched climbing and abseiling. The short North East Ridge of the station summit and a shoulder on the Petite Verte gave some decent terrain to put it all in to context.

The second day saw us crossing the stiff and well frozen snow of the Col de Geant over on the Italian side of the range, accessed from the mornings first Helbronner lift. The team made a fine direct traverse of the Aiguilles Marbrees with enough time left for some more technical crevasse rescue practice before the Glacier became too hot and the sanctuary of the Torino Hut bar was reached.

Good effort to the guys who took their new found skills and made a swift traverse of the Gran Paradiso (the only 4000m peak entirely in Italy) today.