The author mentions two deaths linked to running in the mountains: that of Ida Robsahm, who died after a fall while running on the Romsdalseggen in Norway, and then that of Kalie McCrystal, on the Matterhorn a few weeks earlier. These announcements, he says, deeply affected him, particularly because he himself had run along the Romsdalseggen ridge.
He then emphasises a central idea: life in the mountains is fragile and the difference can be minimal between a perfect day and a tragedy. He describes how a tipping point can come from elements such as a misstep, an unstable rock or a momentary drop in concentration, with consequences that can go beyond the initial mistake.
The author distinguishes risk according to practices. He says that mountain environments are dangerous, while also stating that, statistically, running on trails and in the mountains would be relatively safe. He also explains that the problem lies less in the frequency of accidents than in the severity of their consequences.
He then presents factors often associated with deaths in trail running and mountain racing, citing in particular extreme weather leading to hypothermia, cardiac arrest and falls causing an impact trauma. He adds that the first two can sometimes be reduced through preparation and decision-making, with the idea that “fast and light” must not come at the expense of safety.
Finally, the author recounts a striking personal experience in Tromsø during the Tromsø Skyrace in 2017: he claims to have been there at the moment when Hillary Allen fell, then to have gone down to support her until she was evacuated by plane. He concludes that this close reality dispels the illusion that accidents only happen to other people.
