Opened in winter 2007 by Martial Dumas and Jean-Yves Fredriksen, on a face transformed by the collapse of the Bonatti Pillar, the Voie des Papas has retained the particular aura of the post-apocalyptic west face of the Drus, the major alpine bigwall above Chamonix, France. It is steep, committing climbing, traced across the grey granite of a major scar in Alpine history. Over three days in June,...