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- Jul 26, 2018
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Father Daughter trip to the Alps
It’s always a pleaÂsure to help a famÂiÂly spend time togethÂer safeÂly in the mounÂtains. I know some of the best visÂits I’ve had with my dad have been on climbÂing trips. HavÂing time to relax sitÂting around huts, or in camp withÂout the elecÂtronÂic disÂtracÂtions of daiÂly life lends itself quite well for conÂnectÂing with peoÂple. This week I climbed in France and Italy with Rob and Sonia, a fit father-daughÂter-duo that were new to mountaineering.
When Rob and Sonia arrived our weathÂer foreÂcast looked grim. Almost every day it showed unsetÂtled air, with preÂcipÂiÂtaÂtion, elecÂtriÂcal activÂiÂty, and high freezÂing levÂels. Our acclimaÂtiÂzaÂtion took a bit of weathÂer dodgÂing, but luckÂiÂly for us the storms genÂerÂalÂly waitÂed until latÂer in the day or the evening/​early mornÂing. We spent our first day off the Grand MonÂtets tram, with an introÂducÂtion to cramÂponÂing, self-arrest, and moveÂment on rock terÂrain wearÂing boots and crampons.
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAlps_Image_1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=909ad1fadbdebfec4f400b93893f478a 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAlps_Image_1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=338bd24ee4f1765ab11157a0228717b0 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAlps_Image_1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=32677b91666db24874ea429b1cdc8472 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAlps_Image_1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=5a18b01748195c7bbe3e22e7407303a7 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAlps_Image_1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=cbe181cf78791a2cc30437c5bef76384 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAlps_Image_1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=1da5fdbc324cb58136374a2e160b9864 1200w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAlps_Image_1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=fb8eed259e4a6ba7575c1e947693c4e0 1400w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAlps_Image_1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=ca381e073d04851898124c9eeb7b5316 1600w)
The folÂlowÂing day our next venue was the GlacÂiÂer du Tour. A two-hour hike led us up to the Albert PreÂmière hut, which is perched on a latÂerÂal moraine proÂvidÂing fast access to the glacÂiÂer, to review cramÂpon techÂniques. After dinÂner in the hut, we turned in earÂly tryÂing to get some sleep before our first route the next mornÂing. At 4 am we were drinkÂing cofÂfee, folÂlowed by lacÂing up our boots, clickÂing our headÂlamps on and headÂing to the AiguÂille (neeÂdle) du Tour (the town below the peak). A couÂple thouÂsand feet of gain led us to some rock scramÂbling, in the Col du supeÂriÂor, where we crossed into SwitzerÂland and gained the TriÂent Plateau.
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAlps_Image_2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=ecfe6769434da9bcf1f59f8d74761e4d 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAlps_Image_2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=6a7338d0feab9ffbdab815a2ebad7265 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAlps_Image_2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=4f02512cc5c32adcb7d2b446413af8ea 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAlps_Image_2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=a92e483223d00474331bdd3b9098c143 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAlps_Image_2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=bf5594e1d9d08677d9d1e5671e475981 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAlps_Image_2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=ec620a4690ea48d751f84410fa96bc65 1200w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAlps_Image_2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=60d164fb162b302bab387d2619b3cb64 1400w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAlps_Image_2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=18db8110db6c498b2842dc670b5cfa91 1600w)
TraÂversÂing across the upper reachÂes of the TriÂent glacÂiÂer, we soon left the ice and got onto the sumÂmit pyraÂmid of the AiguÂille du Tour. A half hour of climbÂing over the clasÂsic alpine rock terÂrain landÂed us on the 3,500 meter peak.
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FImage_Alps_3_v2._reduced.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=24d58e3844bcac0707a4d1728be59f4b 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FImage_Alps_3_v2._reduced.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=76f8b59772ef14bb8c80b13e5cbbe8e9 375w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FImage_Alps_3_v2._reduced.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=34f256006a25d4550c7bd48c229c03ce 375w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FImage_Alps_3_v2._reduced.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=2cebefdd080c1616fd9d766e05e5ec94 375w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FImage_Alps_3_v2._reduced.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=83b867bd2ef3a41b2ef3db23f6d5a878 375w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FImage_Alps_3_v2._reduced.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=6ea263bdc9bd521a788281cf383af51c 375w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FImage_Alps_3_v2._reduced.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=283e646dd055cce23df6065978337ed5 375w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FImage_Alps_3_v2._reduced.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=b6f416e24b8b54fd2a280e36c162d24d 375w)
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAlps_Image_4_v2_reduced.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=862c993e24550d5db572ca71d3d721dd 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAlps_Image_4_v2_reduced.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=57de01760609cfdfcfc54556cdc12d75 375w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAlps_Image_4_v2_reduced.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=ea1d3e1d22cb35c2eef93afaf56c1699 375w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAlps_Image_4_v2_reduced.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=a84674e631fb18fe03d0e6baf81e3fad 375w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAlps_Image_4_v2_reduced.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=e6500a8acda2852ae9b6334a256611f8 375w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAlps_Image_4_v2_reduced.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=3d3dd06215b2ce64682380a5b225f8d1 375w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAlps_Image_4_v2_reduced.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=0ba7b0bc3622493f78fbb364f5518d37 375w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FAlps_Image_4_v2_reduced.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=f87be00c916e6862d3ce1a761d8cca2c 375w)
After descendÂing from the GlacÂiÂer Du Tour we found our foreÂcast had not changed. An unsetÂtled foreÂcast with elecÂtriÂcal storms does not lend itself to safeÂly ascend Mont Blanc (the peak of choice for this trip). The long comÂmitÂting feaÂtures, and expoÂsure to rock fall on the norÂmal route of Mont Blanc require an ideÂal foreÂcast for a safe ascent. ForÂtuÂnateÂly ChaÂmonix has a cenÂtral locaÂtion makÂing it easy to travÂel to Italy or SwitzerÂland, which can offer betÂter foreÂcasts when the low presÂsure seems to be focused on ChaÂmonix. After disÂcussing our options and closeÂly monÂiÂtorÂing the weathÂer modÂels we made the final call to capÂiÂtalÂize on the less draÂmatÂic foreÂcast to our south and head to Italy for a try at Gran Paradiso.
