Skiing below the Matterhorn
1984, Alps, France, holiday, ski-mountaineering, Switzerland

The Haute Route

Haute Route, April 1984, from Chamonix to Saas Fee

Skiers Peter Main and John Armstrong

Saas -Fee : Tasch & Dom in the background

x

I completed the Haute route from Chamonix to Saas Fee at the third attempt in Spring 1984 with my friend John Armstrong. It was a fantastic trip in every way. We got it all just right; the weather, the snow conditions, even the huts were quiet and with John being Irish the ‘craik’ was brilliant. It is a long time ago, we were younger and fitter and I certainly couldn’t do it now.

It took me a while to get it down on paper but eventually in March 1986 the article about the trip was published in FOOTLOOSE (Editor: Chris Townsend). It makes interesting reading although now looks very dated, especially the adverts. Rather than copy the text I have scanned to pages so readers can get a flavour of what a 1986 magazine looked like.

At the age of 75 in 2020, the good memories are even stronger, this trip was one of the highlights of my mountaineering career. Sadly I have lost touch with John, though I cherish the memories of his friendship and good humour.

x

Col de Valpolline (3568m) with the Matterhorn and Dent d’Herens in the background

x
x
x

©Peter Main – 1984 & re-published 2020

You are welcome to use extracts from this text but please give me an acknowledgment

Leave a comment