UKC

350m.

Rockfax Description
II, 350m, 3 - 4 hours. Whether you get it quiet or busy, the situations and quality of the climbing make Arête des Cosmiques one of the great alpine challenges.
1) From the Cosmiques Observatory, just below the modern Refuge des Cosmiques, climb the vague gully just to the right of the crest of the ridge.
2) When the ridge peters out, drift rightwards across slabby ground to reach an exposed snow traverse on the south side of the ridge to a small summit above the Éperon des Cosmiques.
3) Make an awkward 20m abseil from here, using a bolted anchor, to reach an exposed, flat ledge on the crest of the arête which sits above a chimney beneath a steep rock wall.
4) After the 2018 rockfall, this area has become increasingly unstable. Make a 15m abseil on the north side of the block to the brèche below the steep wall. Climb up a step to another bolted anchor on the wall. From here make another 20m abseil down the gully on the south side to reach ledges below the gendarme.
5) Follow the ledges out left and ascend a steep chimney to the ridge crest.
6) Climb up the ridge crest for 5m then traverse a vague ledge system along some interesting but easy terrain on the south side of the ridge, staying roughly 10m below the ridge top. Then descend slightly to a snow ledge underneath an imposing rock overhang. Follow the ledge under the overhang and up onto the ridge crest and follow this to the foot of a 20m high slab of golden granite - the crux pitch.
7) 4c. Climb the slab itself (4c) for 8m (bolt at the top of this section and pre-drilled crampon pockets for the feet) before stepping right and climbing the easy chimney to reach a large ledge at the top of the slab. (This is the toughest section of climbing on the route and as such queues can form here. If you don't want to wait, you can drop onto the north side of the ridge just before the 20m slab and climb a very tight, squirmy chimney instead, which brings you out next to the top of the slab.) From here, cross onto the north side of the ridge via an awkward step down before traversing towards the cable car station for 30m to reach a steep chimney. There are slings to belay off and in mid-season there is often a collection of fixed gear. Either way, the belay stance is in a location which is of a kind normally only visited on much harder routes than this.
8) 4a. Take in the exposure before stepping up and into the chimney. The move to get into this is tricky (unless you know where the hidden hold is!) but the rest is enjoyable and exposed, with climbing roughly akin to Scottish II or 4a rock climbing depending on conditions. The chimney is 30m long, after which 10m of blocky steep scrambling brings you onto the crest of the ridge, just below the cable car station.
9) A short, final snow ridge leads to an old, wobbly ladder and finally, the viewing platform at the Aiguille du Midi where you can expect to be stared at by incredulous tourists. It's even been known for autographs to be signed by some climbers whose arrival at the lift station coincided with that of a group of particularly exuberant holiday makers! © Rockfax

UKC Logbook Description
Three stars for a modern classic, although most agree it is easier than the "AD" grade. From right above the Abri Simond Bivy Hut, follow the SW Ridge staying mainly on the south side. Snow and rock route, two 20 meters rappels back to back; the first a diagonal descent and the second a drop down a chimney. Towards the end of climb after the short wall with A0-type move possible, move around the large ledge towards the north face and climb the small gully to the ladder that leads to the viewing platform of the Midi Station.
Route finding can be quite tricky. 3 hours from Abri Simond area.
Description and Topo here: http://wp.me/p27yGx-ga

G and M Finch 29/Aug/1911.

Ticklists

Rebuffat's 100 Finest Routes in the Mont Blanc Massif , Batoux's 100 finest routes in the Mont Blanc massif , CUMC Ticklist , ROCKFAX Chamonix: Top 50 , Big Routes , Rosie's Broken Alpine Dreaming , The Ultimate SUMC Ticklist , Alpine Dreamz , Intro to Alpine , Alpine Progression , Chamonix 2023 , BMC - Easier Classics in the Mont Blanc Range , Winter Alps 2023 , Neonatal Alpinist 2023 , Emma and Will go the the Alps , Alpine Peaks and routes , Cham Sep 24 , Fredventures Alps 24

