Exciting day on Haute Cime, at 3,257 meters, in Switzerland! I documented this epic adventure with my GoPro, amidst a torrid heatwave. Imagine this: the freezing point was even above 5,000 meters! Undoubtedly one of the hottest days of the summer of 2023. The terrain was extraordinarily dry due to the heat and the extreme steepness of the slope made it slippery and really exhausting to navigate. There were more than 100 hikers, most of them quite skilled, all intent on conquering this famous alpine peak.
The panoramic view that opened up before me from the Col de Paresseroux was simply breathtaking, encompassing a large part of the Swiss and French Alps in a truly spectacular 360-degree vista.
However, amidst all this excitement, I witnessed an incident that cast a different light on the day. A young English hiker was struck by a large boulder that fell dangerously from above like a spinning blade, slicing open her leg and elbow. Some climbers immediately intervened and provided first aid until a helicopter arrived about two hours later, as there were numerous accidents that day. This dramatic episode reminded us all of the importance of approaching these challenges with the utmost seriousness and attention, especially being careful not to cause dangerous debris falls down the valley.
This experience left a deep impression on me, reminding me of how crucial it is to respect the mountain and prepare adequately, even for a seemingly accessible hike like this. The beauty of the view and the satisfaction of reaching the summit were mixed with a sense of responsibility and humility in the face of the mountain's majesty.
00:19 Camping at Van d'En Haut
01:36 Salanfe Dam
02:03 Panorama 1 over Lake Salanfe
03:19 Common summer right variant
03:46 EMTB Parking
04:07 It's up there I need to go...
05:22 Panorama 2 over Lake Salanfe + higher up
05:48 Sign and junction for Dent du Midi Refuge
06:20 Most challenging section but still marked red and white and well-equipped
08:15 Panorama 3 over Lake Salanfe, even higher up
08:54 Col du Salanfé
09:25 Panorama 4 already ascending on Haute Cime
09:40 even with the help of hands
10:27 Panorama 5, the view south increases...
10:50 The Gendarmes before the pass
11:26 Col de Paresseux
11:39 First selfie
11:57 Caiò caiò caiò... the tragedy :( poor girl )
12:20 Last effort
13:03 HAUTE CIME at 3257 meters!
14:54 Snack time
15:04 Thermodynamics above us
15:11 Panorama 6 on the right ridge of HAUTE CIME
15:30 Time to descend...
17:57 Panorama 7 over the Glacier des Dents du Midi, one of my favorites
18:24 Still descending, just before the Gendarmes right after the pass
18:47 The Gendarmes
19:12 Here it is quite clear how steep it is...
20:00 First helicopter for the girl hit by the boulder
22:07 Second helicopter (another incident)
23:30 Col du Salanfé and first real stop
25:08 Not exactly trivial from here...
25:55 It's from up there we descended
26:06 Back to grass!
27:02 Thanks for watching !
19 май 2024
