UKC

Major Alpine Trilogy - Update

© Patrice Glairon Rappaz

Earlier in the year Jon Griffith reported on two major alpine ascents climbed by Patrice Glairon Rappaz and Cédric Perillat-Merceroz.

The pair of French climbers knocked off a hard route on both the Grandes Jorasses and the Eiger and were hoping to add a route on the Matterhorn to complete their winter 'trilogy'. Now they have.

Patrice Glairon Rappaz on the evening of the third day  © Patrice Glairon Rappaz
Patrice Glairon Rappaz on the evening of the third day
© Patrice Glairon Rappaz
Patrice Glairon Rappaz on the evening of the third day  © Patrice Glairon Rappaz
Patrice Glairon Rappaz on the evening of the third day
© Patrice Glairon Rappaz

Jon Griffith Reports:

Cedric Perillat was kind enough to email over an update on his and Patrice Glairon Rappaz's winter Alpine Trilogy:

The pair finished off their Alpine trilogy on the Cogna-Cerrutti (1100m, VI+/A3) on the north face of the Matterhorn from the 8-11 March.

Here is what he said:

After reaching the Hornli Hut on the 7th March we spent 4 days on the face reaching the summit- 3 bivouacs on the face and one on the descent of the Hornli Ridge, at the famous Solvay bivy hut. The next day a short day allowed us to reach the valley just before the arrival of the 120KMH winds!

This was the shortest of the routes in the Trilogy; after the Grandes Jorasses from the 14-18th January and the Eiger from the 30th January to 5th February. We encountered difficult conditions despite a 'clement' weather forecast: -10c maximum during the day and on the third day we were buffeted around by 60KMh winds. The covering of inconstant snow over the slabs and ice slopes turned easy pitches in to time and consuming and laborious ones. The long climbing days were split by short and uncomfortable bivouacs, where are malfunctioning stove did not hep with rehydrating ourselves! In short it was a real physical but also mental battle...as you say: "find your limits and push them!"

Cedric Perillat on a beautiful fissure on the last day  © Patrice Glairon Rappaz
Cedric Perillat on a beautiful fissure on the last day
© Patrice Glairon Rappaz
Cedric Perillat on the final traverse that takes you out of the Zmutt nose  © Patrice Glairon Rappaz
Cedric Perillat on the final traverse that takes you out of the Zmutt nose
© Patrice Glairon Rappaz


Patrice Glairon Rappaz is sponsored by Milletand Petzl

Cedric Perillat-Merceroz is sponsored by Snapand Petzl

Report by Jon Griffth - UKC Gear Tester and Professional Photographer. Check out his Chamonix blog here: Alpine Exposures.


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11 Apr, 2011
isn't this a little old now to be 'news'?
11 Apr, 2011
-) awesome stuff!!
11 Apr, 2011
Did you know about it before? If so then probably yes, but it seems like news to me, and rather impressive news at that.
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