C1 Advanced (CAE) - Reading Gapped Text 1

Mountains in My Blood

I often find myself contemplating whether my destiny was predetermined. Whilst standing atop Mont Blanc last summer, my thoughts inevitably drifted back to those formative days in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, where my journey into mountaineering originated. The sensory impressions remain vivid: the distinct aroma of sun-warmed pine needles, the satisfying crunch of frost beneath climbing boots, and the particular quality of morning light on the granite peaks.

1.

The cottage served as our sanctuary, although the locals regarded us with an intriguing mixture of sympathy and incomprehension. How could a widower opt for such an isolated location to raise a child? Nevertheless, my father remained adamant that the mountains possessed something we both fundamentally needed. Each morning, I would wake to the unmistakable sounds of his breakfast preparations, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafting up to my modest bedroom with its weathered blue shutters.

2.

Even during term time, he would invariably draw my attention to the shifting cloud formations, imparting knowledge about weather patterns that would ultimately prove invaluable throughout my career.

Our weekend expeditions became progressively more challenging as I matured. What had begun as straightforward hikes along marked trails transformed into technical climbs, with father methodically instructing me in rope techniques and precise foot placement.

3.

By the age of ten, I could identify every significant peak visible from our valley and had successfully ascended the majority of the moderate ones. The mountains functioned as our educational institution, our recreational space, and occasionally, our confidant.

4.

It wasn't until I reached adulthood that I fully grasped the intricacy of my father's connection to the mountains. They had claimed his beloved wife—my mother—yet he remained inexorably drawn to them.

5.

Such displays of emotion were infrequent; typically, he maintained the composed demeanour of a seasoned mountaineer, meticulously examining every knot and consistently emphasising the significance of respecting alpine conditions.

The technical expertise he instilled in me proved essential, but it was the more abstract principles that genuinely shaped my future in alpinism.

6.

Upon completing the Alpine Grand Slam as the youngest woman in history, journalists frequently enquired about my training methodology. They appeared somewhat deflated when, rather than discussing sophisticated equipment or professional coaching, I spoke of those early experiences in the French Alps with my father, learning to interpret the fundamental nature of a mountain before attempting its ascent.

In retrospect, I understand that my father's preoccupation with the mountains embodied both advantage and liability. Whilst other fathers taught their daughters conventional skills in secure environments, he was instructing me in navigation through precarious terrain and survival in extreme conditions. Yet without this distinctive upbringing, I wouldn't have evolved into who I am today—one of the few women to have conquered all fourteen eight-thousanders, and more significantly, someone who truly comprehends that mountains demand respect rather than conquest.