Thanks all you guys,
My group did the upper NR last week, lots of fun. We didn't via the Gendarme pitches with running out of time though. The glacier was very soft in the afternoon but I recommend an axe since about 40 feet before the end of glacier started to being steep and soft so you may need to prepare for self-arresting in case of slipping. I was able to make some water from snow patch about 100 feet above at the end of glacier.
The Great Gendarme looked awesome and I was really tempted but definitely time was not my side.
Here is a photo on the Gendarme my partner took while he was on the "rappelling" route.
If you are on this photo,let me know. There are six or seven more photos. I think it was a group of three, a female from Seattle was at the end of the line and two males (one from LA ?)