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There are essential differences, of course, between climbing in Britain and climbing in the Alps; altitude for a start. Britain’s highest summit (Ben Nevis) is 1344m, while most alpine climbs are on peaks of 3000m and more. While a day’s mountaineering in Britain can net several summits, many alpine climbs are spread over two days – the first spent on the approach to a hut, with the second day devoted to the climb itself, followed by descent to the valley.

The East Summit of Piz Palü (Chapter 4:4)

The icy heart of a glacier – to avoid close acquaintance rope up and stay alert!

The sheer scale and variety of alpine scenery is another major difference, and in Switzerland alone a climber could spend a lifetime of active holidays in one area after another without repeating a single route. But in the Alps climbing is a more serious business than in non-alpine areas, with objective dangers that should never be ignored. Rockfall, for example, can occur on almost any route, seracs can topple without prior warning, and even the most innocent-looking glacier may have hidden crevasses.