The NationÂal Park of Gran ParÂadiso offers a nice conÂtrast to ChaÂmonix. There are no lifts inside the park, and the climb to the hut takes about 2 ½ hours covÂerÂing 800 verÂtiÂcal meters, thru an idylÂlic larch forÂest and into the sub alpine. Once you pop out of the trees the view of Gran ParÂadiso (the highÂest ItalÂian peak) is noticeÂable to say the least.
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FImage_Alps_5.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=bf6fda43f3e9ed3ab8ec6ec9ec34685e 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FImage_Alps_5.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=8f2a24a9cfc82570c1c39d74dc4a6dbf 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FImage_Alps_5.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=ec9a5f2231c83c0d102c4d1c2c6a8379 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FImage_Alps_5.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=c4b9b2a2458bce53f160f93811b26c91 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FImage_Alps_5.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=d35778199e522a41629181f365af22ae 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FImage_Alps_5.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=bbf04e78e864466cbe9ce06ee6072871 1200w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FImage_Alps_5.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=d1ee934bb88e3fd9b3913dc1f96d20cf 1400w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FImage_Alps_5.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=7b5fc798b4cc111a606b658411c4e360 1600w)
After a night in the ChaÂbod hut, again a 4 am wake up had us on the move. The sumÂmit day involves about 4,500’ of verÂtiÂcal gain, some steep snow/​rock terÂrain and about 11 miles round trip hut to hut. The pre-dawn mornÂing startÂed off with the clasÂsic sumÂmer EuroÂpean foreÂcast of ​“SulÂtry conÂdiÂtions”. MeanÂing warm, hazy, and genÂerÂalÂly unsetÂtled. We climbed quickÂly, with good conÂdiÂtions, and made it up on top with clear skies, and excelÂlent views.
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FImage_Alps_6.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=a76820763ba9dc8fb9fd0dd83615ab6b 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FImage_Alps_6.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=05b8926451eacc6dc7a01e5522095863 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FImage_Alps_6.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=038fb258beffc734c9a8413a427c2b55 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FImage_Alps_6.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=0bafe77ce73cf6a43c4498598ad7002e 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FImage_Alps_6.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=bd63e0e1ea7f15a79a401f4bbff03829 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FImage_Alps_6.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=d2bd5da02215df2d869226016da0de14 1136w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FImage_Alps_6.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=0e365b3cf58ffb3684ab63241441ca3d 1136w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FImage_Alps_6.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=8768a37908b3d6b632781873614e5700 1136w)
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FImage_Alps_7.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=425e11b9a7766c9681ecc0a2e1527bfd 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FImage_Alps_7.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=65ec5a019c9444e23c5e9fbb032747fc 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FImage_Alps_7.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=e932dc2faea629eeca3c4019e2452a0e 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FImage_Alps_7.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=ec5333b26668a642f16df77ea3a8c602 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FImage_Alps_7.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=b197ca5c84ac911c3c8075daa6292ec7 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FImage_Alps_7.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=88f5645fb86b7450437c4003ac215205 1136w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FImage_Alps_7.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=d0116718c1a7be5d31298308307bb4bd 1136w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FImage_Alps_7.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=1457733d7aad60393cba9bcacbb455c5 1136w)
After a bit of time on top with MadonÂna, and some of the friendÂliest sumÂmit conÂdiÂtions I’ve expeÂriÂenced, we rapÂpelled off the sumÂmit block and startÂed our descent.
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FImage_Alps_8.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=6cb0a041306ac0202020f796affadf62 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FImage_Alps_8.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=35e3e481aba4148985387f2aa5a0384d 500w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FImage_Alps_8.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=7bcadc74ec7e500d9d5ae62f6b96159e 700w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FImage_Alps_8.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=afecbf51f7bd8e412798bbc5c83b5135 800w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FImage_Alps_8.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=f727fcb31e64da7850f32328752108b7 1000w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FImage_Alps_8.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=70bdc4a368456d0fccda9e9a4c794417 1200w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FImage_Alps_8.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=80bd4e855fe0c5114357fb1bc895c644 1400w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/https%3A%2F%2Fkraftwerk-mountain-madness.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fblog%2FImage_Alps_8.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=d69f943f33be6aa4ab17b2987874ff40 1600w)
As we startÂed down we watched the cumuÂlous cloud growth overÂtake the ChaÂmonix ridgeÂline, and Mont Blanc, adding validÂiÂty to our deciÂsion to change objecÂtive. Due to the fitÂness levÂels of our guests we beat the afterÂnoon weathÂer with time to spare, and despite a poor foreÂcast with timÂing, flexÂiÂbilÂiÂty, and effiÂcient climbÂing we manÂaged to only get hit by a couÂple rainÂdrops and climb two engagÂing peaks of the Alps!
- Alan Rousseau