Aiguille du Dru
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| Aiguille du Dru | |
|---|---|
 The Aiguille du Dru (left) seen as an extension of the west ridge of the Aiguille Verte (centre top) |
|
| Elevation | 3,754 metres (12,316 feet) |
| Location |  France |
| Range | Graian Alps |
| Coordinates | |
| Type | Granite |
| First ascent | Clinton Thomas Dent, J. W. Hartley, Alexander Burgener and K. Maurer on 12 September 1878 |
| Easiest route | AD |
The Aiguille du Dru (also the Dru or the Drus) is a mountain in the Mont Blanc massif in the French Alps. The mountain has two summits, namely:
- Grand Aiguille du Dru (or the Grand Dru) 3,754 m, and
- Petit Aiguille du Dru (or the Petit Dru) 3,733 m.
The two summits are located on the west ridge of the Aiguille Verte (4,122 m) and are connected to each other by the Brèche du Dru (3,697 m).
The first ascent of the Grand Dru was by British alpinists Clinton Thomas Dent and J. W. Hartley, with guides Alexander Burgener and K. Maurer, who climbed it via the south-east face on 12 September 1878. Dent describes the scene upon reaching the top:
- Our first care was to level the telescope in the direction of Couttet's hotel. There was not much excitement there, but in front of the Imperial [Hotel] we were pleased to think we saw someone looking in our direction. Accordingly with much pomp and ceremony the stick (which I may here state was borrowed without leave) was fixed up. Then to my horror Alexander produced from a concealed pocket a piece of scarlet flannel like unto a baby's undergarment, and tied it on. I protested in vain. In a moment the objectionable rag was floating proudly in the breeze. [1]
The Petit Dru was climbed in the following year, on 29 August 1879, by J. E. Charlet-Straton, P. Payot and F. Follignet via the south face and the south-west ridge. The first traverse of both summits of the Drus was by E. Fontaine and J. Ravanel on 23 August 1901. The north face – one the six great north faces of the Alps – was first climbed by Pierre Allain and R. Leininger on 1 August 1935.
The Italian climber Walter Bonatti climbed a difficult solo route on the south-west pillar of the Petit Dru (the Bonatti Pillar) in August 1955; this route no longer exists in its original state owing to massive rockfalls in 1997, 2003 and 2005, the scars of which remain clearly visible from the Chamonix valley.
[edit] References
- ^ C. T. Dent, 'The First Ascent of the Dru', Alpine Journal, Vol. IX
[edit] External links
