Photo by Dave Saum.

Young Caldwell (left) with Ivan Rezucha on their way to climb the north face of les Courtes in the Argentiere basin near Chamonix, France, July 1975. The north face of les Droites (left) and of the Aiguille Verte are in the background. > Ivan had come to Chamonix from Yosemite Valley and climbing El Cap. When I asked him how the Apls compared to Yosemite, he said "This place makes Yosemite look like the Gunks." We managed the climb but it took us 28 hours. Guidebook said 8.