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THROUGH PEAKS AND SLOPES

We left for the mountain thinking it would not be an easy trek, so we filled our backpacks with hope and good will, we put on our climbing boots and brought our climbing- irons to avoid slipping. We also brought along ropes and spikes because unknown places often hide surprises, we did not forget to bring clothes and accessories for the night, as we were aware cold and darkness could surprise us, finally we brought along the best telescope, because we wanted to see far away, to capture details invisible to the naked eye, enjoy the view and at the same time discover all the things we could not perceive from the valley but suspected were there.

We were well aware that on our trip we would meet other explorers who would join our group to a common destination. We did not know them and that made us suspicious – fellow travelers (even those you choose) may happen not to have your same priorities or choose your same trajectories and often fear that you, being inexperienced, might lead them into precipices or dark woods from where it might be difficult to find a way out. Soon we decided the path proposed by the guides was not ambitious enough, so we proposed a bolder way that would lead us to places the trip organizers had not dared to consider; we convinced them that the training and activity we had had in the valley had prepared us. So, having packed our maps, we left even though we knew our supplies were scarce and we would have to ration them. 

The people who joined us proved immediately very cooperative – we led the way and they followed, fearlessly measuring their steps and rations. We had a precise schedule, we had to get to destination before the snow began to fall. Sometimes the commissioners would reach us by helicopter and, looking down from above, urged us to pick up speed or showed us the paths we luckily had not taken. From the beginning we found more than a few obstacles on our way but our good spirits gave us a positive energy and mitigated our fatigue. We made all our first stops on time and swiftly got ready to meet the other travelers we would guide on our trip from then on. 

They were a sizable group, firmly led by a “captain” who was determined and capable enough to read both the ground and our maps correctly. From time to time someone would buckle under pressure and try to get away from the group (a workhorse would kick out) towards uncharted and impassable ways. The skilled trip leader would bring everybody back in line and so we could overcome the steepest descents and hardest passages; the road map was clear and detailed. During our often cheerful bivouacs we let off steam and made sense of the trajectories in advance; we could make no mistakes in our progress as they would have delayed us and required additional provisions. Sensibility, experience and our telescope helped us during the entire trip until we finally reached our destination. In the final leg, the team was supported by a group of expert Alpine climbers who knew all the tricks and adapted their step when the path got difficult or the others were at the end of their rope, well aware of the impact their work had on others. They demanded very detailed maps, their process had to be precise as any mistakes in their pace or speed might affect everybody else’s work. We looked ahead at the road in search of possible dangers, quickly adapting our map to the path, our resources and rations. 

Stefano Pujatti