New route climbed on Aiguille du Plan in Chamonix
A new mixed route has been climbed on Aiguille du Plan's west face by PGHM members Jeff Mercier and Fabien Dugit
Jeff Mercier is regarded as one of the best mixed climbers in the Alps. When he isn't busy attending alpine rescues he finds time to open new mixed routes right here in Chamonix with fellow PGHM member Fabien Dugit.
The new route located on the west face of Aiguille du Plan is 700m long and was climbed on the 27th of May. It has been graded M5-95°, 6b, A1, A tough and challenging climb that took 12 hours to complete. The pair had to move quickly and find the best route through the lower two thirds of the route as they were exposed to rock fall due to the melting snow and ice. Once they had reached the upper third they were relatively safer as there was less objective danger from rock fall.
Discovering new climbing routes is an art especially in the Alps as most of the obvious routes have already been climbed. This route, visible from the Aiguille du Midi cable car, really shows the imagination of the pair and shows what is possible even in this day and age.
