Breuil-Cervinia Aosta Valley *Matterhorn*

After arrival and settling in our apartment on Saturday, we all went out for our first acclimatisation hike. With a help of lifts, we got to 2500m and then hiked further to 3100. 

The following Monday, due to the forecast of thunderstorms, we went out for sports climbing to a local roadside crag.

On Tuesday the thunderstorm forecast remained, although in the afternoon, so we went for a hike and reached Becca Di Fontanay 2972m. 

Wednesday forecast warned about strong winds afternoon, but no thunderstorms, so our group decided to try for Western Breithorn F, 4164m. On our way up, about 100m from the summit we heard the thunder and it was our cue to turn around immediately and walk off.

The Thursday brought us a good weather and the whole team set off and summited Pollux via south West ridge PD+, UIAA 3.

Day wasn't without an adventure and Harry decided he doesn't need his hiking pole anymore and threw it into the crevasse (or at least that's how it looked like for an outsider). In the high tram spirit, Becca lunched a rescue mission and being supported by the team, went down the crevasse to retrieve the pole. The missing was a total success!

After summiting the Pollux, we went to spend the night in the Riffugio Guide D'Ayas. 

The next day the team split into two, and Matt and Will set out for Castor 4225m via West Face PD, and Becca, Harry and Tom walked back towards the Kleine Matterhorn lifts, ticking off Central Breithorn 4159m and Western Breithorn 4164m F. 

Both teams were successful. 

Saturday was a relaxing day and we went for a dip in a very cold waters of Lago Di Mean. 

On Sunday the team split again and Becca and Harry went out for multipitch sport climbing, Tom went for a very long hike and Matt and Will set out for Bivacco Rossi E Volante, to spend the night there. 

On their multipitch route, Becca played into Cinderella fantasy and dropped her shoe. Harry volunteered (or rather felt pressured to, after the rescue of his pole) to climb down and retrieve the lost shoe. 

Monday saw Matt and Will completing the Breithorn full traverse, AD+, UIAA 4. 

Harry and Tom rented bikes in the morning, and afternoon joined with Becca on local Via ferrata. 

On Tuesday Becca, Harry and Tom set out to Rifugio Chabod. The next day, successfully summitng Gran Paradiso 4061m, via normal route. 

Matt and Will set out to climb Pointe du Tsan, 3322m, via East Ridge, AD. Unfortunately, trying it from the valley floor and in one day proved to be too much and we had to turn back reaching the ridge late in the day and not having enough time to summit. 

The weather turned again in the second part of the week and we didn't go climbing anymore, and the dreams of climbing Matterhorn remains unfulfilled. 

But our R&R manager (Becca) organised trip for local SPA where we could all relax and recover from quite intense several days. 

Many thanks to everyone who took part in this trip and who helped with advice and encouragement! 

Mateusz Wasilewski