Cédric Martinoli has a remedy of his own to “cut away from work.” At the weekend, he sets off alone, at night to attack the 3000 of the Pyrenees. Objective: reach the summit just before sunrise. And then, enjoy sumptuous shows. He tells us.
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For four years, it has become his breath of fresh air. Hiking at altitude, at the top of the peaks of the Pyrenees. “Always at night, always alone“, confides Cédric Martinoli even if, for some time now, he is sometimes accompanied by a friend. His favorite thing is to begin his progression towards the peaks at 3000 meters above sea level in the middle of the night. “I leave after midnight, at 2 a.m…. With the moon, we can see the relief. Snow reflects light. I climb with the headlamp.“Objective: reach the summit for sunrise.
Sunrise at the top of the Pyrenees.
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© Cedric Martinoli
Going alone in the middle of the night ensures he avoids the rush of big days. But what Cédric Martinoli is particularly looking for is luminosity, “maximum beauty“revealed by the rising of the sun.”An hour later, the light crushes the relief“, explains the amateur photographer.
At sunrise, it’s a festival of colors. “Maximum beauty” on the peaks of the Pyrenees with mountain coral on the ground.
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© Cedric Martinoli
Once the sun rises, Cédric Martinoli does not head back. Far from it. In general, he goes on to two or three other summits at 3000 meters and still enjoys the spectacle.
The wind, the cold, the weather sculpt the elements and the landscape, offering unique views of nature in the mountains.
Like strings of pearls: “an unforgettable frozen spectacle with strange concretions.”
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© Cedric Martinoli
Strings of pearls seem to adorn the sides of the mountains. During his outing on December 28, 2024 in the Montcalm massif, Cédric Martinoli attended “an unforgettable frozen spectacle“with strange concretions observed between 2800 and summits over 3000 meters above sea level.”I had never seen that“, confides the lover of summits.
December 28, 2024, hike in the Montcalm massif, with a stop at the Pic d’Estats at 3,143 meters above sea level and its summit cross.
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© Cedric Martinoli
Unique ice sculptures, carved by wind and extreme weather conditions. On each of his outings, Cédric Martinoli experiences moments “unique, wonderful, extraordinary“. To the point of “not really wanting to go back down“.
Cédric Martinoli says he has no particular objective in publishing photos of his outings at altitude. A fan of mountain biking and valley hiking, the 50-year-old entrepreneur says he simply wanted to go higher after the Covid crisis.
The physical effort is intense, but guarantees maximum pleasure. His photos that he publishes on his Facebook page? “It’s about sharing beauty. I try to post the positive side of the mountain“, he told us humbly.
The “Pyrenean coral”.
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© Cedric Martinoli
To follow the adventures of Cédric Martinoli, go to his Facebook page.
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