Well we are all back safely!

We had a terrific experience. It was a real shame that the goal of Mont Blanc was deemed too dangerous - we pushed as much as we could to have a crack at it - but our guides were against it. There was a combination of fresh snow on rock hard ice that caused the avalanche concern.

Instead we took on the Monte Rosa range on the Italian Swiss border. The highest peak of this range less than 200m short of Mont Blanc. On our first day's climbing we set of from Gressoney by lift. Once at the snow line, we donned crampons and climbed solidly for 9 1/2 hours. We climbed 2500m and 7 peaks in total on that day. This is 900m more vertical climb than the Mont Blanc route. The last hour of climb to the Capanna Margerita was the hardest thing we have ever done. The refuge never seemed to get any nearer!

Spending a night at 4500m was surreal. The air only contains 56% of the oxygen at sea level so you get a bit of a headache and tingly fingers. Sleeping is not easy.

We then got up at 5am to tackle our final summit, Du four, where we donned our fundraising t-shirts (chilly) A long walk down followed on tired legs.

Altogether a fantastic experience - and a few scars to show for it!

Thank you all so much for your support.

Mont Blanc - we are still gunning for you!

 

Check out the photos on www.flickr.com/photos/81935732@N02/

 

Updated on Jul 1st 2012 at 9:13 PM from the JustGiving API

We are having to switch to plan B. 100km wind and 40cm of fresh snow on solid ice has made Mont Blanc too dangerous to climb. Very real avalanche risk with 8 people dying last year in similar conditions. So we are driving to Switzerland tomorrow to climb Monte Rosa at 4634m the highest peak in Switzerland and the second highest in the Alpes and western Europe. It will now be a two day summit expedition with two nights at altitude, one at 3200m and one night at capanna margherita at 4559m. This will not be a sleep filled trip! We are all disappointed not to do mont blanc but this is a very good substitute and the danger on mont blanc is simply too great.

Updated on Jul 1st 2012 at 12:16 PM from the JustGiving API

Spent yesterday ice climbing and summitted Point Lachenal then climbed the cosmiques ridge. Some vertigo moments involved! Last night spent in the refuge at 3600m. Woke up to 100km winds which made climbing the arrete very scary! Weather looking iffy for Mont Blanc attempt.

Updated on Jun 29th 2012 at 5:25 PM from the JustGiving API

First lift out of Chamonix. Ice axes and crampons ready. Our French companions in the lift have all dodged the soap this morning. Choice

Updated on Jun 28th 2012 at 9:36 PM from the JustGiving API

We are in Chamonix now. Preparing well by watching the football and tucking in to some vino rosso. Big day climbing tomorrow.

Updated on Jun 27th 2012 at 7:44 AM from the JustGiving API

We are off early tomorrow. All getting excited tinged with a little nervousness. Look out for updates while we are out there. We will try to post pictures. If you want a idea of the sort of stuff we are doing, type in "arête des cosmiques" into YouTube and watch the first video! Butt clenching stuff.

Thanks for taking the time to visit our JustGiving page.

We are Rob and Nick Wakefield, Shaun Hannan and David Crosbie

In 2012 we have set ourselves the challenge of climbing Mont Blanc, the highest peak in Europe, in aid of Brain Tumour Research and in memory of a friend Angus Anthony who tragically died of this disease last year.

None of  us have any climbing experience (fool you may say!) but have seen this mountain so many times skiing, we wanted to see the view from the top!

We are training hard for this as the physical challenge is great. There is danger associated, but we have hired professional guides. We went out to Chamonix last year to gain some experience in climbing techniques and glacier travel in preparation.

We would love to raise a significant amount of money to help fund research into the fight against this terrible disease which affects both young and old.

Not only that, when you look at the mountain, you might be reminded of a departed friend.

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