Mont Telliers, Switzerland

The sky was blue, the sun would rise, there had been a sharp frost overnight.. all looked good, the forecast predicted low cloud in the afternoon, so we set off with a happy heart to the car park by the tunnel.

We were not a lone, and had to settle for a spot below the cafe ...  it seemed like many people had similar ideas to us.
We had left our boots in the car overnight .... mistake .. cold boots = pain. Overcoming this we were soon heading up the track, taking the route we had used a number of times before. Today's target was Mont Telliers ...  Bryon, Chris and I had tried a number of years ago and only reached the col des chaux, then Bryon and I ran into sever weateher the next time, and only got to above the col du basillon, so this was "unfinished" business.

First target ... into the valley above and go to the end.... leaving the main trail to the hospis after the first series of bends.
Heading up the steep slopes to easier ground above.

After the initial shock of the steep section, everything levels out and the path follows this hanging valley to the end below the skyline

As you arrive at the end of the valley you can see a shoulder appear on the right hand side ..  previously we had gone around the back, but this time the tracked route went over it ...  they all meet up again on the next plateau

the next steep section over, and we are not even half way up the vertical yet! even though it feels like we should be nearly there.

Now at last we can see the target in all its splendour ...  as well as the track to the top.
We would cut across the plateau to the rib ascending diagonally left to right on the face, before curving back to the left and the summit.

the long flog over the plateau gave us plenty of time to see our other high points. the last being the obvious step in the ridge.

We cut under the rib and came around to it from the right, the followed it up to the next steep section that lead over the rocky part.

Now we were making progress ...  the summit cone left.
However we could now see the clouds building above, and making a cover of the highest points.

As we went up the final section, it looked as if all the parties were congregating ... some had taken other routes, but things got busy!

The ski depot just under the top was crowded, and we found a spot to take the skis off.  We were exposed to the wind here, and there were some terrific gusts .. so we had to be careful with the skis so we retained control.

As time to go approached ...  the cloud cover was complete...  we moved out of the way of the others so we had room to manoeuvre, even so ... one of the largest parties started skiing and popped one off ... luckily it stopped 50m down, but it was an anxious time for them.

As we prepared to follow, Chris looked anxiously at me not sure, but soon followed. We had some problems where the party below had got into difficulties, but a short wait and we were away again

Flat light, low visibility and no horizon ... not a good combination. So we followed the large party down the summit slopes. They then stopped to gather and we passed them and went for it down a safe slope to the left ... not the way we had come up but a gully around the side., then back around to meet the trails across the plateau.

Then the middle steep section, where we had some breaks in the cloud and could see, as well as nice snow under ski.

Finally the last section where from the past I knew there would be fun to be had, and the cloud sufficiently high to allow less flatness to the light.

At the boulders in the stream bed, before rising to the hospis path, we stopped for a break and some food..  almost sunny, and pleasant memories.

As we got back to the car we saw a number of helicopters coming in and out ...  we later found out there had been a fatal avalanche on Mt Velan - the other side of the main valley to us.
A reminder to be vigilant.

Then back to the Bivouac to repeat the night before...  glass watching, reading and eating.