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	45°55′58″N, 6°57′23″E
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: A topographical summit is a point on a surface which is higher in elevation than all points immediately adjacent to it. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_France. ... The Himalaya as seen from the International Space Station A mountain range is a group of mountains bordered by lowlands or separated from other mountain ranges by passes or rivers. ... The chief peaks of the Graian Alps, from the Mont Cenis to the Little St Bernard Pass, are usually divided into three groups, the Central (the watershed between the two passes named), the Western or French, and the Eastern or Italian; in the following lists the initials C, W, and... Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ... Mountains can be characterized in several ways. ... Quarrying granite for the Mormon Temple, Utah Territory. ... In climbing, a first ascent (FA) is the first climb to reach the top of a mountain, or the first to follow a particular climbing route. ... September 12 is the 255th day of the year (256th in leap years). ... 1878 (MDCCCLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Southern and northern Mount Everest climbing routes as seen from the International Space Station. ... Lyskamm in the Pennine Alps (4,527 m) A mountain is a landform that extends above the surrounding terrain in a limited area. ... This article is about the Alpine mountain. ... The French Alps are simply those parts of the Alps mountain range which lie in France. ...

• 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). Aiguille Verte (French: Green needle) is a 4,122 m high summit of the Mont Blanc massif. ...

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: In climbing, a first ascent (FA) is the first climb to reach the top of a mountain, or the first to follow a particular climbing route. ... September 12 is the 255th day of the year (256th in leap years). ... 1878 (MDCCCLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ...

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 P. Allain and R. Leininger on 1 August 1935. August 29 is the 241st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (242nd in leap years), with 124 days remaining. ... 1879 (MDCCCLXXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... August 23 is the 235th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (236th in leap years), with 130 days remaining. ... 1901 (MCMI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... The six great north faces of the Alps are known for their difficulty and great height. ... August 1 is the 213th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (214th in leap years), with 152 days remaining. ... 1935 (MCMXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ...

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 rockfall in the summer of 2003, the scar of which remains clearly visible from the Chamonix valley. Walter Bonatti (born 1930) is an Italian born climber who set new standards in post-war Alpine climbing. ... 1955 (MCMLV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Rockfalls: Rock(s) falling freely from the cliff face. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Panorama of Chamonix valley Chamonix-Mont-Blanc or, more commonly, Chamonix is a town and commune in eastern France, in the Haute-Savoie département, at the foot of Mont Blanc. ...

References

External links

• The Aiguille du Dru on SummitPost