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Next it was off for the summit attempt of the holiday. Preparations were made: Sherpas enlisted, Oxygen masks bought, donkeys hired, food dumps dropped in by air…
The day dawned crisp and chill. The 2 am start was hard, but needed – have to get to the top before the ice starts to melt. Crampons pulled on, grim determination set on our faces. Off we set.
The most dangerous / difficult part *by far* was crossing past the man with the crank handled music playing device just before reaching the summit – and close by – the triple point of where Germany, Belgium and The Netherlands meet.
Just time for the obligatory summit photo (and video) (322 POINT FIVE metres), before descending to a safer altitude.
Then went for an enjoyable walk through lovely woodland forest. I must say, Meneer Jongerius’ navigation skills were actually quite impressive. We walked through paths seldom trod – and had a yum picnic (more Boursin – can’t beat that stuff).
And on the way back we dropped into Maaike’s summer house – where I took a short video of the place.
June 1, 2010
It’s actually the Vaalse berg and not the valse berg. Valse berg actually means “fake mountain”. Come to think of it, you might have done it on purpose.
June 1, 2010
I have been looking forward to this story. Maaike told me it was a hardship.
I am really, REALLY glad you survived the wuthering heights of the Vaalserberg!!
June 2, 2010
Yes, it was tough.. it really was – but it was great to come through it together, relatively unscathed ;)
June 2, 2010
Glad to hear you all made it, and there were no reckless moves in the dash to the summit. The dead zone looked pretty picturesque, too.
June 2, 2010
Not to forget that you crossed 3 countries in 1 minute! How cool is that! Almost beats Skellig Michael… :-)
June 2, 2010
*almost* being the key word in that sentence.
June 2, 2010
Oh and….Patrick’s Dutch is not that fluent that he would actually make a language joke…
Mind you, it is Vaalserberg…
Who says Dutch people are argumentative??
June 2, 2010
Don’t quite get you – it looks like it’s spelt correctly to me?
And several Dutch people I know say that the Dutch are argumentative ;)