The Earth's roof is rising by two millimeters every year. Mount Everest, the tallest mountain on Earth, has grown between 15 and 50 meters in the last 89,000 years, much more than the other eight-thousanders that make up the Himalayas. This is a geological anomalySince the altitudes of mountains in the same mountain range should be similar, researchers from University College London and the China University of Geosciences may have solved this problem. In a study published in the journal Nature Geoscience They have shown that erosion of the Arun Gorge, a river near Everest, is pushing the mountain's summit upward. The summit already measures 8,849 meters (28,500 feet) high, some 250 meters (860 feet) above the next highest peak, K2. According to the researchers, the Arun has carved a significant gorge over millennia, carrying billions of tons of soil and sediment from the base of Everest. This has caused the pressure exerted on the mountain from beneath the Earth's crust, as a result of this constant erosion, to be greater than the force of gravity. This is a phenomenon called isostatic reboundThis occurs when the crust loses too much material and deforms, and the liquid mantle inside the Earth sends great pressure upwards. This would explain why Everest is noticeably taller than the other eight-thousanders in the Himalayas.

When the High Mountain Law was passed, Catalonia was not part of the European Union. At that time (in 1983), the law was passed with the intention of addressing problems such as the lack of hospitals, schools, and libraries in high mountain villages, as well as the infrastructure and communication deficit. Now, more than 40 years later, the Catalan government believes that the priorities of these territories have changed and, therefore, the law needs updating.

As meteorological winter approaches, ski resort managers and residents of the highest tourist towns in the Catalan Pyrenees are scanning the skies and the forecasts, and despite the November precipitation, they are praying for snow. This year, their longing grows stronger, as climate change has transformed the coveted white blanket into the unpredictable outcome of a dice game. Is this the end of an era?

"For me, the best summer memories are sharing the mountains with my children." Trail runner Núria Picas has passed on her passion to her fourteen-year-old twins, especially during the summer months when they take advantage of the opportunity to go to the mountains. "Collecting three-thousanders is what we love most about summer," she says. They've achieved quite a few goals: "We've done the Aneto crossing, the Pica de Estados, the Monte Perdido, the Cavalls del Vent..." In fact, they didn't finish the last one—she clarifies—because one of the children suffered an injury, not from riding, but from playing basketball. "Sometimes, indoor sports are worse than high-altitude mountain sports," Picas assures.

"Shelter, electricity, water, food..." Joanfra Farreras repeats the most basic things you should take into the mountains. But he adds an essential element we've forgotten: paper maps. "It's important to know how to read them and not rely 100% on technology." He knows what he's talking about, because he's had to carry out some rescues of people who got lost, relying entirely on technology. He's spent 17 years accessing the most difficult places, whether in mountains, houses, or buildings. He's part of the GRAE Firefighters' group.

This summer, more than ever, we need fresh air. To fill our lungs with oxygen and release the tension accumulated in a pandemic year that has tested our ability to be resilient. Difficult times call for a change, even if it's just for a couple of days. And the best change can be to immerse yourself in one of the wonderful mountain landscapes that our country offers us, which can heal. Breathe in, stretch your muscles and let yourself be carried away by a natural environment that will reconcile you with life. If this is what you are looking for, you can include in your summer schedule a getaway to the mountains to recharge your batteries. And if you want to make it more authentic, you can choose to stay in one of the many and essential mountain huts in our regions. They are ideal places to enjoy a night in the mountains or to make a stop on your hiking routes.