Swiss Alps - Weissmies 4023m by the Normal Route, 13th August 2010.

To get to the start of the "normal route" for the Weissmies, we took the first (7.30am ish) lift from Saas Grund right up top the top station at Hohsaas at3200m. From here we followed the main track past the Hohsaas Hut and onto the edge of the Trift Glacier. The weather wasn't to inspiring at this point and the view up to the glacier was the same. As we geared up amongst the jumble of rocks, there was talk amonsgt some of the guides of maybe turning back if it didn't improve.

  

However we were soon off the tricky rocky section and onto the glacier itself following the trail across and over to the seracs on the right hand side, easily bypassing any crevasses on the way.

After the interesting section throught the seracs (more pictures from the way down later), we soon on the broad ridge leading up to the summit.

The track just went up and up with a few slightly flatter sections, but most of the time we could see the final summit section looming ahead. 

As it got higher and a little steeper most teams started to slow down and as the weather improved we took the opportunity to take more photo's, if only to have a rest!

Looking back down over the Trift Glacier to the Hohsaas station and hut, with the Jegihorn in the background and the Lagginhorn to it's right.

Serious mountaineer pose.

Cheesy summit pose at 4023m on the summit of the Weissmies.

Lorna trying to look elated after a hard slog up to the top!

The snow ridge along to the foresummit; the route we would've come along by, had we stayed at the Allmagellar Hut on the other side of the Weissmies.   

Fantastic view of the seracs and a huge snow cave from above.

And the snow cave on further inspection. Note the route of the track above it.

Heading back across the Trift Glacier and a better view of some of the big crevasses.

Back at the start point looking across the glacier towards the summit. It was then on to the cafe for a well earned strudel and custard before heading back down to Saas Grund and the end of an excellent week. One schoolboy error I made today was not enough sun cream thinking it would stay in "Scottish conditions" and consequently we ended up looking like lobsters for a few days, including the white panda eyes where the glasses were!
I don't know if Lorna has the bug for this alpine stuff, but I certainly have, so hopefully I/we will be back next year. The Swiss transport system is fantastic and with a weeks lift pass we could take any lift any time and jump on and off the post busses as we pleased. We stayed at the Hotel Roby in Saas Grund, where Christian, the hotel manager also cooks excellent food. Roll on 2011 !

       

Swiss Alps - Mittaghorn, Saas Fee - 8th August 2020.

We had planned to do the Via Feratta on the Mittaghorn 3143m, but we didn't know that all the gear hire shops would be shut on the sunday! So without any VF kit we decided to still take the normal, steep walkers path to the Mittaghorn summit. After a short walk from the top of the Plattjen chairlift it's straight into the grind of alpine uphill walking, but it's all good acclimatisation for the higher peaks to come later in the week!

 

Looking up at the massive rock lump of the Mittaghorn.

Looking down from the path up to the summit.

Lorna taking a break on the way up. The Mattmark Barrage can be seen in the distance.

Ibex also taking a break on the slopes of the Mittaghorn.

Myself and Lorna on the slightly chilly but clear summit of the Mittaghorn.

Looking along the ridge from the Mittaghorn to the Eginner.

Video from the suimmit.

Our first closer view of the Allalinhorn which we planned to do in a couple of days.

From left to right;
The Eginner (snow-less) 3370m, Allalinhorn 4027m, Feekopf 388m and Alphubel 4206m in the clouds.

And on the other side of the valley, the Saas Allmagell side you can see the Dri Hornli Ridge with the Allmageller Hut just visible to the right. The hut would be our stop over if we choose to do travers over the Weissmies and down to Hohsaas above Saas Grund.

On the descent, we also saw the Brittania Hut at 3030m which would be our accommodation if we did the Hohlaubgrat route to the summit of the Allalinhorn at some point during the week.
We got back to the Plattjen lift and went down to Saas Fee and found we had still had time on our hands, so we had a go at the high wire course with it's various obstacles and zip wires, ending with two crossings high above the Fee Gorge. Sadly on the same day, someone died whilst attempting the Via Feratta and zip line route lower down in the gorge unguided.
 

 

Lorna on one of the rope course obstacles.





Video of my first crossing of the gorge.

And here she is again taking the return zip wire back across the Fee Gorge.






And finally back across the gorge and the end of the course, which turned out to be hard work in the end!