The French don't need Whippets!!

Yes, I'm familiar with Lionel Terray's book. My variation on the phrase was intentional.

Watching the scenes of scratching over and between rocks on skis, the phrase "Conquistadors of the Pointless" comes to mind. Colin's stories reinforce it.

Agreed.

I've heard that rappelling the full length of the nose off of Half Dome or El Cap is something people do for sport, or at least thrills. If I do that on skis would it be considered the first ski descent? Would I have to do it in winter to count, or could I get the first summer ski descent of El Cap?

Alan

Well I see your point Lowell to a degree but its all pointless and useless isn't it... to a degree.
Descending the North Face of the Aiguille du Midi with some mandatory rappels and rock scratching is I agree, pointless in terms of its contribution to humanity but it probably had personal meaning to the person doing it... don't you think? Or something he felt would get him noticed and publicity for his sponsors?

Now Colin Haley our local super-hero is probably one of the finest alpinists on the planet right now but I fail to see much distinction between his recent blogs of him repeating established routes in the Alps and this French guides descent of the Aguille du Midi... even Colin's magnificent traverse of the Cerro Torre peaks is a bit pointless and useless if you care to judge it that way...although I'm sure his sponsors liked it as did I when I read about it.

Why do you feel some of the achievements recorded in your NWMJ are superior in terms of their "pointfulness" in relation to this French guides record of his achievement. Seems somewhat hypocritical to me .... as usual.

And Zap, while I love reading your TR's from your tours in the Sierra's, why do you feel the record of your achievements less pointless than this guides? You post yours, this guide posts his. What's the difference? Seems uncharacteristically uncharitable. I'm curious?
Thanks

The man who fractured his neck survived a C2 "hangman's fracture". He is very lucky to not be paralyzed or dead.
Scotsman, I always enjoy your perspective. Thanks for that. Chamonix has always been the extreme of the extreme, so it seems perfectly appropriate that they are descending those routes. They did get some good turns in that video after all...

Interesting topic on arrest poles and whippets.  I have used a single whippet on occasion.  I do know someone who uses two whippets nearly all the time.
I question the need on slopes less than 40 degrees and how one would arrest with a whippet in each hand?

Not sure if this video has been seen of Colin's ski of the Aiguille Du Midi.

vimeo.com/11049840