The Mont Dolent, 3820 m 1

July 3rd

Start: Cesare Fiorio bivouac hut; finish: Alpine dairy and hostel La Peule
Distance: 12.9 km
Total time: 9 hours 30 minutes (including 50 minutes for the stops)
Vertical distance: 1230 m uphill, 1890 m downhill

Wake up at 2 a.m., leave the hut at 2.30 a.m.  An hour’s climb on bands of smooth rocks interspersed with snowfields took us onto the glacier under Mont Grépillon.  From here, an exhausting climb, often steep or very steep, in rotten and soft snow – it did not freeze during the night! – which required the huge task of making the trail by Graham.  Cloudy, we were not too exposed to the sun.  Finally, we reach the summit at 6.30 a.m.  Fine views  in all directions.  The descent was also difficult for me, especially the last slope below the summit, very steep and with a slight crust on the surface of the snow.  (For a comment on the triple point Switzerland-France-Italy, see under “Border stories,” no. 1.)

For me, this summit marks the end of the Swiss border with France and I am proud to have reached this point.  As for Mont Dolent, a big thank you to Graham Frost!