Mark in front of the ridge that we have to cross

We've just started for the day, and our first challenge is right behind Mark. High up on the far left is the Monte Rosa Glacier. We want to get up there and set up camp, but we don't like the direct route up the icefall: that's far too dangerous. Instead, we have to make our way across the low rocky ridge that spans all the way to the right of the photo and then make our way up the glacier. We've read about the routes in the area, and so we know that there is a relatively easy crossing far on the right, just outside this image in fact: the route from the Monte Rosa hut to the Stockhornpass. But it's early in the season, and the upper Gorner Glacier, where we are right now, isn't visited often to begin with, so it's unlikely we'll find tracks showing us the way. We'll just have to find our own way across the ridge. Besides, if we can climb a more direct way, that might save us some time, for the route that we read about is a big detour. Towering above the ridge, seemingly close but much further away, are Lyskamm, Castor and Pollux. 2 July 2013.