Your Cart is Empty
Free shipping Australia wide on orders over $99 | Over 400,000 Trees Planted
Free shipping Australia wide on orders over $99 | Over 400,000 Trees Planted
February 16, 2023 1 Comment
We'd been the first to leave the Carrel Hut on the Italian Lion Ridge of the Matterhorn at 3am. We were a team of three, which always slows down roped climbing. We were stoked to get a good hour of climbing and route finding in the dark before other teams (of two) inevitably caught up.
Most were guided ascents, with guides leading the clients. Team by team they would pass us on the way up. At one point I'd looked up and saw climbers on a flat section of the ridge as it trended left. There was a mild looking rock face between us, situated just below the ridge directly above us. To me it looked as though they had cut the face rather than continuing up the ridge, so I decided to follow them. This was almost a fatal decision, as the face gradually developed into a mix of ice and loose broken rock. We hadn't put our crampons on yet either - the route up til now, and the rest of the climb afterwards, was pure rock with no snow or ice. To make matters worse I could no longer find any nice rock to place gear and attach our rope to the mountain.
Suddenly we were climbing unprotected, even worse roped together, up terrain that was terrifyingly unstable. We couldn't securely stand on the ice without crampons, but the rock was so loose and fractured that it wasn't much better. And since we were roped together it only took one person slipping to drag all three of us off the mountain. But the end of this dreaded face was thirty metres away. We were almost up to the safe ridge, where I had seen those climbers previously.
We carefully and smoothly worked our way up to where I could put the other two on belay and finally secure ourselves. The rest of the climb, while it got steeper, was far safer as there were bolts leading to the summit. We climbed swiftly and summitted at 9:30am. I remember being warmer than how I look in the photo, but I still remember the joy of finally making it.
Byron wears the Mont Guide Hoodie
Rest assured we avoided that dreaded face on the descent, and made it down to a bivy site on a grass meadow at 9:30pm, completing our long, memorable day.
Comments will be approved before showing up.
February 11, 2025
At Mont, we believe in supporting events that encourage people to embrace the natural world, challenge themselves, and connect with like-minded adventurers. Mont has been the sole sponsor of Kowen over the 6 years since its humble beginnings, providing flags, bollards, marquees and infrastructure, a market stall to provide the best trail gear, nutrition and mandatory kit. And donating incredible prizes, including Julbo’s newest, top of the line ultra-light glasses – Ultimate Cover Reactive 0-4. The lucky recipient being one of first in the country to own a pair.
January 30, 2025
In a world that moves fast, finding time for adventure can feel impossible. But what if the solution isn’t in grand expeditions, but in small, intentional escapes? Micro-adventures—overnight or short trips into nature—are the perfect way to reset your mind, recharge your body, and reconnect with the wild, all without taking time off work.
January 28, 2025
The rugged beauty of the Tyndall Range, with its towering conglomerate peaks and dramatic cliffs, offers some of the most thrilling and scenic climbing in Australia.
It just might be the most beautiful climbing venue in Australia.
Margaret Emery
March 03, 2023
Fantastic! What an achievement.
It sounds terrifying.