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Saturday July 29 - Sunday July 30, 2017
El Granada to Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne, France
The guys had been planning a trip to Europe for nearly a year. In
October 2016 we decided on the timeframe of July 29 - August 11, 2017
for a couple of reasons - Paul couldn't get away in early July cause
his company close their fiscal year, and Ray wanted to go to Nashville
on
August 21 to see the eclipse. For several months this was going
to be a
trip where we all met up in the
Dolomites for a week. We'd talked about the Dolomites for years
and
always wanted to go. Paul wanted to go to Slovenia or Crotia for
a
week before the Dolomites. I wanted to do another Tour de France
climb, so I decided to fly into Geneva and out of Venice.
On October 10, 2016 I booked my flights. For once I had great
flights
with only a single connection each way. Unfortunately I was once
again burning United miles instead of AA - it is nearly impossible to
use AA frequent flier miles.
On November 2 Kent booked his flight to Geneva, arriving about 4 hours
before I would. He eventually booked a return flight back out of
Geneva as well to maximize his time climbing Swiss 4000m peaks.
On November 3 Ray booked his flight into and out of Rome. I was
able to find him a return leg that would get him home same day instead
of spending the night in DFW, and he was able to switch to that flight
with no problems.
On December 2 Ray put down a deposit on a BMW motorcycle rental out of
Rome.
On December 9 Paul booked his flight into Rome and out of Venice.
In early 2017 Ray messed up his elbow chopping wood with a hatchet and
couldn't climb at all for a while. He lost all interest in the
Dolomites since he couldn't climb and after a long number of alternate
plans settled on heading down to see Naples and the Amalfi coast.
Paul had never been south of Rome, so he decided to join Ray.
A little over week prior to our trip Kent realized that his kids were
away, his girlfriend was away, and there was nothing going on at work
since everyone was at a trade show. He changed his outbound
United frequent flier flight for a reasonable $125 and flew out 6 days
early on Sunday July 23, arriving
Geneva Monday July 24.
After Kent changed his flight he wouldn't be there to meet me in
Geneva.
A few says later I paid United a $125 change fee to arrive at 740am
instead of 1140am to try to
get another full day of vacation out of the trip.
(This also got me off an ancient 747 that had zero in-flight
entertainment and onto a 777)
I was a little concerned because I couldn't get a seat assignment prior
to checkin.
I was hoping for a free upgrade to Economy Plus, but when I checked in
a got an aisle in the rear of the plane.
Here's Kent's 2017 trip video
Here's a quick synopsis of Kent's trip before I got to Europe...
Mon July 24 - Kent arrives Geneva, heads to Martigny, it rained off an
on
Tue July 25 - Kent woke up 3am...headed to Saas Fee...
His primary goal was to climb Alphubel, then spend night in Mischabel
bivouac hut
(different that Mischabel hut, which sleeps 120 and serves beer)
His secondary goal was the Lunzspitze Nadelhorn traverse
The temperature was quite chilly in Saas Fee, Kent wished he brought
more warm street
clothes
Wed July 26 - Kent skated about 10 miles, including down the very steep
road to Saas Grund, took bus back up.
Dinner Wednesday night - ate the world's most expensive
wings at Chami Stuba in Saas Fee, the same place he and I ate in 2014
and 2015...
Thu July 27 - Kent packs up and starts hiking
Kent hiked up to Mischabel Hut instead of taking the lift
that brings you nearly there.
The hike included
a long via ferrata on the way up, a full 4 hour stairmaster workout,
way harder than any other hut hikes he'd done.
He hiked up
partially cause he wanted to see
marmots but kids were chasing them.
Kent wanted to save 40chf so carried food and 4 big beers up
Beers in the hut were only 6 each, he decided this was a strategic
mistake..
Nodoby had summitted Nadelhorn that day due to wind.
Fri July 28 - all 10 climbers attempting Nadelhorn left at 4am and
stayed relatively close
together. It was very windy, he nearly turned back a number of
times. There were 60mph gusts on the ridge, he had to turtle down
to keep from being blown off the mountain! The summit was hidden
in the clouds until the last 100 meters.
Kent's pic approaching the Nadelhorn summit cross
Kent's pic approaching the Nadelhorn summit cross
Kent was nearly last one
back to hut.
He fell alseep at 7pm back in Saas Fee.
Sat July 29 - Kent woke up at 4am.
He took the train into Italy
to explore Domodossola.
His hotel ended up having ants in the
room.
He spent his time people watching at bar and watching the
Swiss who come across the border to shop for much cheaper groceries in
Italy.
The open air market finished up at 2pm.
Dinner was
food and small beer for 6 euros, spent total of 12 on pizza beer and
wine for the day
He got drenched on way back to room since it was nearly 1km from
downtown, he couldn't skateboard in rain, and his umbrella got
destroyed by the wind.
Introduction
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Saturday July 29 - Sunday July 30, 2017
El Granada to Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne, France
