Charging it

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Why people climb: A fantastic view from the top of Les Dents Blanches. swissinfo.ch

My batteries might be getting low, but a brilliant day in the sun like this pays off in more ways than one. This is one of the three solar chargers I'm using to generate power. swissinfo.ch

The crux ridge on Les Dents Blanches swissinfo.ch

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The sun rose brilliantly over Les Diablerets, a peak I used to ski on as a youth. Little could I have known then that 45 years later I would be rising early to commence a huge day, the fifth on a journey that seems to be getting bigger with each step.

By 7 I was out and up to actual summit of the Dents Blanche. an incredible view of Mont Blanc and the Chamonix area peaks greeted me. How I wish I‘d made it to the summit last night! But then life changed. The descent down the west side was a knife edge that turned into a cliff. Steep rock climbing led to a part too steep to climb. My rope was too short to rappel all the way, but with difficulty I split it into two. How I wish I had a partner and a full-length rope! Scrambling over the next peak and then escaping into the French side I watched a half dozen ibex climbing across steep smooth slabs I’d dare not climb unroped. The rest of the day consisted mostly of snow hiking and climbing as I stayed on the French sides of the peaks, then endlessly down to the Hotel Suisse at 11:30 pm for a very welcome beer and bath.