Thursday, March 9, 2023

Mixed climbing in the Bernese Alps

 

We have been to Switzerland for a few days. We climbed the route “Mülloch” (M5, 7 pitches) on the north face of the Stockhorn in the Bernese Alps. Two days later we climbed the “Gälliwand” (5a, 9 pitches) on the north face of the Gällihorn. Both summits are located in the Bernese Alps and are easily accessible by cable cars, although for the Gällihorn we decided to stay in de Winteregg hut to have enough time for climbing. Both routes are nice to climb in winter with crampons and ice axes. Bring a rack of camalots and we doubled number 0.5, 0.75 and 1. Next day we went to Kandersteg for climbing the three pitches of "Lurking Fear"(WI 3).

Topos:


"Mülloch"


 Preparation in the sun, before descending to the left to the start of the routes in the north face


 

 first pitch, not steep, but at times compact rock, Jeroen did a really cool lead...

 


 higher up on the first pitch, it all goes up to the far right, belay just before the rocky spur...

 

We have no picture of the two M5-pitches. Both pitches are steep, have some bolts and are good protectable with cams.

 

 

 exit of pitch 5



pitch 6 is a very compact lime stone rock band traversing to the right, we made belay there, than it's another pitch to the summit ridge.


pitch 7 close to the summit





beautiful views to Eiger, Blümlisalp and Balmhorn...

 

 

 Gällihorn

 

 


Winteregg hut, we walked up from Kandersteg in 2 hours

 

 

 

 

 
Pitch 1, ramp and then compact around the corner
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 Pitch 2, traverse to the left



Start of pitch 3

 
 

 
Pitch 3 just below the bloc coince...
 
 

 
Pitch 4, snow gully with some rocky sections


 
 Start of pitch 5
 
 
 
 Looking down into pitch 5, very compact, snowy and steep finish to the belay
 
 

 
Pitch 6, cool chimney and crack climbing



 
 
 
 
Looking down into pitch 6
 
 
 
 
 
Intermediate pitch to reach the start of the traverse to the right (10m above)
 
 
 

 Traverse to the right
 

 
 Summit!
 
 
 
 
 
 
LURKING FEAR 
 
 



3 pitches, 50min approach, very nice climbing...


 
 first pitch



 

 
start of second pitch
 

 
on top, happy!