UKC

George Ponsonby recalls post-lockdown adventures in Chamonix...

19th March 2020. Matt and I were packing up to leave Chamonix to head back to Ireland. The hope that this virus thing would only last for a couple of weeks was rapidly dissipating into the ether, kicked out the door by the helicopters the PGHM started sending out above the Chamonix to spot climbers. That and the wartime-esque speech Emmanuel Macron delivered managed to penetrate the bizarre bubble of unreality that surrounds the Chamonix valley and let us know this would probably be a long haul event.

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Brilliant write up, thanks  

Really enjoyed that, good read!

Was Matt's gem actually precious?

Really fun article thanks. Captures all the joy and psyke of climbing!

Great read, excellent. Gawd! I'm missing having not done anything big in the past year!

Superb piece. I've sometimes felt like the alps have torn me a new one, but, er, not like that...

Good piece, fun to read and loved the photos.

Though I've got to say that I don't think you'll be long for this world if the descriptions are without exaggeration. One can be lucky and get away with a near-death experience or two each trip but if it's a near-death experience or two each route, well, there is only so much luck to go around...

The Walker Spur with a ripped anus, Respect.

A bit of an odd piece for me - the big routes are impressive stuff but the ripping into less competent climbers and the constant near-death experiences (some avoidable perhaps, some not) just leave me feeling a bit hollow and uninspired.