A
small, conspicuous metal gate is all that guards the high mountains above
Chamonix from the hordes of Japanese tourists, eager to capture a glimpse of
Western Europe’s highest mountain through the eyes of a lens. Without this
selfless guardian, the Col du Midi would be a sea of Hello Kitty trainers,
SuperDry jackets and more thumbs up than a picture of Kim Kardashian’s
breakfast on Facebook. That is assuming they manage to make it down the ridge! Yet,
71 years ago the scene from the Aiguille du Midi was of a darker nature.
Aspirant guides took on the physical form of Terminus to Mont Blanc. Their
presence was not to guard against a few harmless tourists, but to keep Mont
Blanc from the hands of a growing evil, to keep the Swastika from ever
desecrating the summit.
