‘Elbows out’ was the advice I’d been given for climbing in the European Alps.
This wasn’t related to any particular style of climbing, but rather what might help get you to the base of your route ahead of other climbers. Of the 60 people sardined into the 6.10am cable car bin heading up the famous Aiguille du Midi, in the Mont Blanc massif, up to half of them tend to be climbers.
The ride is famous, faking you from 1035m to 3777m above sea level in a scarcelybelievable 20 minutes. But instead of taking in the dramatic views of the alps as you ascend from the small township Chamonix, France, climbers surreptitiously eyeball each other while sneakily edging towards the door.
Our objective was Chèré Couloir: a 155m ice climb that rises trom the snowy valley before steepening to a narrow chute
