getting exposed for the first time
Aiguilles Marbrées is probably one of the most famous entry-level ridges in Mont Blanc Massif, which is accessible from the Italian side. I tried it back in 2020, just before the Pandemic, My first time traversing a narrow Ridgeline. I must say, being exposed on a mountain felt somewhat intimidating. Nonetheless, it’s an essential aspect of alpine climbing, and every climber should feel really comfortable navigating their way on such rugged terrain. After my accident at the Bérards, we figured it was a good idea to hit the glacier, gauge my fitness level, and start acclimatizing for the rest of the trip.
I remember telling John on the way to Italy. I want to get some aerial shots where the clouds are below us. That would look so cool! By the time we were on the other end of the Mont Blanc tunnel, it was an overcast day! Talk about luck. We literally rode the gondola through that cotton candy-looking cloud! And all I can think of is getting the perfect drone shot.
It was so dark and gloomy in the parking lot it didn’t feel like it was going to be a good day, but above the clouds, it felt like a whole new world.
We started making our way across the Glacier toward the Marbrées. It was a windy day, but that didn’t stop us from flying the drone to get some epic shots! I had it on sport mode to slice through high winds, and surprisingly, it was performing flawlessly.
It took me 10 minutes to feel my fingers again since I removed my gloves to use the controller, and That was a mistake. But hey! Whatever it takes to get killer shots!
I knew there would be a lot of trial and error during this trip, and I just wanted to learn the dynamics of filming in an Alpine environment.
The first time I climbed the Marbrées was from the north ridgeside. We decided to test my endurance level via the snow couloir this time. And man, my legs were wrecked!
By that time, John started loving the idea of aerial filming and decided to set aside his god-given right to take out drones and give ideas on how our next shot should be. We found an excellent spot to anchor and get that bird out again. Filming John climbing up a snow gully while hanging on a sling on a near-vertical slope was GAME!
The cold, the altitude, the uncomfortable position while flying in a smooth cinematic way, and grabbing the drone in flight because a flat surface is no option, all of that just to get 30 seconds’ worth of good footage.
I resumed my way to the top, but it didn’t get any easier as I went further. My quads were burning, and breathing became so difficult pushing on a steep ascend like this one.
Pressing on to the top wasn’t easy yet doable, but that’s always the case after a long break from the mountains. The body takes a few days to adjust and becomes a bit more comfortable in specific movements.
We had our lunch break on that thin ridgeline and decided to film two climbers traversing the ridge instead of going to the summit since I had already been there two years ago.
Having conversations at the top over sandwiches is one of those moments we look forward to during a climb. John and I were talking about life, goals, and future plans, and he was pointing out routes around the glacier, and I remember saying, Mate, I want to focus on those classic alpine routes to really learn alpine climbing. I don’t want to waste time on mainstream mountains just to check some boxes.