Lena and Frank Abissi, from Michigan, joined Mark for 5 days of climbing and amusements. We started with a quick climb of the Arete des Cosmiqes in Chamonix, then by car to the Berner Oberland.

A beautiful day on the Cosmiques. Lena and Frank wait in the notch at the steep lower.

Typical climbing on the Cosmiques. Only another two very short pitches to the top.

We continued our trip by car to the Berner Oberland, where Frank and Mark were to give the Eiger's Mittellegi Ridge a go.

In this photo, we have left the Eismeer station (visible as a series of large windows in the rock) and are traversing the glacier to the rock that leads to the hut.

Unfortunately, recent injuries had put a dent in training schedules, and we decided that the Eiger was simply too difficult. We retreated to the comforts of the valley.

Rappelliing off the rock of the Eiger, to regain the glacier.

The next day we travelled to Murren and did the via ferrata from Mürren to Gimmelwald. Rather spectacular, high above the Lauterbrunnen Valley.

the Nepali Bridge. Almost to Gimmelwald.

Gimmelwald. One of the more "authentic" old hamlets in the area.

With a few hours left in the day, we also took in the spectacular falls at Trümmelbach.

We ended our day with a stay at Kleine Scheidegg. Sunset on the Eiger's North Face.

And sunrise over the Wetterhorn.

Lena and Mark did the Rotstock via ferrata above Kleine Scheidegg.

The summit prize.

We continued the days activities with a ride up to First, and a pleasant hike to Grosse Scheidegg.

Enthusiasts enjoying the "First Flyer", a zip line from the First station down to Schreckfeld.

On our last day, we visited Schynige Platte, an amazing viewpoint between Interlaken to the north and the immensity of the Berner Oberland to the south.

The train from Wilderswil climbs steeply above the Thunersee.

A perfect, almost too hot, day.

The views northwest to Interlaken and Thunersee.

Looking south into the mountains. The Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau.