First light on the Eiger

To have the Eiger to yourself, you have to be early. Earlier than the first train, earlier than the village.

We left in the dark and reached the meadow as the top of the face turned from grey to gold. For ten minutes it belonged to no one.

Then the light came down into the valley, a window opened somewhere, and the day started without us.

Some places are worth losing sleep over. This is one.