Gangstas in Paradiso

My legs are in so much pain - it's ridiculous. I feel like a 90-year-old woman and going downstairs to the front door takes twice as long as it normally does (involves a lot of swearing). Pray no one will ring the bell today.

Two days ago two good friends and I, climbed up 4061m to the summit of Gran Paradiso in Italy. We stayed at Chabod Hut overnight which is right at the base of the mountain at around 2700m. After almost no sleep at all we got up at 4 am to start our journey to the top. There is something about night hiking that I love. It's quiet and you're in your head while the light slowly changes and night becomes day.  

First, we scrambled over gravel fields in the dark until we reached the glacier. Then it was time to put on our climbing gear before we stepped on ice. Up we went, past impressive crevasses over eerie white boulders. No one was talking and the scenery was stunning and a bit mystical. The higher we went, the colder it got. Close to the top, the ice-cold wind started to pick up and I started shivering. Thin gloves weren't enough anymore and I had to put on everything I had with me. I never ever hike in my puffy unless I really have to, and this was one of these moments where every layer was crucial. The top of Gran Paradiso is spectacular. Mont Blanc to the west and a sea of white clouds below. I wish I had had a thick sleeping bag with me so I could have stayed up there all day to enjoy the view. What followed were over 2700m down back to the car park. My legs are dead.

I remember 15 years ago, I was saying that I didn't understand people who climbed Everest. The pain and the danger it involved didn't seem worth it to me back then. Today, I totally get it. Not that I would ever compare a 4000er to Everest but no matter what height we are talking about, there is just something about making it to the top. I love it more than anything else in the world. It's pure freedom and pure joy to me and I feel weirdly accomplished. 

I'll be heading up north this summer to hike the Kungsleden in Sweden and the Jotunheimstien in Norway. It'll most likely take me about 4.5 weeks to complete the two, and if there's still time and not too much snow up on the mountains by September, I'll try to squeeze in a third 4000er this year. And next spring it is finally time for the big one. Mont Blanc has been on my mind for years, and now that I've found a guide that I really like and trust, I'm feeling more than ready to tackle it. YAAAAS!