Trailrun / hike in the Fricktal

 run run/hike together, first fog, then views, Andrea stopped early, Greg went all the way back to Frick

Amden Climbing Weekend

Saturday: we get a somewhat later start since G wanted to do a long run in the morning. 

We drop our bags at the hotel (thr Rössli is closed! Outrageous!) and take the chairlift up. 

There are a fair number of people up at the crag, so we opt for Gimmi (5c), with A starting. The first pitch is an adjustment (slabs and wasserrillen in limestone is cetainly different), but after that things are pretty chill. The 5c last bit has a short, hairy traverse at the very beginning that G does by using the shrubbery to get to the first bolt. The steep bit is no problem, and then we are done. Some lunch and then across to the abseilpiste and down without drama. Fun route, perfect weather (t-shirt climbing in October!), yay! We eat a bit more and then walk down all the way to the hotel. A drink in the sun, a shower, a short nap, dinner (Indian buffet… not bad), and then bed.

Sunday: breakfast is at 8, so we are a bit later than we would like, but we still make it to the chair lift shortly after 9. Up, up to the crag, get set up, wait for the pair before us (climbing the route to the right of ours, but from the same start, we end up chatting with them throughout the climb), and then we get started climbing Variante. G starts today.

Getting started on the slab isn’t quite as dramatic as Saturday, but he is still very happy to clip the first bolt. A ends up leading both of the 6a pitches (I guess we knew this? It was definitely G’s turn to start), which she does without problems. It’s mostly overcast, so definitely cooler than yesterday, and we climb in our jackets, but aside from the first couple of pitches neither of us is actually cold. After the five pitches we have a quick food break before traversing to the abseilpiste. Today the rope pretends to snag a couple of times on the way down, but it’s just pretending. :-)

At the bottom we have a relaxed lunch before packing everything up and walking back down to get the bus.

Mattstock climbing is a very particular style; a style we like. And the rock is really good. Too bad that there aren’t more routes for us to try out. I think Variante, and the 5c version of Gimmi were the last 5th grade routes we hadn’t done. Ah well… repeating nice routes is also not bad. :-)

Grimsel Climbing Weekend

Perfect forecast for the whole weekend, so we decide to head up to Grimsel on Friday night. This time we stay at the hotel at Handeck (a first for us). After a really nice meal we head off to have a good night’s sleep. 

G gets up early on Saturday morning to go running (up to Grimsel Hospiz and then back… very nice), then we have breakfast and hike up to Gerstenegg. The plan for today is to do Letzter Tango (we did this last time too); after not having done so much climbing this year it seemed smarter to start somewhat easier. The climbing went really well, the conditions were just ideal (aside from having to belay from a patch of snow on one pitch), super fun. We simulclimb the 3er pitches in the middle, but belay everything else.

Up top we pack away the gear and eat something before doing the hike back down to the hotel (that first bit from the Dom to the Bächlitalhütteweg  really is nice).

Showers, a short nap, another very good meal, and then off to bed.

Sunday morning we hike back up to Gerstenegg and climb Ameisenrennen. We did the first three pitches of this a couple of years ago. G starts and it is super climbing from the beginning (the first 5c forces you to pay attention). More varied in style than the other routes we have done here, and super fun. Only one snow patch. We simulclimb the two 3er pitches and belay everything else normally. It’s over too soon, which is saying a lot for a 17 pitch route!

Up top we eat something and then do the fun hike back down to Handeck where we pick up our extra bags and then get the bus for the long trip home.

What an awesome late-season climbing weekend/mini-vacation! 33 pitches of Grimsel granite and blue skies and sunshine throughout!

Thing to remember: more busses run to/from Handeck than higher up and the approach to Gerstenegg from there isn’t super long; it’s a nice alternative.

Sigriswiler Rothorn hike/run

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Hiking near (not to) the Gross Walenstock

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Acclimatization Days in Belalp

 A few days of "high-altitude acclimatization" in Belalp, including hikes to the Foggenhorn and Sparrhoru.

