The Barre des Ecrins is the first 4000m peak for Sigi and myself. We could have chosen an easier route to the summit than a Pause climbing route in extreme alpine rock. But the conditions are perfect and with Bernhard and Richard there is a second experienced rope team on board.

The route Big tower is watching you on the Pic Sans Nom turns out to be a 700 m long brute force route which we manage to climb successfully, but we would not tackle it a second time.

We want to go to a place where the temperatures are comfortable for climbing even in summer: To the Dauphine. In the Brianconnais we warm up for the mountains of the Ecrins massif.

With a heavy heart we leave the Dolomites and Italy. As a farewell we combine two routes in the Pala Group to a very long climbing day and treat ourselves to a break in Arco.

Climbing at the Sella Group and the Langkofel Group is worthwhile just because of the view, even if the approach is sometimes a bit longer.