Layback, crystals crunching under foot like I’m the first person to have ever climbed this route, straight arms, feeling the opposition through my hips twisting, not knowing which appendage to move next. Will this smear on left foot hold, as I reach high with my right hand to grab this crack higher up? Maybe I should have set that piece better, 3 meters below, so it wouldn’t have popped out, sliding down the rope 15 meters to my last piece of protection, causing my right foot to start bouncing up and down like a Singer sewing machine rattling out a new garment. And I ask myself, why do I do these things?

High on “Incredible” Gemsplanggenstock

Fi figuring out the last move on “Incredible”

I’ve climbed for years all around this area of central Switzerland, but have saved Salbitschen until today. What an amazing valley of perfect granite walls and ridges. Hans Berger has spent the last 34 years lifting this area into an alpinist’s heaven, and with his wife Beatrice, running the Salbithutte, developing wonderful hiking itineraries and outrageous routes on pristine granite. Thank you both!

It’s mid-summer and things are really heating up. The steel colored glaciers were gushing enormous quantities of water last week, but the two snow falls and lower temperatures have eased that pressure and it’s now looking fresh and white up high.

The lovely Riedbach below the Bordier Hut.

There’s another 3 weeks of high season alpine climbing, then some fun trips for autumn. After this past month of May, powder and silky, spring snow skiing in Greenland, I completed my kite instructor’s license in June and started a catamaran based kite trip through the Cyclades of Greece. We’re looking to do the same, kitesurfing catamaran based trip this fall, in the Caribbean. Contact me if you’re a beginner or confirmed kite surfer to enjoy this relaxed way of sailing.

The joy of simply sailing over the sea.

And for winter 2017-2018, I’ll be at it again, hopefully enjoying with you together, what these fine Alps have to offer.

• Sailing Caribbean catamaran/kitesurfing adventures October 28- November 5 €1’900/person
• ISTA Avalanche Education
• Skiing India/Kashmir February 3-10 €2’100.00/person
• Heli/Randonée Skiing Greenland April 23-29 €8’800.00/person
• And private guiding, daily off-piste/back country all winter and spring in the various Alpine valleys of Valais, Bern, Chamonix and La Grave France and Italy and multi-day trips ski-safari for the ultimate in fine skiing adventure.