Eagle Ski Club

Bernese Oberland Tour,
3 - 10 April 2010

This trip was my first as a tour leader. As it was my first I did it jointly with Roger Upton.

Pre tour warm up.
31st March - 3rd April,

(Keith & Roger)

We drove out in Roger's car and arrived in Anzere above Sion by 11:00. We managed to negociat a one way ticket up the lift system. By the time we got to teh top lift it was snowing and flat light. We eventualy arrived at the Cab des audannes after a faulse start and some compass work by 18:15. We stayed here for three nights.

It was snowing when we got up and although we made an atempt on the Raroilhorn we decided descretion was the order of the day as the avalanche danger became high.

The following day Friday was clear, sunny and no wind (a complet change from the day before). Left the hut at 08:00 and put in a new track from the hut to the Wildhorn (3248m) managed to do it in guide book times and had a great ski back down.

Left the hut at 08:00 and took in the Six Rouge (2893m) on way back to car. At car by 13:00 then over to meet some of the others at Fiesch, took longer than expected due to traffic and road works. All met up and left 2 car there and headed up to Blatten.

We met up with the others at the Edelweiss Hotel which is where we stayed on the Sturday night. The hotel was excelent.

Sunday Blatten to Anenhutte 9km 800m of ascient. am pm

Snowing heavily when left hotel at 08:54 started to clear a bit by 12:00, got to hut by 13:30. Did some tranceiver search practice later in the afternoon. Steve Bramall was not well by the time he got to the hut and did not recover. Phil escorted him back down before he and Roger cought the rest of the team up. The Anen hut is very nice but a bit more than SAC huts.

Monday Anenhutte to Konkordiahutte 14km 800m of ascient. am pm

Left in a white out and great problems finding a safe way down onto the glacier from the hut. Weather cleared after an hour or so. All at Lotschenlucke (3173) by 13:50 Roger & Phil having cought us up. From here we attempted to ski down the Grosser Aletschfirn glacier but the deep wet snow meant we were confined to the rollercoaster of the uphill track. Two of the team took impressive plunges into the thick porridge, Ali managing to bury herself so efficiently that it took two others to dig her out. We continued across the vast Konkordiaplatz, poling at times, and tackling the 100m of staircases before the bar at the Konkordiahütten (2850) could be reached. About 30m up there is a telling sign which shows the level of the glacier in 1965.

Tuesday Konkordiahütten - Finsteraarhornhütten

On Tuesday we skipped an ascent of the Kranzberg due to the incoming weather and pressed on to the Finsteraarhornhütten for an earlier attempt on the Finsteraarhorn. Three of us attempted to lay a track for the next day. Softening snow in the hot sun meant we soon returned though.

Wednesday Finsteraarhorn (4274m)

Headtorches bobbing up the slopes of the Finsteraarhorn above us the next morning indicated a track was being put in and no tactical re-packing of gear was required. Skis were removed briefly to cross a shoulder at 3617 and from the Huggisattel (4088) were replaced with crampons. Roping up we climbed the fine ridge to the summit (42743), descending the same way. Pleasant skiing down was only to be had in a shallow window of altitude, though this was a minor irritation with the peak bagged.

Thursday Finsteraarhornhütten - Fiesch am pm

With gloomy weather we opted to descend the Feischergletchser. A couple of abseils were required as we broke away from the right-hand side of the glacier too soon, Keith soloing down to avoid leaving an axe. (It is important to keep well right at the ice fall). Further winding through crevasses made for an atmospheric descent, though we sailed past the ladder exit Keith and Roger had been hoping for, instead crossing a dam and exiting via a path. This exit is marked on the latest maps but the two on the older maps are absent (and vice versa). A couple of kilometres pleasant walking took us down to Fieschertal and cold beer.

Friday Belalp Ganderhorn (3293)

The next day we skied at Belalp. Myself and Nigel were the only ones to get to the planned peak, the others descending early to make prime use of the spring snow or opting for off-piste from the lifts.

A fine meal in Brig rounded off the trip.

Maps used:

Swisstopo digital 1:25000 and Skitourkarte 264s 1:50000.

Accomodation Notes:

Wildhorn - Cabin des Audannes
Blatten - Edelweiss Hotel. Welcoming and has some bunk rooms at 90 CHF HB.
Anenhutte - Private and very plush hut with running water and free wine - 90 CHF HB.
Konkordiahütten - Has a very helpful guardian but cramped bunks.
Finsteraarhornhütten - Revamped and comfortable, but guardian nowhere near as helpful.
Fiesch - YHA. Not recommended as it is noisy with poor food (caters for large school groups).
Brig - Europe hotel. Pleasant and the cheapest in Brig. 72CHF BB

Pre-tour info

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