Bishorn: first 4000er on skis, climbed in one go from the valley

After last summer's unforgettable adventure and that superb solo ascent of the Dent Blanche in wintry conditions, the prospect of returning above 4000 metres — but this time on skis and in company — was very appealing.

Barely had the Easter Triduum ended when Timothée and I headed off to Valais, to Zinal at the far end of the Val d'Anniviers, where we met up with our friend Valentin and met Cécile. After a few hours of carrying our skis, several of them in pitch darkness and through passages as steep as they were icy, all four of us finally put our skis on towards the Tracuit alpine pasture. We carried on to the hut of the same name, where a quick break let us recharge our batteries before launching the final assault on the Bishorn, a summit of much more easy-going appearance than its austere neighbour, the Weisshorn!

Up there, we celebrate together the joy of having come for this 4000er all the way from the valley: my second, and the very first for Cécile! Grinning from ear to ear, we swoop down the great, gentle slope back to the hut, where we pick up Timothée so that all four of us can head back to our starting point of the morning.