Family time on Piz Palü

When I started heading off to the hills, my first climbing partners were my parents. They took me on skiing trips, we went hiking together and even ventured as far afield as Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to climb some of the 7k peaks in there. Ever since, every time we get to spend time in the mountains together it proves to be a great trip.

July Heatwave

Rodellar steepness

The two crazy weeks of travelling started with Saule and I visiting our friends in Swansea. Always great hosts, Tadas and Anna took us to the shipwreck cove for some sport climbing. With the morning drizzle, we were a bit skeptical at first but in the end we all got happily pumped in this cool crag.

Chamonix weekend: Climbing Pic Adolphe Rey, Bailing from Chandelle du Tacul and giving shit to shitters

With a promise of clear skies and rumours that the old LUMC gang was in Chamonix, I was very keen to go and check out some of the granite towers there. Chamonix is the mothership of alpine climbing with all the good and bad things that come with it. The sad part is that the crazy good access to the amazing terrain attracts all kind of folks, including the ones that may shit in the crack that you are about to jam. But about that a bit later.

A weekend in Verdon

Every time I start abseiling down the walls of Verdon Gorge, I am wondering whether one can really crap their pants because of fear.

Others have referred to it as "crazy verticality and lonely freehanging abseils in cathedral silence".

Swiss route on Les Courtes

The sound of the squeaky névé is so pleasant to the ear and yet, every time I try to explain to someone what it sounds like, we end up discussing animal rights. Go figure.

North face of Les Courtes. Swiss route goes pretty much straight to the sun.

Ice climbing in Valais, Cogne and Kandersteg

With the winter finally taking the hold, there is plenty of ice all over the place to practice the swings. So a couple of last weekends I tried to hang on some frozen drips.

On Ruebezahl in Kandersteg.

Averstal - Thron

Finally got to climb some ice this year. In the hindsight though, probably should have chosen a different day.

Thron, first money pitch.