Dollent

The summit of Mont Dolent is of geographical importance being the pyramid shaped mountain of the border of three countries France, Italy & Switzerland. It was first climbed in 1864 by Edward Whymper & party who became famous for another first ascent The Matterhorn.

Mount Dolent is one of the less frequently visited mountains in the Alps, therefore the number of people on my pictures is a lot less than those mountains in other areas. The reason for this is that it is fairly remote by the standards of the Chamonix and Coymehia valleys. However it is a fine mountain and well worth the long walk to the hut. I climbed the mountain by the South flank then south-east ridge (the Italian route). Ascent this way includes a stay in a bivouac hut, not the same as an open bivouac on a mountain, but a small unmanned hut that sits alone on the glacier.

	looking towards Mt. Dolent and Mt. blanc from Cormaeir
	spectacular views during the long walk in
	the Fiorio Bivouac hut, A very small hut by Alpine standards
	inside the hut, people of all nationalities prepare their evening meals before a early night
	the first view of the peak, a quite steep climb before the rocky ridge
	above the crevase, the ridge gets narrow before the final slopes
	the final ridge does not look to steep from here
	looking back down the ridge it looks steeper, however the snow is good, indeed conditions are almost perfect
	eventually the summit comes into view, (no mistake as to the highest point on this mountain)
	what better weather and what better view another worthwhile but not often visited summit at 3828 meters it is often overlooked in the hunt for the 4000 metre peaks
	it even has a guest book, we signed our names and found the names of a couple we knew that lived only 15 miles from where we did had visited the summit in the last fortnight