Federico Secchi: from the Alps to the great mountains of the world

CAI Valdidentro presents a special evening with Federico Secchi, a mountain guide and mountaineer from Valtellina, who in 2025 took part in a new expedition to Pakistan, in the heart of the Karakoram.

After his experience on K2, Secchi returned to the great mountains of Pakistan to take on Gasherbrum IV, a 7,925-meter peak known as the “Shining Mountain” for its white marbles that gleam at sunset. An ambitious and fascinating objective, linked to the historic Bonatti-Mauri route, a climbing line that had not been repeated for 67 years.

🏔️ An adventure in the heart of the Karakoram

The evening will be an opportunity to hear, in Federico Secchi’s own words, the story of the 2025 expedition to Gasherbrum IV, from preparation and travel to base camp, ascent attempts, setbacks, and difficult decisions.

An experience shared with his companions Leonardo Gheza and Gabriele Carrara, in a remote and severe environment, without fixed ropes or marked routes, where every step requires judgment, experience, and great respect for the mountain.

✨ Following in the footsteps of Bonatti and Mauri

The aim of the expedition was to retrace the historic route opened by Walter Bonatti and Carlo Mauri, a line that represents one of the most significant chapters in Italian mountaineering.

Gasherbrum IV is not a “commercial” mountain: it offers no equipped routes, nor any certainties. It is a complex, demanding peak, where adventure remains authentic and every choice can make the difference. For this very reason, Federico Secchi’s account also becomes a reflection on the meaning of mountaineering, on limits, and on responsibility.

⚠️ The mountain as a school of awareness

The evening was created with the aim of promoting the responsible use of the mountains, a theme particularly dear to CAI Valdidentro.

Through images, words, and first-hand experience, the meeting will invite the audience to see the mountain not only as a place of adventure, beauty, and freedom, but also as a fragile, complex, and potentially dangerous environment, to be approached with preparation, care, and respect.

🎤 Federico Secchi’s story

From the difficulties encountered along the route to managing bad weather, from the dangers of seracs to the decisions made at base camp, Federico Secchi will take the audience on an intense and unforgettable adventure.

A story that is not only about the summit, but also about the journey, expedition companions, sacrifices, landscapes, encounters, and choices. Because in the mountains, often, the real challenge is not reaching the top, but knowing how to listen to what the mountain is saying.

ℹ️ Details

Participation is free and booking is not required.