As a British student of Jungian psychology my interests include dreams and etymology. At last, I understand the origin of that curious German word “Alptraum”!

However, the ascent to Capanna Cristallina was so enjoyable that I bought the T-shirt. The view of Venus and a crescent moon in close alignment after sunset was especially memorable. The next day was my first experience (from not much) of ski-touring in flat light or on hard snow slopes. I opted to stay behind when the group went the last 100m for the summit of Cristallina, and felt I had made a wise choice seeing the abandoned skis and numerous slips above me.

Further down on the descent Liliane had to be evacuated in a Rega helicopter with an injured knee, and a
few minutes later I was very lucky to escape completely unhurt after sliding head-first some 20m down hard snow above some crags.

Despite still being bewildered by Schweizerdeutsch, I enjoyed the company of Michael (henceforth “Michele” if the Capanna staff are to be believed), Astrid, Barbara (from Section Uto - long story!), Christian, David, Brigitta, Jürg, Liliane, Oliver, Romi and Werni.

I'm especially grateful to Michael for being a very conscientious tour leader, to Werni and Jürg for keeping an eye on me, and above all to David and Oliver for coming to my aid after I fell, and to David and Romi, as always, for helping me down when everyone else was in the café!

Stop press: Liliane returned home the same day with an injured cruciate ligament. We all wish her a full and speedy recovery!