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Multi-pitch climbing (Clocher-Cochon, TD- 6a>5c) on my first trip to Chamonix-Mont-Blanc đŸ‡«đŸ‡·

Updated: Oct 2, 2022

Finally the day for multi-pitch climbing in Chamonix â˜ș


Chamonix-Mont-Blanc has been sunny and clear since morning ☀ The sky is blue and clear, enhancing the whiteness of Mont Blanc, the queen of the European Alps covered in snow.


Clocher-Cochon, Chamonix-Mont-Blanc 2022
Clocher-Cochon, Chamonix-Mont-Blanc 2022

This time, at the request of my partner đŸ‘±đŸ»đŸ‡«đŸ‡·, we decided to climb Le Clocher de Planpraz (2428m) in Aiguilles Rouges, across from the Mont Blanc massif.


The approach to the climbing site is by Gondola lift from Chamonix to Planpraz (2000m), then walking toward Lake Cornu. From the Gondola lift station Planpraz (2000m), it takes about 40 minutes to reach the base of the climb.


Clocher-Cochon, Chamonix-Mont-Blanc 2022
Clocher-Cochon, Chamonix-Mont-Blanc 2022
Le Clocher de Planpraz (2428m)
Cocher-Cochon

Topo : TD- 6a>5c, 250m Website : D+/II, 6a max./5b obl. (L1:4bđŸ‘±đŸ»â€â™‚ïžđŸ‡«đŸ‡·, L2:5c🐱, L3:5bđŸ‘±đŸ»â€â™‚ïžđŸ‡«đŸ‡·, L4:6a🐱, L5:5ađŸ‘±đŸ»â€â™‚ïžđŸ‡«đŸ‡·, L6:5c🐱, L7:5bđŸ‘±đŸ»â€â™‚ïžđŸ‡«đŸ‡·, L8:6a🐱)


8:50 Planpraz (2000m)

10:20 Start climbing

17:00 Rappel down from the end point

18:00 Planpraz (2000m)

19:40 Walk back to Chamonix


Climbing ToPo :  face au mont-blanc les aiguilles rouges 1
Climbing ToPo : face au mont-blanc les aiguilles rouges 1
Climbing ToPo :
face au mont-blanc les aiguilles rouges 1

The topo is a climbing area in the Aiguilles Rouge massif (Aiguilles Rouge), on the other side of the Chamonix valley from the Mont Blanc massif. There are two topos in this series.


1ïžâƒŁ Aiguilles Rouge 1 (southern part): Le BrĂ©vent to Chezerys slabs


2ïžâƒŁ Aiguilles Rouge 2 (northern part): Col des Montets to Passet and Barberine Valleys


You can find Le Clocher de Planpraz (2428m) and Les Chéserys (1980m) in (Aiguilles Rouge 1).


Materials:

・Rope: double rope 2 x 50 m

・14 quickdraws

・Slings and carabiners


Chamonix Mont Blanc
Chamonix Mont Blanc
Personal comments

It is an enjoyable route for climbers who want to climb around 6a/b. Topo says L4:6a, but the website says L4:5c/+.


L4:5c/+ seems reasonable for L8:6a. The last route, L8:6a, is a route that is enjoyable both in terms of scenery and climbing.


My impression after climbing it was that the wait was longer than the time spent climbing it anyway 😂 It was a clear fall day, a popular beginner route, and with the gondola ending this day. There were probably 10 parties (20+ climbers) climbing this route. We waited over 40 minutes to climb the first pitch and over an hour to climb the second pitch (L2:5c) and last pitch (L8:6a) đŸ€Ł


In the end we didn't catch the last Gondola lift (the last one was at 17:00) and we walked the whole way back down to Chamonix 😬 I guess in a way we had the best experience of multi-pitch climbing in Chamonix đŸ˜‚đŸ€Ł


 Le Chamoniard volant
Le Chamoniard volant
🏠 Accommodation
Le Chamoniard Volant

Our initial plan was to stay at the Auberge de Jeunesse HI Chamonix Mont-Blanc Hostel, but it was fully booked. We decided to stay at Le Chamoniard Volant, which was our second choice.


The advantage of Le Chamoniard Volant is that you can easily walk to downtown Chamonix, and unlike Auberge de Jeunesse, breakfast is not included, but you can use the kitchen. If you are not picky, there are pots and pans, plates, cups, knives and forks, a refrigerator, etc. The room we rented was a bunk bed.


The room we rented was for 6 people with 3 bunk beds. Pillows and blankets are provided, but you have to bring your own sheets.


There were two power sources in the room to charge cell phones and other devices. There was also a locker in the room that could be locked.


MBC Chamonix Microbrewery
MBC Chamonix Microbrewery
Restaurant 🍔đŸș
MBC Chamonix Microbrewery

Recommended by my climbing partner who has been to Chamonix many times, this restaurant serves delicious Chamonix microbrews and hamburgers.


Even if you don't speak French, the staff speaks English. I mean, I don't think there were many customers in the restaurant who were speaking in French.


Not only in this store, but also when we were climbing, eating in a restaurant, or relaxing in an inn, there were more than a few groups conversing in French.


Le Fournil Chamoniard
Le Fournil Chamoniard

Boulangerie

Le Fournil Chamoniard

This bakery was also recommended by my climbing partner. It was very popular and people were coming in without a pause.


âœđŸ» Panorama of the Mont Blanc massif seen from the climbing sites of Le Clocher de Planpraz (2428m) & Les ChĂ©serys (1900m)




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