Apologies for the short activation of F/AB-276, Pointe Blanche today. I had set off from the Col de la Colombiere in cloud which seemed to lift as I progressed higher. Once on the summit the sun was warm through the remaining cloud and I started well using my new QMX for the first time. After a few minutes it started snowing. There had been some snow overnight and I was concerned I may not be able to safely follow my uphill track in the snow, so I turned tail and fled down off the hill.
The track up to the col west of this summit has some committing scrambling and at the hardest point I found an old rusty, safety bolt suggesting mountain guides had equipped the route for short roping clients up to the summit, or to abseil the difficulties. A fall from the crux would have been serious, but perhaps not terminal! I found all of the good incut holds at this point contained a small pool of water to soak my gloves. There was still a lot of old snow approaching the summit ridge, but it was soft enough to ascend by kicking steps.
So a serious scrambling route which should only be attempted in dry conditions.
Apologies again and I’ll try to do better in future!
73
F/M0YCJ/P