
Headed out from hut around 10am.
Climbed steeply on blocky scree. Ascended on snow to the col de Berard. Picked up North Ridge.
Ascended the ridge, much of it loose.
Great alpine flowers. And views.
Found genepie around 2800m.
Cloud came and went and so too views of the Mt Blanc Massif.
No others on the route.
3 points of difficulty/danger:
1) An exposed rock move
2) A tricky corner where I had to use a rock to cut steps as trainers weren`t cutting it on the hard snow
3) A horrendous traverse above le Mort glacier, just below the main ridge, passage on which blocked by a step. Slate-like rock dinner-plating. And some snow.
Reached a hideously exposed notch just a few hundred m from the summit and decided not to proceed.
Rapid descent on snow - various amusing glissade methods. Fine outing. Bathed in river on way down.