At 90 years old on the Breithorn, always looking forward   It is not the membership number of our Club (403), but the year of birth (1930) that amazes us. In effect Roberto Cantù, born in Milan but resident in Segrate, who will turn 91 on August 13, continues to frequent the mountains, and not just for walks (which, of course, would be a great thing ...). So, on 22 July, with his nephew Massimo and the guide Jacopo Zezza, he went up from Cervinia with the lifts (cable car and then, skis, with the ski lifts) up to Colle del Breithorn (3866 m), to then aim for on foot to the summit of Western Breithorn (4165 m).

He "contented himself" with stopping at the shoulder at an altitude of 4100 m, so as not to risk missing the cable car on his return. "Certainly not because I was short of breath," he tells us, in a very pleasant and long chat, when we reach him on the phone. «In fact, if we look at the pulsations», Roberto continues, «I always have them regular at 120 beats».

This is his 71 ascent above 4000 meters, and he tells us that it will also be the last. But he continues to go to the mountains all right: about once every two weeks, overcoming highly respectable daily differences in height (at 87 he was awarded the “Scarponcino d'oro”, which goes to the oldest who, in three social outings in three different excursions , has passed the various "tests", each time reaching a thousand meters in altitude).

On the other hand, Roberto has frequented the mountains since he was a child: at the age of 6 he was already sleeping at the Brioschi refuge on the Grignone; at 16 he climbed the Bernina, his first four thousand, and at 19 the Matterhorn from the Italian route (staying overnight at the Carrel hut, at 13 he was already returning to Cervinia, ready to go dancing ...).

In all, he reached 35 four-thousanders (here the list of his climbs), with not a few noteworthy exploits: among others, the south face of Punta Parrot, the spur of Brenva, the Rey ridge at Dufour, the south ridge of the Lyskamm.

Representative in the textile field for 49 years, married without children for 40 (his wife moved on in 2005), member of CAI SEM (Milanese excursionist society), Roberto continues to be very active in the field of volunteering (the Municipality of Segrate has awarded the Ape d'oro, equivalent to the Milanese Ambrogino). He is also a great practitioner of skiing in all its forms: from participation in large ski mountaineering rallies, to ski competitions (again in 2017 he became Italian champion for the master category in giant slalom).

His secret? Always be on the move and always look forward, towards the future. On the other hand, he bought a hybrid car already eight years ago ...  

The warmest and most heartfelt congratulations from all the Club4000 Board of Directors go to Roberto Cantù    

Luca Gibello