Stechelberg->Obersteinberg->Busengrat

After an early breakfast we break camp and leave the camping stuff at the campground before setting off up the valley. Along a nice constant climb bast Trachsellauenen, then steeply up the valley sides, mostly under trees to the Berggasthaus Tschingelhorn. Really, really nice views of the back side of the Jungfrau and up the valley to the waterfalls and the mountains at the end (Grosshorn, Breithorn, Tschingelhorn). Further along the edge of the valley, enjoying the great views, to the gasthaus at Obersteinberg. There we have coffee and cake (mmm, apricot cake) break before deciding to take an alternate route (original plan was go go around the valley, past the Oberhornsee, and then loop back down) towards Gimmelwald. So up we go towards the rim, along the valley wall to the end. Down a bit to a nice lunch spot with views both towards the Schilthorn and down the valley (Gimmelwald, Mürren, Lauterbrunnen, Wengen), then through the woods to the steep descent into the Sefinental. From there we follow the river and head back to Stechelberg and the bus to the train to the train back to Basel.

Ahh, too bad we can't just stay up there. :-)

Stechelberg->Eigergletscher

The forecast for the weekend was great, so we headed up to the Lauterbrunnental for a couple of days in the mountains. Unfortunately the hotel in Stechelberg was booked out, but lucky for us there's a campground right next to the bus stop. So: off on Friday afternoon with tent in hand.

Saturday morning we get a reasonably early start and walked along the river, down the valley to Sandbach and then to the trail just across the Trümmelbach from the touristic madness at the Trümmelbachfälle. From there we head steeply up the side of the valley on a nicely rugged trail to a step at about 1100m, then through the gorge cut by the Trümmelbach, across the stream itself on a very cool bridge, further up past Preech to the crossing at Stalden. Very nice views all along of the valley and steadily expanding views of the mountains at the end (Breithorn, Tschingelhorn, Gspaltenhorn, etc.). Really nice. Around the corner on the mostly level dirt road to our first excellent views of the Jungfrau, Monch, and Eiger. Further along the road, with more people around now (they're mostly coming from the other direction; doing this part the other way must be one of those highly recommended hikes) to Biglenalp with a lunch stop along the way. From there up a bit more to the crossing above Wixi then up along the ridge to the glacier moraine which we follow to the set of buildings at the Eigergletscher station. After a break for cold refreshment, we head back down the station at Wegnernalp and take the (full!) train down to Lauterbrunnen where we catch the bus back to Stechelberg.

Man oh man is it nice to be back in the mountains.

SAC Ice Course: Anenhuette

Since Andrea was in the US, Greg did the ice course alone this year.

On Saturday we walked under a low sky up to the Anenhuette, had lunch, divided up into groups, then started the course. Our group headed down to the glacier where we practiced the T-Schlitz, arresting falls, and crampon methods. The weather was not what one would hope for and we ended up walking back to the hut in the rain (yick).

Sunday we got an early start and headed up a bit to do more practice arresting falls, then moving on a short-rope through firn (including arresting falls when on the rope), then a trip up to an ice face where we did a parcours and some ice climbing practice. The day started overcast and ended with rain. yick.

Andrea in the US

Andrea's visit to Boston and the Gordon Conference in New Hampshire