Feu Sacré

Today the weather and babysitting windows opened (THANK YOU CHRISTA (et al!)) and Chloe and I finally got to try a route on the Tour Termier -- Feu Sacré, 280m, 6a,6a+,6a+,6b+,6a,6b,A0,6b,6b+,5+. We were treated to a cloudless sky when we started, a relatively painless approach, and most improtantly, no one else blocking our way on the route for once!! Things started a little inauspiciously, as the first two pitches were soaking wet. As the route got more vertical, it was almost all dry, with magically adherent rock. The only remaining pitch was the "crux" pitch, which I had planned to do free, but too many key holds were (literally) dripping wet, so I aided through it. About midway up, a low cloud bumped into the formation, chilling us and dropping visibility. There was another team on Terminee, and we would periodically look at the clouds and then back at each other and then shake our heads in disbelief. The cloud eventually cleared, but then a second grey cloud parked right above us! It was like a cartoon storm cloud: no clouds and sunshine for as far as the eye could see, *except* the tour termier. We almost got our down jacket out at this point. Otherwise, it was a fabulous climb on perfect rock.






The view from the top (3070 meters/~10000 feet) is magical, too.



There were some patches of snow,


and a family of Bouquetins looking for food.

The approach shoes are great: lightweight, sturdy, fit like a glove and survived the scree surfing. ❤ La Sportiva. The rubber is not great when wet, however.

The hike back took AGES. At every hill we would see that the trail continued off into the horizon. New weather was moving in, so we had some beautiful views of Lautaret and Termier

And then the fog moved in



Thanks again to the babysitters!!