There are some really nice routes in the Pointes Lachenal (3,613m). After Harold et Maud, L’Orée du Bois, Pascal and I climbed the Contamine yesterday (the driest on the face), another great climb.
Pointes Lachenal – Contamine route (© P. Gatta)
We took the first cable car from Aiguille du Midi and skied down to the bottom of Pointes Lachenal in 10 minutes, nice and easy approach!
Contamine 1st pitch (© P. Gatta)
The route starts in the left crack on the photo above.
Pointes Lachenal – Contamine, the 1st pitch (© P. Gatta)
The route is 250m high and graded TD, 6b. There are 2 bolts at each anchor and 2 others along the route: roof of the 3rd pitch and start of the first 6b.
The cracks are easy to protect.
View over Jorasses, Dent du Geant and Vallée Blanche (© P. Gatta)
Grades: 5b, 5b, 5b, 4c, 6b, 6b, 4b, 4b, 4b.
Pascal in the beautiful 1st 6b pitch (© P. Gatta)
We climbed the route in 3hr, abseiled down (jammed the rope once) and skied back to Aiguille du Midi in 1hr.