In reply to BStar:
Hi BStar. Lots of questions which I hope I can answer as a fairly regular dry tooler at Masson and White Goods (and winter climber).
You seemed to have figured that it is sport climbing style, bolts and lower offs. Masson is mostly drilled slots. Both the Warm Up and Tenuous Link have undercut starts so a few stiff pulls (with feet on), but then straight forward off vertical top sections. Thus they aren't great as warm ups.....but that's what you got. I would say Tenuous Link is easier than The Warm Up as the start is slightly less burly and it has evolved from its original very tenuous state. If you can boulder 3 move juggy overhangs indoors you can do these (can't really compare with trad grade).
Always clip the first or second bolt tooling - they aren't meant to be done any other way and the feedback from tools means you often don't know when you are about to come off especially when starting out (and even experienced folk depart unexpectedly sometimes), it gets better as the rock gets steeper. You can't access the tops but you could clip stick your way up and set up a top rope - they share a lower off so even better. To be honest drill slots can be a nightmare to spot from below so clip sticking initially will save you a lot of energy.
Tooling works wet or dry - get stronger and do overhanging routes and even the rain stays off. Those routes at Masson are on the edge of the big cave so you can put your stuff in there and shelter from any rain.
Your axes look like Vipers, which I used happily on the less than overhanging stuff for several years (including these routes). The steeper it gets the more difference aggressive tools make. Your picks will be fine on those routes, tooling is less damaging to hardware than most winter climbing apart from fat ice. As tooling gets harder then specialist heavy duty picks get more important (if you don't want to bend your best ice picks). Crampons, I used horizontal bi-points on those routes to start, fiddly but fine. Monopoints are best, then once into steep stuff fruit boots as they are lighter for getting over your head!
Will it help you at Cogne, a bit maybe, hanging onto tools on steep ground yes, get stronger yes, fitter yes, learning how to shoulder and short handle yes, swinging and kicking at ice no, (although some bits of Masson are soft enough!)but it is great fun so why not.
As for Xmas, not sure of my plans yet but will keep you in mind...I have an itch to scratch at Masson that's making me a Sick Boy.
I hope that has helped - enjoy.
