Dan phoned again at about 9:15 p.m. sounding dispirited. Yesterday was a very hard one. He had made a landing on jagged razor sharp limestone in turbulent conditions which was some thing he didn't wish to repeat. He had to resign himself to walking. To those who have done Striding Edge or Crib Goch in gale will have some idea of what he was up against. Alone at 8,000 ft, knackered and carrying an awkward 23kg pack brings home the realities and risk of what is being done. He reached a point on a ridge which was too dangerous to pursue. Backtracking was the only alternative. He eventually walked down to St Vincent-les-Forts from where he phoned to say that he had failed and would return home as soon as possible. Badly blistered feet, legs turned to jelly and battered by the extremes of heat and cold he had had enough of looking death in the face.

(look on Google Earth: 44' 17' 5.27' N, 6' 30' 10.7' E, where a photo can be seen showing Arete de l'Estrop au Puy de la Seche, for an illustration of the sort of terrain involved)

Needless to say, as his dad, I am grateful to accept his decision.