Standing at the bottom of the line a was feeling sick.  No amount of water could wet my pallet and I started to wonder if I might throw up or crap my pants.  Xavier was pointing up to a line that he wanted us to hike and climb and I was not feeling it.  It required a 200 foot ice climb up to a hanging, very exposed,  snow field.  To ride it safely would require a rappel in the middle of the line.

“I will follow you up to the crux and if I am not feeling it I will belay you,” I told Xavier.  With a lightened pack on my back I started feeling good as I approached the ice climb.  Xavier led the charge and placed solid protection the whole way up.  I followed and felt great.  For the sketchy parts we were protected and then once on the hanging face the snow was still frozen and made for great climbing.  It just shows that with the proper gear lines like this are totally doable.

The last two days we have been climbing and riding some smaller lines.  We are hoping to hit a big face that tops out at just above 14,000 ft.  It is a serious face that would put our skills to the test.  We have been hiking hard up high and sleeping up high to get acclimatized.  Every run I learn something new.  Nothing comes easy in these mountains and you can not let your guard down at any point.

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The Tour Ronde. At 1800 vertical drop this is considered “mini golf” in the alps.  This one had me sick to my stomach at the bottom before I headed up to climb and ride it.
The top of the Tour Ronde looking down.

The top of the Tour Ronde looking down.

This line seemed mellow at first. About half way up we hit white ice and had to put in ice screws and rope up.

This line seemed mellow at first. About half way up we hit white ice and had to put in ice screws and rope up.

This is the fastest moving weather I have ever seen. It will go from full sun to dumping snow in twenty minutes

This is the fastest moving weather I have ever seen. It will go from full sun to dumping snow in twenty minutes.

We hit this chute riding together. It was in perfect conditions.

We hit this chute riding together. It was in perfect conditions.

I am far, far away from Truckee and loving it.

We are a long way from home.

Seracs are a huge hazard here. We avoid being under them as much as possible.

Seracs are a huge hazard here. We avoid being under them as much as possible.

This is the line we are hoping to hit. This is the top half. It is 3500 feet of 45 to 55 degrees. It was skied once in 1977. This fact alone freaks me out.

This is the line we are hoping to hit. We would like to hit the coulior. This is the top half. It is 3500 feet of 45 to 55 degrees. It was skied once in 1977. This fact alone freaks me out because people get after it here.