It all depends on a single decision

Diletta

06/02/2019

Looking at the photos from the first M4810 outing, she smiles. The image is out of focus – it seems to belong to a different time, to a different group. It was a time when there was no Salewa equipment, no coordinated colours, no brand for the expedition. Each person had put on their best sportswear – looking barely ready for a jog in the park, though. All smiling, all ready to give their best, but none with the awareness that we have today of what is it means to prepare for an ascent.

That first outing was an ordeal for many. Blisters and scratches were the norm, it was easier to count those with than those without. But for some, the price to pay was a bit higher.

At a certain point, in the green grass, you can make out a small group of agitated people. I can’t manage to understand. Someone seems to be sitting, someone is kneeling, others standing. But what is happening? When I get closer I understand: the doctor that came with us is kneeling in front of Diletta, one of the consultants, feeling her leg. From her suffering expression, it doesn’t look too pleasant.

“A nice pull, I’m afraid,” was the final word. And the only thing left for Diletta to do is go back down slowly, leaning on a colleague.

I didn’t know Diletta then, but something in her eyes while she started making her way back told me that it wasn’t just her leg that was hurt, but also her pride. These are things that happen, unfortunately, and it’s okay. They’re small inconveniences that we have to account for when we do these kinds of activities. But having to give up reaching your own goal, especially in a group as unified as Methodos, can be worse than a muscle pull.

Not much time would have passed until another occasion to test ourselves came along. It was at the second outing [http://www.m4810.com/blog/m4810-ii-val-masino-monte-disgrazia-rifugio-ponti], and Diletta didn’t let it catch her unprepared. She successfully faced the Monte Disgrazia, making up for her last attempt and showing all her tenacity, despite some occasional complaints about her leg, which was still bothering her.

Paradoxically, the opportunity to get to know her came only some time later, during a hike that neither of us managed to complete. But this time it was a choice. I was with her and Angelo when, at the Passo del Sempione, we decided not to leave Lilli behind – to enjoy the trip as a group instead of enjoying the top as individuals. It was the first time that we talked for a longer time, and I understood immediately that in her mind, she was fighting a battle similar to mine. The will to complete a challenge, to achieve a personal goal, has to come to a compromise with the various paces of the group, the desire to include, to be part of this wonderful adventure all together.

While we continued to climb, now slowly and with no rush, pushed only by our wish to enjoy the landscape and not by the desire to reach the top, she suddenly begins to laugh.

“If I think back to the day when Filippo first talked about this crazy idea… and I thought he was joking! We were in Denver, busy with a project with a client there which involved some outings in the mountains. While we were walking in silence, surrounded by snow and mountains, Filippo stopped at a certain point. He looked at us with a smile and said, “We should try to climb the Mont Blanc.” The other colleague that was with us and I locked eyes, surprised, and then laughed. We talked about it briefly, but interpreted it as a joke, one of those far, visionary ideas that would never take shape.

We would never have thought, then, what was to come. Just a few months later, in October of 2017, during our convention in Sardinia, that idea that was thrown in between one step and the next began taking life as a project. It had a name, a motivation, a change vision. It was real. I remember being left with my jaw hanging, a bit like everyone else. It was amazing. How many companies even arrive at a stage where they would even think about a thing of the sort?

And here we are today… it seems incredible. I’m enthusiastic about it!

Even if I don’t think I’ll make it until the end, unfortunately.”

That sentence leaves me hanging, it interests me. Why not? She’s tall, slim, in shape. She recounted her passion for the mountains, even if she’s from other parts, the fields of her birthplace. If there’s anyone that can do it, I think it would be her. Diletta responds, but doesn’t give a definite response. Some blood pressure problems, some work ones, some physical doubts. I don’t insist - in the end they’re personal fears. So, we go back to talking about other things. To enjoying the present moment, the beauty of this project, without thinking how and when it will end.

We see each other again a few months later. This time, it’s not mountains that surround us, but a Christmas tree in the Methodos offices, decorated with balls containing photos of the M4810 outings.

diletta campolattano

“You know, I thought about what we talked about that day,” she says, while I take a bite into a slice of panettone. “After that outing, many things changed. It was a real divide. We had to face what we were doing, but above all what we couldn’t manage to do. With the difficulties of keeping together different paces and speeds, not leaving anyone behind, and at the same time keeping our eyes on the objective. I realised that I was scared. I’m not sure of what, maybe of hurting myself again, maybe of not being able to reach the destination that we established, of being left behind. It was almost better not trying with all of me, taking it as a game that didn’t depend on me, a beautiful adventure that would someday end because of something out of my control. Actually, you were right: there’s no reason why I couldn’t do it. The only reason is me!

