Sardinia & Chamonix 2025

⚠️ If you’re here for rock climbing content skip to the Chamonix section! ⚠️

The main purpose of this trip was to go to Jack’s brother’s wedding in Amalfi. I got to hang out with all four of his siblings and their SO’s (less so the bride and groom who were pretty busy). We then went to Sardinia where we did a little bit of sport climbing and a lot of driving / swimming. Finally we stopped in Chamonix for some alpine climbing. Not a “rock forward” trip by any means but still a ton of fun!

Whitefish

This trip actually began with a wedding in Whitefish, MT. We got to ride the Whitefish bike park while we were there which was extremely fun.

Amalfi

Only one day later we were off to Amalfi for Jack's brother's wedding 😵‍💫 I was so focused on climbing later in the trip that I didn't know what to expect in Amalfi. Safe to say I was blown away. Amalfi is smashed up against the cliffs south of Naples; it was first colonized by people fleeing mainland invasions, but its unique position led it to become one of the major maritime republics of the middle ages. Like the rest of Italy, it's now a tourist hotbed — and for good reason!

The Washington crew was relieved to be in Italy (and no longer in transit)

I've experienced some sketchy tag line rappels and rockfall events, but driving scooters around blind corners with massive tour busses on a single-lane road was easily the most dangerous thing I've ever done.

Soon-to-be engaged Bridge and Jimmy on the left, Bryck-SO's on the right!

Wedding warm-up! And what a show it was!

Sardinia

We knew well before going to Sardinia that it was going to be too hot to climb much, but that was an understatement! It was oppressively hot. Still, we got out a couple times and also got to drive an Italian sports car and a boat around a lot of the island.

Chamonix

We headed to cooler temps in Chamonix and were immediately rewarded with stunning views from the Mer du Glace glacier. Leaving the house with all our gear, then taking the bus, to the train, to the gondola, to the glacier, to the via ferrata, to the Envers hut left me reeling over European alpinism all over again. I don't know if they do it right but they do it different — and whatever else it is it's very rad.

Car to plane to bus to train...

Aguille de Dru and glacier crossing

Coming up the via ferrata

Before a night in the hut vs after a night in the hut

Sunrise over the Mer du Glace

Starting up the classic crack climb, Guy Anne L'Insolite

Jack following the mental crux on pitch 3 and leading his first alpine pitch (5)

Last stop on Guy Anne

The spectacular finger crack pitch (4)

The Refuge de l'Envers des Aiguilles

Woke up to an interesting surprise for our hike out!

It rained over our last few days so weren't able to climb more, but we had some amazing food back in town! Next time we'll climb BEFORE the September wedding to catch some more sun 😄

One long, (painful) flight later and we were pack in WA to harvest all the tomatoes that grew while we were gone!