Gran Paradiso - Parete N (Cretier)
View route detailsSince the first time I saw it, I had wanted it. For various reasons, I had never climbed it before. But the divine Gulliver reports an ascent. Conditions seem to be very good, so after carefully checking about ten weather forecasts, the die is cast. On Monday we will go up to the Rifugio Chabod and on Tuesday we will climb the face. Its shape somewhat resembles the silhouette of a bird of prey preparing to take flight, and seen from the hut it is always something exceptional. After dinner we discover that a rope team led by an English guide will have breakfast at 3 a.m. to climb the face. We let them go ahead and wake up at a slightly more reasonable hour: 3:30! The route itself is easy; we climb almost entirely unroped. The satisfaction is enormous (despite the punishing descent) and, unlike other dreams that come true, this is not one of those you wish you had kept as a dream.
