This was a postponed trip from earlier in the week when the col had been hit with winds in excess of 100kph and I really wasn’t too happy about the safety of the trip. In fact, we’d actually retreated in poor weather last week when the wind reversed direction and started to create some worrying wind slabs above us. But, you can see from these photo’s that the wind is still a major issue on the col du Grand St Bernard and some slopes have nearly been blasted to the ground. Unfortunately all that snow has landed somewhere and that’s somewhere you don’t want to be travelling underneath!
The weather turned somewhat worse as we left the petit hospitalet for the final climb up the combe des mortes. The hospice appeared out of the snow storm and we reached these fantastic doors, doors that have welcomed travellers and given shelter in storms just like this for over 1000 years.
Inside and Frédéric, one of the monks who run the hospice, welcomes us with hot tea and we thaw out a bit. People often ask me about the facilities so here’s some views. There’s a saloon to relax with a variety of board games and books and some easy chairs. It’s an amazing bit of comfort at this height.
And this is one of the smaller dormitory rooms, there are larger ones but I’ve often got small groups that fit nicely into these rooms and we only disturb each other snoring!
Next day we’re off to explore the Italian border area and the weather is just good enough to see the famous statues.
And, finally, this is the summer road, it always collects snow at a real angle and it’s a graphic example of how wind can build some very dangerous structures.
We can’t guarantee the weather for trips but it’s not often that we’re out in conditions this bad! The hospice is always welcoming and warm though!
Well done. That has got to be one of the windiest spots on the Alps. Also one of the nicest to visit!