Chronology of the ascent
 Monday 12 February 2001
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Departure from Chamonix with Grands-Montets cable car and walk-in to the Drus with skis (at 2600m)
- established bivouac (2980m)
- climbed 1st pitch A5,30m
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Tuesday 13 February
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- 2 pitches A3 and A4 to about 3100m
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Wednesday 14 February
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- 1 pitch A1
- moved bivouac to 3100m
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Thursday 15 February
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- 2 A4 pitches to 3200m
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Friday 16 February
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- 1 pitch with pendulum to reach left arete Mailly corner
- 1 traverse pitch to reach bottom of corner and climb to about 3230m
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Saturday 17 February
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- 2 5+ pitches (together with "Diretta Americana") and A1 to 3350m
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Sunday 18 February
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- 2 pitches A4 + and A2 to 3430m, to the exit of the spur between the Mailly corner and the famous 90m "Diretta Americana"corner
- establish bivouac at 3400m
- helicopter supplies: fruit and fresh bread, but above all a new telephone.
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Monday 19 February
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The weather forcast predicts strong northerly winds … Jean-Christophe decides to exit quickly and, climbing as quickly as possible, abandons a large part of his gear. He manages to reach the North Face at the height of the 'Allain corner, but fails to reach the l'épaule du Drus ' and is forced to bivouac at 3600m on the North Face...
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Tuesday 20 February
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Jean-Christophe endures a terrible night wrapped in the porterledge flysheet. Gusts of wind reach 100 km/h and the temperature drops to - 30°C. At dawn it is too cold to climb so he is forced to wait until the temperature rises slightly. Fighting against the wind he reaches the l'épaule du Drus. The South Face is windstill and 20°C warmer. He abseils to the base of the normal route and reaches the refuge Charpoua at 21.00, where he is met by his friends David Autheman and Bertrand Delapierre.
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Wednesday 21 February
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| At 5.00 a.m. Jean-Christophe leaves the refuge and, with the help of David and Bertrand, returns to Chamonix at 10.00 a.m. |
