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Time
for a new attempt on Punta Giordani. Dante and me didn't make it all the way to the top in april this year, too
much ice. This time I'm alone. I use the cableway
from
Gressoney, and then the Funifor lift up to Punta Indren.
Punta Giordani isn't visible hear. It's hidden behind
Stolemberg to the
right.
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At
the top station, Punta Indren 3275m. Warnings are
given
so tourists won't run about on the glacier. There
are crevasses...
Punta Giordani can be seen up there,
a little to the right. |
It's
somewhat of a
battle against time. I enter the glacier at 10.15, a bit late for what
I'm about to do. Cumuli clouds are rising, and I want to reach the
summit before they eventually do. The picture is taken on 3350m
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3500m it gets steeper. On 3600m I have reached the same altitude as the
cloud tops. |
Now on
3700m. Two climbers have reached the so called "eye". |
The
last part is fairly easy,
but long lasting. The 200 altitude meters feels as if they will never
end. I have tired legs and start to feel the thin air. You should climb
a couple of 3000-ers before taking on this altitude. Now it's obvious
I'm not well acclimatized to the altitude.
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Mont
Blanc rises above the clouds, about 85km to the
west. Thank's to the
clean air up here it's clearly visible. |
The summit of Punta Giordani,
4046m. The very last meters concists of a cliff without snow, with a
small madonna statue. The cumuli clouds never got close to the summit
today. Wonderful, magical! |
A group
getting ready to ski down again. It's not wise to go close to the edge...
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I reached the summit in 2,5h, even if it was
slow towards
the
end. The french guy taking the picture insisted I should
take my cap
off. Well, I don't know if it gets any better... |
A
look down to the trail leading up. The cablecar station is visible a
little to the left down there. |
Far to
the southwest, La Grivola, 3969m, among others.
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Capana
Margerita to the left. The mountains far below
certainly aren't small.
It's Monterosa that's so much bigger... |
Parrotspitze
4432m, and Capana Margerita 4554m. |
Corno
Nero 4321m, and Ludwigshöhe 4341m.
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Piramide
Vincent 4215m. You might argue that Punta
Giordani is more of
a ridge reaching east from it's side,
than an individual summit. But it's
so clearly marked, and
reasonably accessible (for a 4000-er) that it's
a very
popular target for climbers. |
Zooming
in Balmerhorn 4107m, with its high statue of the Christ (compare with the bivack).
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