The tests we took demonstrated it: everything is alright. From the breathing tests to the effort tests, even my metabolic age corresponds perfectly to my real one. It was written on paper, the GetFit tests said it: I can do it.

There are no external reasons to stop me. And now I feel different. Now, I want to do it with all of me! This doesn’t mean that I’ll make it, sure, there may be a reason that in the end will force me to give up. But now I know that, if it happens, it will be me that decides it. And I can’t wait to push that moment as far as possible.”

The journey

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Mont Fallère

It is the first peak over 3.000m of our project

Mont Fallère is found in the Grand Combin Alps in the Aosta Valley.

Found between the Gran San Bernardo Valley and the Valdigne, it’s a great introduction to the magical world of the 3000s. Mont Fallère, situated in the heart of the Aosta valley, proposes a 360° panorama of all the Aosta valley peaks. Its layout is not the be underestimated, but overall it doesn’t present great difficulties, even if we need to be really careful in the final part of the ridge.

We go up in two stages: the first day up to the Fallère Hut; the second day we arrive at the summit and then we go down to the valley.

Read the story :)

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Pointe Lechaud

Our first alpinistic climb to a summit

Pointe Léchaud (3.128m) is located along the borderline between Italy (Valle d'Aosta) and France (Savoy).

It is located south of the Col de la Seigne (2.512m) between the Veny Valley and the Savoy Valley of the Glaciers.

We climb in two stages: on the first day we walk from La Visaille to the Elisabetta Soldini Hut (2.195m); on the second day up to the top and back to La Visaille.

From the hut we go up to the Col Chavannes (2.603m); from the hill we have to leave the marked path that begins to descend into the Chavannes valley, following a path on the right that crosses the very steep eastern slope of Mount Lechaud. The trail continues on the right, again not far from the crest of Mount Lechaud and crosses a small valley of stones or snow, reaching the wide basin where the Chavannes Glacier is located. Once we have put on crampons, we set foot on the glacier going diagonally to the left. From this point we gradually turn to the right pointing directly to the top, which can be reached by overcoming some easy rocky steps. What we see is a vast and spectacular panorama on the Italian side of Mont Blanc.

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Vallée Blanche

Crossing the Gigante glacier towards the Aiguille du Midi

Although it may seems like a "scenic walk", the Vallée Blanche should not be underestimated, as it is an itinerary that involves crossing the Gigante glacier. It is always necessary to be accompanied by an Alpine Guide who knows the itinerary very well and knows how to avoid the dangers.

We go up by cable car to Punta Helbronner (3.462m), we wear harnesses and crampons and we tie ourselves together.

The first section makes us lose altitude and then we start to climb towards the Aiguille du Midi. The last section includes the ascent of the snow-covered ridge of the Aiguille du Midi, reaching 3.842m.

The return is with the panoramic cable car which takes us back to Punta Helbronner.

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Monte Rosa

2 full-immersion days of technical alpine skill training on Monte Rosa

The Monte Rosa is a mountain range that is found in the Pennine Alps, along the watershed line between Italy (on the border of the Aosta valley and Piedmont) and Switzerland. It gives name to the Monte Rosa Alps supergroup, which in turn is composed of various important groups and subgroups, east of the Cervino and south-east of the Mischabel range. It is the most extended range in the Alps, and second in height after the Mont Blanc. It is the highest mountain in Switzerland and the second in Italy, and has the highest average height, containing 9 of the 20 highest peaks of the chain.

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Gran Paradiso

The Gran Paradiso is the only mountain over 4000m that is fully on Italian territory

The Gran Paradiso is the only mountain over 4000m that is fully on Italian territory. A classic and fascinating climb: after a first part on ice, to be able to reach the peak marked by a statue of the Virgin Mary, you must pass some simple rocky crossings.

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Monte Bianco

Mont Blanc (Monte Bianco in Italian) is a mountain situated in the North-occidental Alps, in the Graian Alp range, on the watershed line between the Aosta valley (val Veny and val Ferret in Italy), and Haute-Savoie (the Arve valley in France), in the territories of Courmayeur and Chamonix, which give name to the Mont Blanc Massif, belonging to the subsection of the Mont Blanc Alps.

It’s 4808,72m (the last official measure was taken September 13, 2017) make it the highest mountain in the Alps, in Italy, in France, and in general in Europe if we exclude the Caucuses. This is why it’s called the King of the Alps. It shared a spot on the list of the highest Seven Summits with Mount Elbrus in the Caucuses.

Primarily granite full of peaks and crests, cut by deep glacial valleys, it is internationally renowned for its climbing and, from a historical point of view, the birth of mountaineering coincides with its first ascent: August 8, 1786.