Once again, David Dougherty spent a few days climbing in the Alps. Our original plan, and hopes, were to climb the Liongrat on the Matterhorn, the "Italian" route, then continue to the Eiger's Mittellegi Ridge. However, we were just a few days too late to enjoy the good climbing conditions that existed prior to the arrival of a nasty bit of bad weather.

So, a change of plan was in order. With slightly better weather forecasted to the south, we set our sights on Italy's Gran Paradiso.

No, this is not a portrait of David (or Mark), but one of the three trolls that inhabit the lower stair case of the Torino hut.

Our first climb was of the Gran Paradiso, seen here at sunset from the Torino hut.

On our first day, after a long drive from Zermatt over the Grand Saint Bernard pass, we hiked up to the Chabod hut, arriving only slightly wet from the afternoon thunderstorm.

The next day, our summit day, dawned partly cloudy, but clear enough for an ascent. Here, low morning light on the peaks just north of the Gran Paradiso.

Climbing up the easy glacier on the Gran Paradiso.

David on the summit of the Gran Paradiso.

A frosty Madonna.

The clouds came and went as we headed down. In the end we were about 15 minutes too late getting back to the hut to avoid the coming rain.

But the forecast for the following days was good. We opted for the Aiguille de Rochefort in the Chamonix area. This photo was taken at sunset from the Torino hut, our starting point for the climb.

Pre-dawn light on Mont Blanc.

A few moments later, as we pass below the Dent du Géant.

Looking back towards the Dent du Géant. from the Rochefort Arête.

Another party on the Arête.

David on the summit of the Aiguille de Rochefort.

A short steep climb on our return.

Climbers on the Rochefort Arête.

The Dent du Géant leans over the snow ridge.

Looking back towards the Aiguille de Rochefort, on our way back to the hut.