The Spasimata Slabs: the day I nearly died on Corsica’s GR20

December 6, 2023 Trip reports cicerone guides, corsica, corsica aventure, france, gr20, long-distance trails, self-guided walking, via ferrata 2 Comments

The weather had been good for the best part of two weeks, but the rain gods were preparing for the last dance. We were about to cross the Spasimata Slabs, the most dangerously exposed section of the trek, and we were going to cross them at the worst possible time.

A short walk in the Sesto Dolomites

October 18, 2017 Trip reports dolomites, edita, gaston rebuffat, italy, monte piana, simone moro, tre cime di lavaredo, trekking, via ferrata 1 Comment

The Apennines were our home from home while we lived in Italy, but I always wanted to visit the Dolomites at some point too. I finally had the opportunity in the very last week before I moved back to London.

Some thoughts on hiking in the Dolomites and via ferrata

August 2, 2017 Expedition dispatches austrian alpine club, cicerone guides, dolomites, edita, italy, tre cime di lavaredo, trekking, via ferrata 3 Comments

We looked upon our four days in the Dolomites as a reconnaissance: an easy hike from hut to hut, carrying little more than a day pack. We had no set itinerary, and chose our route from day to day. We also wanted to do some research with a view to climbing the famous via ferratas.

The Corno Grande and Corno Piccolo traverse

July 19, 2017 Trip reports abruzzo, apennines, corno grande, corno piccolo, edita, gran sasso, hill walking, italy, pizzo d'intermesoli, scrambling, via ferrata 1 Comment

The Corno Piccolo and Corno Grande traverse is a classic day hike and scramble that is not for novices. It’s a must for any fit and experienced hill walker who visits the Apennines. Here it is, described in English for the very first time (I think).

A short history of Cerro Torre, the world’s most controversial mountain

February 15, 2012 History albert mummery, andes, cerro torre, cesare maestri, climbing equipment, fair means, false summit claims, first ascents, hayden kennedy, jason kruk, patagonia, rock climbing, southern patagonian ice field, toni egger, via ferrata 6 Comments

Rising above the Southern Patagonian Ice Field on the border of Chile and Argentina is a narrow finger of rock 3128 metres in height that for over 50 years has been a source of controversy among the climbing community. Last