The first light of day grazes the north face of the Aletschhorn, revealing the majesty of a mountain both wild and fascinating. Shadows, deep at first, recede as the sun rises above the horizon, revealing shades of white and grey on this gigantic face that emphasize the relief. At the foot of the face, two hikers stand out discreetly against the immaculate immensity. Probably having set off from the Hollandia hut, they are about to ascend the slope to reach the Äbeni Flue, their footsteps echoing like a tribute to the silent power of the massif.

To the left, we can make out the silhouette of the Dreieckhorn, whose taut ridge seems to watch over the whole scene. Then, in the center, the Aletschhorn rises up: an imposing, rocky summit , the highest in this enfilade, proudly dominating the valleys of the Upper Valais. To its right, more modest peaks - the Kleines Aletschhorn and the Sattelhorn - form a harmonious whole, a natural extension of the main wall. And yet, each of these mountains cultivates its own identity, made up of singular lines, secret cliffs and snowy couloirs.

In the dawning light, the texture of the snow is revealed with a particular delicacy. On the steepest slopes, the light shaves the surface, highlighting the subtle folds formed by the wind. Whereas in the deeper valleys, a light shade covers the snow with a bluish veil, like cold ink snaking between the rocks. One contrast follows another, drawing the viewer's gaze between the rocky might of the Aletschhorn and the immaculate whiteness of its snow-covered flanks.

It is precisely in these variations of light and shadow that the magic of the high mountains lies. Winter covers the rock with a thick mantle, polished by the passage of storms. In spring, when the days grow longer, mountaineers in search of a challenge can venture onto these slopes, taking advantage of the more clement sunshine. In the spring of 2024, I was lucky enough to climb the north face of the Sattelhorn, cross over to the Aletschhorn and then topple over to the other side. An unforgettable experience, where you feel both tiny in the face of these snow giants and fully alive in the effort that carries you to the summits.

If you take a closer look at the harmony of the landscape, you'll notice how the ridges seem to have been drawn by an inspired hand. The tapering ridges, ready to defend themselves against the onslaught of the wind, contrast with the roundness of the combes where the snow accumulates. The two hikers seem almost insignificant in this grandiose setting. Yet their presence lends a profoundly human dimension to the whole: that of the journey, the dream, and the quest for the absolute that the high mountains represent.

Contemplating this scene, we feel both the power of the Aletschhorn and the fragility of the moment. For the light, so soft at sunrise, is constantly changing, redrawing the relief and shaping a new picture in the hours that follow. In this work, I wanted to capture the moment when the mountain awakens with majestic elegance, while two silhouettes step onto its white surface. It's a tribute to the ever-changing beauty of the Alps and the summits that have always inspired awe and wonder.