This month we go back 50 years to 1975 with an article about the pleasures associated with the annual pilgrimage made by many to the Alps. It is close to my heart, as I made my first such journey in 1976 to Chamonix, with Rebuffat’s “The Mont Blanc Massif: The 100 Finest Routes” as our final arbiter on route choice!
Michael Jamison starts by noting: “The Alps are crowded and commercialised yet the pilgrimage across Europe is made by many in search of mountaineering experiences that can still be savoured amongst their somewhat desecrated shrines.” He describes visiting the meterological office to peruse the map [essential in 1975] and a very crowded night before climbing the Frontier Ridge on Mt Maudit, plus three other routes. A good alpine season given the vagaries of the weather. Click here to read the full article and I hope you enjoy as much as I did.
It is interesting to note how an unrelated photo is embedded within the article [a picture of the Sella Group] and a pen and ink sketch of High Moss at the end, showing how editing has changed over the years. As the Thumbnail, I have chosen a picture from the article by Ivan Waller entitled “Skye with George”. The full Journal can be accessed here…there is plenty of interest to read!