80 women and a new world record: the longest women's rope in history

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We came from 25 different countries: from Thailand to South Africa, passing through Canada, Brazil or Spain.

Some were amateur mountaineers, others had never set foot on a glacier.

Together,

, as required by the perpetual snows, they achieved the challenge of conquering the top of one of the 48 Swiss four-thousanders on Friday: the

.

It is the first time that such a large 100% female climbing team has accomplished such a feat.

The 82 women in total thus broke a new world record for mountaineering.

The goal was certainly not to enter the annals of anything, although they did.

The purpose was to give

An initiative of the Swiss government to inspire the female universe and show that its impressive cast of tops is more accessible than it may seem.

Four by four.

This is how the 82 women

Mount Breithorn.

Each group was led by a mountain guide.

Already the day before they had created a certain bond by winding through the fissures of

in Saas Fee and feeling the spirit of the rope.

"This is teamwork," emphasized the mountaineer and expedition guide, Carolina George.

"You move as fast as the slowest person, but each of us is responsible for making the climb a success."

Schweiz Tourismus / Nicole Schafer

With this in mind and dressed in red coats, the 82 headed to

Touch of reveille: 6:00, "Swiss time", that is, very punctual to be the first to take the lifts of the famous ski resort.

Two gondolas and

later and the mountaineers were at the highest point of the domain, right between the Breithorn and the mythical Matterhorn.

It was time to dress for action: crampons, poles, harnesses and 50 meters of rope for each quartet.

Although infinitely friendlier, Mount Breithorn rises up in front of the Matterhorn and its pluperfect silhouette.

The other is that, along with the Allalinhorn, it is one of the easiest four thousand.

Although there are no completely safe or risk-free mountains.

"This is mountaineering," Rocío Arcenegui, a Spanish mountain guide based in the Swiss country, told her team hours before the ascent, while she led them through the ice.

Schweiz Tourismus / Nicole Schafer

Although what the route did not have, of course, was loss.

With the summit in sight at all times, the party advanced across the Breithorn Plateau to its base, then zigzagged their ascent in a wind that frequently wobbled their

.

Some spontaneous person who was also walking towards the summit could not help but be amazed.

At 3,900 meters a provisioning stop was made to shorten the rope-in ​​distance.

"From here we don't stop until the summit."

At 4,030 we reach the shoulder of the mountain, the last landing before the ridge that leads to the top.

Half an hour later, the 82 mountaineers conquered the peak.

What followed was a riot of joy in a multitude of languages.

There were hugs, shouts,

from some of the countries represented that waved for a few seconds on the Swiss roof.

Some photo was also taken.

Or thousand.

And the most symbolic: the women's world record was broken.

Schweiz Tourismus / Nicole Schafer

It has not been easy to bring together so many women from such diverse places:

from Portugal,

from Poland,

from the United Kingdom,

from South Africa,

from Sweden,

from India,

from Canada,

from Brazil... But it has It was rather because of the complicated logistics, not so much because of the lack of candidates.

In fact, ten of the women who have participated in the initiative were chosen through a contest.

More than 800 applicants applied.

In addition to Switzerland Tourism, the Swiss Alpine Club, the Swiss Association of Mountain Guides and Mammut have participated in the project.

And there will be more.

We will have to pay attention to 100% Women, as this Swiss plan is called to take women to the top of the Alps.

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• Articles Marta González-Hontoria