Feedback

User Date Notes
robert7249 9 Aug, 2023 Show βeta
βeta: Combined with Arête à Laurence, felt like Scottish winter for the last few pitches, freezing, windy and zero vis
Show beta
βeta: Combined with Arête à Laurence, felt like Scottish winter for the last few pitches, freezing, windy and zero vis
robert7249 9 Aug, 2023 Show βeta
βeta: Combined with Arête à Laurence, felt like Scottish winter for the last few pitches, freezing, windy and zero vis
βeta?
Show beta
βeta: Combined with Arête à Laurence, felt like Scottish winter for the last few pitches, freezing, windy and zero vis
Louisjthomas 11 Jul, 2022 Show βeta
βeta: Similar experience to queuing on the M25
Show beta
βeta: Similar experience to queuing on the M25
MarkCatherall 8 Feb, 2022 Show βeta
βeta: This route does get dark after sunset, every day - teams are advised to take head-torches.
βeta?
Show beta
βeta: This route does get dark after sunset, every day - teams are advised to take head-torches.
ladislav 18 Sep, 2019 Show βeta
βeta: Rockfall in 2018 has altered the line around the abseils: after the second abseil, climb through the narrow gap back on to the right side of the ridge and make a further abseil. The hand crack goes up from the centre of the belay platform - ignore the very similar-looking crack with fixed gear and chipped-looking footholds about 2m right of the ledge. There are two obvious chimneys, one full of tat, but the rightmost one looks infeasible and the chimney full of tat turns into a tight inescapable squeeze - instead, follow a line of polish further round to the left, into a "chimney" that is really just a shallow groove with ideas above its station.
Show beta
βeta: Rockfall in 2018 has altered the line around the abseils: after the second abseil, climb through the narrow gap back on to the right side of the ridge and make a further abseil. The hand crack goes up from the centre of the belay platform - ignore the very similar-looking crack with fixed gear and chipped-looking footholds about 2m right of the ledge. There are two obvious chimneys, one full of tat, but the rightmost one looks infeasible and the chimney full of tat turns into a tight inescapable squeeze - instead, follow a line of polish further round to the left, into a "chimney" that is really just a shallow groove with ideas above its station.
JohnBson 18 Aug, 2019 Show βeta
βeta: New beta on the abseil from 1st Eperon. Descend to N side of ridge by a 25m abseil. The landing can be spotted easily from the ledge below the bolts on the N side of the block. Then traverse this ledge climbing up to a rope through a hole into the chimney of the 2nd abseil.
Show beta
βeta: New beta on the abseil from 1st Eperon. Descend to N side of ridge by a 25m abseil. The landing can be spotted easily from the ledge below the bolts on the N side of the block. Then traverse this ledge climbing up to a rope through a hole into the chimney of the 2nd abseil.
fuzzysheep01 9 Aug, 2019 Show βeta
βeta: Abseils easily doable in two 20-25 metre abs down south side of ridge. First one from.bolt, awkwardly diagonal along crest to a ledge with two good ab points. Second ab down to a scree ledge, with a step right (looking in) to good ground.
βeta?
Show beta
βeta: Abseils easily doable in two 20-25 metre abs down south side of ridge. First one from.bolt, awkwardly diagonal along crest to a ledge with two good ab points. Second ab down to a scree ledge, with a step right (looking in) to good ground.
rpinto 30 Jul, 2019 Show βeta
βeta: Lots of confusion amongst groups today in relation to the new belays. I'd suggest reading other peoples comments to work out the new route.
βeta?
Show beta
βeta: Lots of confusion amongst groups today in relation to the new belays. I'd suggest reading other peoples comments to work out the new route.
Smythson 17 Jul, 2019 Show βeta
βeta: The missing belay causing lots of problems for people trying to retrieve ropes that invariably got stuck. That said we didn't know about this new belay!
βeta?
Show beta
βeta: The missing belay causing lots of problems for people trying to retrieve ropes that invariably got stuck. That said we didn't know about this new belay!
AlexD-L 7 Jul, 2019 Show βeta
βeta: The new abseil to the left (North) side is absolutely fine. Just abseil around 20-25m to a bolt on the left hand wall, climb up a few metres from here to reach a snowy walk (exposed) to rejoin the old route.
Show beta
βeta: The new abseil to the left (North) side is absolutely fine. Just abseil around 20-25m to a bolt on the left hand wall, climb up a few metres from here to reach a snowy walk (exposed) to rejoin the old route.
EGriffin 1 Jul, 2019 Show βeta
βeta: Got second lift to Midi in the morning. started route at 8:30 am. Second group on the route. Finished at 10:45 am. There are now three abseils, the second of which is new after last year's rockfall. On the wide flat ledge after the first abseil, face the block in front of you. Use the abseil on the left of the block, ab down around the corner to the other side of the block to the third ab station, there is a fixed green rope to guide you. Top route!
Show beta
βeta: Got second lift to Midi in the morning. started route at 8:30 am. Second group on the route. Finished at 10:45 am. There are now three abseils, the second of which is new after last year's rockfall. On the wide flat ledge after the first abseil, face the block in front of you. Use the abseil on the left of the block, ab down around the corner to the other side of the block to the third ab station, there is a fixed green rope to guide you. Top route!
Manc88 30 Jun, 2019 Show βeta
βeta: The loose area under the original abseil is quite precarious still after last year's rockfall - haven't tried the north side ab yet, so this may be a better option. Easier (and safer) to get a 40m+ ab if you can if using the original ab point.
Show beta
βeta: The loose area under the original abseil is quite precarious still after last year's rockfall - haven't tried the north side ab yet, so this may be a better option. Easier (and safer) to get a 40m+ ab if you can if using the original ab point.
Alpine Rob 30 Jun, 2019 Show βeta
βeta: Keep to the ridge for as long as possible even on the frist ab bolts abseil down onto the ridge where you will find more bolts to ab onto secure ground
βeta?
Show beta
βeta: Keep to the ridge for as long as possible even on the frist ab bolts abseil down onto the ridge where you will find more bolts to ab onto secure ground
Will Sherwood 21 Jun, 2019 Show βeta
βeta: The new abseil is very good, try in 2 sections
βeta?
Show beta
βeta: The new abseil is very good, try in 2 sections

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Style of Ascent
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Route of Interest
Midi-Plan Traverse

Grade: AD ***
(Aiguille du Plan)

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