The 2021 Piolets d’Or very deservedly gave a special mention to the Catalan climber, who has been tackling big walls in Pakistan, Patagonia, Alaska and Mali alone (but with confidence) since 1995. Each expedition lasts several weeks, which means carrying ridiculously heavy packs that most people would struggle to carry across the street.
For Silvia Vidal, solo climbing means foregoing radios and mobile phones, which makes every ascent even more committing. But it also makes the experience much more spiritual.