Day 4 Final Training Day

Tuesday 3rd August 2010

Another early start today 5am breakfast leave at 5.30am we have about 9 kilometres of trekking to do today. Phillipe says the weather will be good but cold, and not so good down in the valley. He's right its bloody cold and we walk into thick cloud, but I'm feeling warm as I am testing the new down jacket. However, 20 minutes into the trek we are hit by a whiteout. No time to change just head down and follow the rope. I have Simon behind me and young Phillipe in front but I cannot see our guide Phillipe. It doesnt bait for 3 hours, apart from changing to freezing rain, then back to snow. It just keeps coming and this makes walking hard and slow. We are at least faster than yesterday, or so we thought, but within half an hour everyone from the refuge has overtook us and are out of sight.

We cross the col between France and Switzerland. We have been trekking for what seems like hours but I couldn't tell you exactly as there is no way I am removing my gloves to look at my watch. It is the coldest I have felt,as temperatures are freezing. We stop to make the ropes smaller and descend another snow slope into thick cloud again, the weather then clears a little enough for me to swap into full waterproofs, I am now worried my down jacket won't dry for summit day. Miraculously the further we descend the better the weather gets. Phillipe lets Simon lead us down the glacier which he relishes. Its a good change of position as we have both been at the back of our rope chain. Thankfully, Simon gets his head down and picks up the pace and we get to the Albert Refuge at around 11am. A quick lunch, then we descend down into the valley back to sunshine in Chamoinix. This was our acclimatisation complete. Tomorrow our Mont Blanc summit adventure will hopefully begin.

Our excitement is however short lived as more bad news at lunch. The weather forecast for Thursday is not good at all. If it does not change then the summit attempt on Mont Blanc will NOT take place! Instead we will have the opportunity to climb a 4000m peak in Italy! I can't describe how I am feeling right now, apart from utter disappointment. I have had all the wind knocked out of my sails. Having spent 2 uncomfortable nights at 2700m and 3170m respectively, I am totally gutted about this prospect. This cannot be happening. I didn't come here to climb in Italy. What about the challenge? Does it still count if we cannot summit? Its a sombre mood down in the valley.

Phillipe says he will call me at 5 with a decision (fingers crossed). Simon and I need to do this....... Dad if you are up there, I really need you to work some magic........