Farewell to Mario Conti, legendary Ragni di Lecco mountaineer who scaled Cerro Torre

Yesterday morning, Wednesday 27 May, the remains of Mario Conti were found and identified. A great climber, a mountain guide, and a cornerstone of the historic Ragni di Lecco mountaineering club, Mario had made history with the group in 1974 when he completed the first ascent of the west face of Cerro Torre. Just thirty years old at the time, "Mariolino" reached the summit of the famous ice mushroom alongside Casimiro Ferrari, Pino Negri, and Daniele Chiappa, completing the first undisputed ascent of the mountain and opening what many still call the most beautiful ice climb in the world.

Mario had been missing since 14 November 2023. He was 79 years old. He had gone for a walk in the woods near Mossini, the hamlet of Sondrio where he lived, and never returned. Despite months of extensive searches by Alpine Rescue, the Guardia di Finanza, the Fire Brigade, Civil Protection, numerous Ragni members, and volunteer friends, no trace of him had been found. Until yesterday, he remained listed as missing. His remains were discovered by chance – a hiker came across them in a gully about two kilometres from his home.

The news was announced by the Ragni themselves, the group of which Mario had also been President. Writing on Instagram, they said: "It is hard to say what emotions this news stirs in all of us. It certainly brings back the sadness and the sense of loss – a loss that can never be filled. But in another way, it also closes a circle, ending a long time suspended between anguish, doubts, and unanswered questions.

What we do know is that Mario was always here, beside us, and still is. His friendship, his unbreakable bond with the Group, and the lessons he passed on to the younger generations of the Ragni remain alive. Our hearts are with him, and today our embrace holds his family tighter than ever."