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Two weeks after my return from the Atacama Crossing race in Chile, I went back to the Gordolasque Valley in the national Park of Mercantour to climb a new Couloir. With the high temperatures we had in the last few days, most of the snow has melted and it becomes difficult to find some ice climbing. The Northeast face of the Cime de Paranova (2256 m) had a bit of snow left, so I climbed two Couloirs ; I went up in “Article Nòu” (250m, AD+) and climbed down the Northeast Couloir (300m, PD+). When I went back to the parking the temperature was about 13°C so the snow is not going to last very long…

Cime de Paranova: Article Nòu (red), Northeast Couloir (blue) (© Philippe Gatta)
Cime de Paranova: Article Nòu (red), Northeast Couloir (blue) (© Philippe Gatta)

Distance: 5 km, ascent: 900m / descent: 900m.

The Grand Capelet (© Philippe Gatta)
The Grand Capelet (© Philippe Gatta)

Climbing the Article Nòu Couloir (© Philippe Gatta)
Climbing the Article Nòu Couloir (© Philippe Gatta)

Chamois (© Philippe Gatta)
Chamois (© Philippe Gatta)