Alpinism

I’ve spent years climbing and hiking in the Atlas Mountains and walking by the north face on Tazarhart (3450 m). Its hulking face adorned with sharp rocks, thin ice, with five sharp couloirs reaching up to the ridge, running to 550m. The face fascinated me, and my curiosity piqued. Yet I knew this is beyond my level. Feeling I needed to keep my climbing ambition realistic, I tried to forget about this climb.

Mountains can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. Marta talks about how she's become a multi-sport athlete.

Jeff stumbles across a hidden cave on social media, and seeks it out. He finds a cave of dreams.

Join Tyler Allen in his Alpine Playground on Mount Washington.

Decision-making in the mountains is difficult. Do we continue? Do we go back down? When faced with illness, high winds, and doubt, what would you do if the summit was in reach?

Rab Athlete Sylvain Thiabaud opens Montecristo N°4, a new mixed route in Maurienne’s secret valley.

It all started exactly 27 years ago, when – during his first adventures in this North face – Manu Pellissier began to dream of a mixed line through this huge limestone face. Luc Mongellaz had also visited this face already, attempting the first winter ascent of the North West pillar in 2017, which was stopped just below the summit after a fall of his partner.  

Patience is a virtue, or so I’m told. In the high mountains I’m normally on the move constantly and it seems unusual to be stood still, waiting for the perfect moment. The fabric on my paraglider is still rustling as a katabatic wind blows gently down the glacier trying to dislodge the light fabric from its delicate perch on the frozen snow slope.

In self-isolation for over two weeks now, it is strange to remember what I was doing exactly one month ago. Monday morning, 5 A.M. We had just woken up from a cold night in the winter hut of the Refuge d’Alpe de Villar d’Arène in the French Alps. A last cup of tea, a final glance at our map, I quickly stuffed some remaining gear in my pack.