Markus dancing along the aid traverse of Diehlkante, Dent de Ruth. We have a few old memory scars from blank traverses, and didn't look forward to thin one. Imagine, then, after a long day of little alpine surprises, the joy at finding this last difficulty of the day not only manageable - but even fun!

The landscape burns in autumn red and yellow. Low shrubs and grass wave ever so gently in the breeze. I look back to see the fog dancing wild around Torkopf. The light and shade and the open windows to the mountains are constantly shifting in an alluring dance, exhibiting the constant change of nature and life. I am alone with silence.

Nearing the islet Trelimpan, north west of Huvudskär. Two big birds abide on the rock, and we approach gently.

Seagull in the glowing sunset. Stockholm Archipelago.

Endless

Not every moment of alpine tours is memorable - sometimes hellish misery is a more descriptive term. At Grundschartner the descent is an endless scramble over an ocean of block terrain, and we will walk through the night. A special night, it turns out, for the Pleiades will pass closely amd create abuntant 'shooting stars' in the starry sky.

Edge

This is the essence of climbing at Grundschartner - one of the best alpine ridges we have climbed (although also very arduous if counting the descent). Here, Jochen is leading the second pitch, having to wait now and then below cruxes. The climbing is surely worth the wait.

The jaw-dropping wild landscape of Wimbachgries reaches out before us. It is the last distance of our two-day outing at Watzmann Ostwand. We've been out of food today and are moving on reserves. A stride is an effort, but the beauty of the vistas keeps exhaustion at bay.

Watzmann Ostwand emergency bivouac

There are seldom pictures from the worst times of day. We have been intensely active for the past 20 hours, stumbling from exhaustion and the slipperiness of wet rock, and chased by rain and thunder through the dark night. Finally, an orange little box appears out of the dark, providing a life saving shelter from the storm. The relief and thankfulness feels just as overwhelming as our bottomless tiredness. Soon we will drift away into the realm of dreams. (The photo, of course, is taken on the following morning, bright and sunny).

Great wall

An image cannot capture the vulnerability that we experience right now, half way up on a great wall with no escape route. Watzmann east face has its way on our psyches as we gradually realize that we're too slow to manage the climb in the single day push. At least, at this particular point, there's something of a belay stand. Jesko relaxes for a moment after the pitch "Exponiert an der Kante."

Hope

We have completed a tour of our dreams. For a few years we never got around. But now we are finally here, safe in the Retterschwanger valley after an intense 16 hour tour. But although we've been active since long before dawn, impeded by an injured knee and by now ready to cry from exhaustion, hope prevails. A lovely sunset begins to tint the great wall of our climb into a light apricot. Around us, the alpenrose seem to become more fragrant as the valley falls into shade. For a moment, any effort on our way here is forgotten as we stop to marvel at the grace of nature.

Voralpreuss

Sometimes, the best part of climbing is to come down again. Regardless of how much the feet hurt, how tired you are or how frustrated you were at failing, all strains may be forgotten through a simple, quick dip in clear cold meltwater. Who ever said it must be more complicated than that?

Turning around

Of course it's frustrating, but a safe return matters more. As we stand right on the start of an ambitious alpine route, thunder clouds are already building not far away. Complaining of bad luck won't help. We hurry down and decide to scale the hill further down instead. It's very far from the first time we've turned around - and hopefully it won't be the last.

New day, full of promise

An alluring aspect of alpine climbing is that it entails so much more than just climbing. Often memorable is the early morning hike to the rock. Seeing the sun rise, and the wildlife awakening - before most have even gotten out of bed. Take the approach to Liechelkopf from Mittelberg. It is fairly long, but magnificently beautiful. The path to upper Wildental is framed by Alpenrosen, bellflowers and other sprinkles of color. It passes a great waterfall where we always take a brief pause to breathe the fresh air. And then, upper Wildental, tucked away and with a prospering wildlife: Alpine ibex, marmots, chamois and birds all thrive in the quiet corners of these mountains. This photo is in a moment of joy over the prosperity of a blooming summer's day.

The trial has begun. The path to Gerachsattel from the south is often steep and littered with loose rocks. We wouldn't enjoy biking down this way. But carrying the bikes up is a challenge barely within our abilities. Let's hope the biking down towards Schwarzwassertal will be worth it!

One of the moments of loneliness in endless white.

Fog over the Schwarzwasserbach ravine, Kleinwalsertal. Rain must not mean bad weather here.

A quiet evening in the Stockholm archipelago, lingering for a while on the warm, flat rock before the sun sets on the horizon.

Summer sunrise

The first soft rays of light reaches Gatterkopf and surrounding mountains of Allgäu. It's 5:48, the air is warm and the sky cloudless.

Awakening

Sunrise at Gatterkopf, a slight breeze catches the grass.

Chamoix in the mountains

As we head back down after a nice day of climbing, we meet a flock of chamoix peacefully grasing in front of Zwerchwand in the Tannheim mountains. This range is their home, and they are not afraid of us.

Zwerchweg

Climbing the third pitch (6-/6+) of Zwerchweg in Tannheim. This particular bit was really difficult for me to lead. It's a slab with very unreliable grips and steps, and I was very close to falling just before clipping in at the crux. It was the kind of experience that gives you vivid memories just as you are about to go to sleep at night.

After an early start from the Mezzalama hut, the first sun is catching the mountain slobes behind. Todays goals, Castor and Pollux, are still far ahead.