New Route on the North Face of the Aiguille du Midi
British Pair Make First Ascent of 250m 'Jottnar'
On Saturday the 16th of March 2013, British alpinists Mark Thomas and Dave Almond made a successful first ascent of a new 250m mixed route on the North Face of the Aiguille du Midi. The pair have named the 5 pitch, Scottish grade VIII,8 line 'Jottnar' (Frost Giant).
The base of the route is accesssed by an abseil into the Passerelle Couloir and four of the five pitches are at least 50m in length. The route features several overhanging sections and tops out at the Viewing Platform at the Aiguille du Midi lift station.
Mark Thomas is a full time UIAGM Mountain Guide and Director of Elite Mountain Guides in Chamonix. He described the day as 'a rollercoaster of emotions resulting in two very smiley mountaineers!'
Congratulations to Mark and Dave.
