Adelboden Swiss Alps 9-16 August 2003
Myself, Helen and Phil Gunhouse went with Peter Tyermans scout group (1st Loftus). Phil and I were there to lead them walking in the mountains and to do some climbing.
View from our Chalet base.
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Monday A stroll to Oeschinensee and back from the top of the chair lift. 4Km. Followed by a walk round Kanderseg International scout camp. |
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Tuesday Hike from top of Sillerenbul lift (1973m) to Laoegrat (2219) leading Explorer scouts party and supervising 2 other groups. |
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Wednesday Steg Horn (3146m) to Lammeren Hut from Engstligen (Swiss Alps). Got lift to cable car to Engstligen 1964m 0910, then followed path west up to Tschingellochtighorn 1100, then south , sore our last people at the Chindbettipass path then over rocks and then loose fine scree to foot of Steghorn 1300. Had some food and geared up, had to take sac off to lead up first pitch (possibly S), easy going after that till near top but fixed bolts in place, topped out 1500. The way off we had intended looked a no no so we followed cairns SW. Lost cairns for a while and had to back track to find the safe descent. Reached the Lammeren hut 1730. Beer was most welcome at £3 a pint but the bottled water was £5 for 1.5L!! |
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Cable car at Engstligen
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Nearing Chindbettipass
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Negotiating the fine scree
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Route we took
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Climbing the Steghorn
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Nearing the top
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Steghorn top
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The elusive decent route
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A large bolder
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Lammeren hut | |||||
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Thursday Mittl.Gipfl (3245m) (Wildstrubel massif) to Engstligen from Lammeren hut. Neither of us slept well. Breakfast at 0530. Left hut 0630 on Glacier proper at 0800. Weather started to turn, so to save time we went for the Mittl.Gipfel summit and missed out the Wildstrubel summit. Top at 1000. Started to rain slightly before we reached col to Ammertengrat Spur. Lead a difficult move over a crevassed snow arete whilst traversing it, followed by a tricky move over a Bergschrund. Reached Col 1230. Found some cairn and then a sheltered spot for lunch. Then down to point 2827 as per guide book. Descent was 50deg and excessively loose very little stable rock (we did contemplate going back but with the weather turning and the time didn't). It took us 3 hours to descend 200m protecting each other as best we could every 10 - 20m. Near the bottom the angle eased onto the Strubel Glacier and Phil decided to dispense with the rope. His stance then disintegrated and he fell tumbling some 30m, amasingly nothing was broken but he had deep cuts to his right hand and grazing all over. After treating the cuts we descended through the muddy end of the Glacier and made it to the Engstligen Berghotel by 1820 just in time for evening meal. |
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Route up the Wildstrubel Glacier
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Starting up the Glacier
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Crevasse
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Mittl.Gipfel
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Route East to Col
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Snow arete
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Phil negotiates the bergschrend
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Weather closes in on tops
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Our descent route
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We start our descent.
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The awfully loose descent
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Phil's bloody hand
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Should we have taken the yellow line not the red?
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Amended 28-8-2003