The Cosmique Arete // 3 Feet of Fresh Snow in July

On the Aiguille du Midi there's a route, supposedly a Chamonix classic, called the Cosmique Arete. It's a great route, with amazing rock, rappels and views and I didn't know it existed until we were half way through it. Sometimes you follow the crowd and end up with bedazzled, flared jeans and a frohawk. Other times you wind up doing something you'll want to tell your kids about, like climbing the Cosmique Arete under the pressing stare of a snow covered Blanc Massif. Fresh snow was definitely present during our time above Chamonix. It seemed as if 3 feet of thick, dense snow had fallen just prior to our arrival. It made things feel majestic but also unusually dangerous for a July assault on Blanc.