Ultrafly Dispatch

We came here chasing altitude in Europe. Ultrafly—our deranged accomplice—was already whispering before dawn. Said it wanted stone, sweat, speed. We laced up tight and grinned. Grounded by our Vibram® soles, we lunged into the alpine unknown.

Ibex watched us from their cliffside posts like little horned sheriffs questioning our choices. They didn't think we belonged here. Ultrafly begged to differ.

It clawed up vertical scree and bit rock with some kind of obsessive devotion. It's split carbon plate flexed over roots and rocks that cackled with desire to see us stumble. But instead, we got far and fast, ripping through sheets of civilisation en route to even weirder terrain.

By the time we looped back to the valley, the shoe was splattered with mud and a smugness that comes only from first place.

Back at basecamp, Ultrafly vibrated from the day and murmured, "Let’s do it again tomorrow". Of course, we said yes.