I'm starting up on the tower pitch of the North Face/East Buttress of Piz Palü (Nordwand Ostpfeiler, aka Kuffner Route on summitpost). I have no idea what's in store for me: some nice hand jams, then bemused aiding on pitons, then heart-in-throat moves that feel like 5.9 in boots, then thrutching up onto a fin while a helicopter of sightseers buzzes me. Cost? Priceless. August, 2007.