Trailrun/hike across four (andrea) or six (greg) passes

 more to come (maybe)

Ridge hike to Pischahorn and Gatschieferspitz

 more to come (maybe)

Work and play in Davos

A week of fun and work at altitude, including

- Ridge hike to Pischahorn and Gatschieferspitz

- Trailrun/hike across four (andrea) or six (greg) passes

2025 Summer Vacation Day 12

Actual decent weather this morning... wow!

We have a good breakfast, check out from the hotel, and then take the small cable car up to the Grimselpass. The plan is to go up the SW ridge of the Hohhoren (a tour from Best of Keep Wild Climbs). We start up along the red-white path, stopping after a bit up to stash some of the stuff in our packs that we won't need, then continue up, up. Along the way G realizes that his lacking motivation isn't going to improve, so shortly after p2481 we decide to just do a hike, stash the climbing gear, and continue along the really nice red-white path to Bim grosse Stei. Here we do a lunch break while enjoying the (admittedly somewhat depressing) view out over the Rhone glacier and then head back along the same trail to the Pass (picking up our stuff along the way). Really nice views towards the Berner Oberland (and Baechlitalhuette and Gruebenhuette). With a small amount of hurrying we get there in time for the bus that starts the long trip back home.

2025 Summer Vacation Day 11

 After breakfast we head back down to the Raeterichsbodensee. Stop at the first point with phone reception to move our Friday night hotel reservation to Thursday (one of the couples we ate with is doing the same thing), then down, down to Azalee Beach for some more slab climbing.

We do the first set of easy routes (just the first pitches of these routes) in the big boots for practice:

• Moritz (3b)
• Kristall (3c)
• Felix (4a)
• Rostmarie (4a)
• Hopp Riss (4b)
• Ernstli (4b)

Then move over a bit to the right and do the first pitches of a couple of 5a's in climbing shoes:

• Haerdoepfel (5a)
• Traverse Stupid (5a)

Climbing in the big boots went amazingly well once we got into it and was really good practice, but switching into the climbing shoes for the last two was a total delight.

At this point we probably could have still climbed some more, but it was pretty hot in the sun (finally sun!), so after a snack we hiked up to Grimsel Hospiz and checked into the hotel.

It was so nice to be back at the Hospiz! After a shower we had a quick drink out on the terrace, then had a bit of a rest before doing a 5 course fancy dinner. Yay Grimsel Hospiz! :-)

2025 Summer Vacation Day 10

By the time we're up (before 7), the others in the hut have already left for their tours. We head down, down, down (passing a couple of groups on their way up) to the bus stop at Handegg again. Grab the next bus up towards Grimsel, get off at Kunzentaennlein, and then head over to the lovely slabs.

We put on the gear, throw our big boots in the packs (packs too full and heavy!) and then climb the route Kruemel (5b, 4b, 3c, 4b, 4c, 3b, 5a, 5a, 3b, G starts). It's been a couple of years since we climbed at Grimsel, and the packs are heavy and awkward, so things are tricky at first, but we get into it by the end.

At the top of the route we change back into the big boots (A runs ahead a bit in her climbing shoes in order to escape the ants), then head down to the hiking path that takes us up, up to Baechlitalhuette. This is, of course, a nice hike up (even though the packs are heavy). The hut is less than half full, but they have organized things to minimize the amount of work they have to do, so the few sleeping rooms in use are completely full. We ask about changing this, but the hut warden says no, so we cancel our second night there. (Other fun "optimize to minimize work" strategies: the tables they assign us to in the dining room are all full, and the bathrooms are half closed). Decent dinner, some cards, then off to bed.

2025 Summer Vacation Day 9

trains and bus combo to Handegg, then hike up, up, up (with the heavy packs) to the Gruebenhuette. G's motivation/energy levels are quite low, but the hut and surroundings are still amazingly cool. We settle in to the hut, chat for a bit to the two new arrivals (guide and guest), do an exploratory hike just following the blue-white marked (but not on any map) trail above the hut, the come back down. In the meantime, the other four we expected were coming have arrived (four quite young guys). We do dinner outside enjoying the views, play some cards, then go to bed. Two more arrive while we're playing cards, but they opt to sleep down in the boulder bivac.

It was really nice to be at this hut and have things quiet.

Memo to ourselves: the Gruebenhuette has a fire ring... so one could bring up stuff to throw in the grill. :-)

2025 Summer Vacation Day 8

Weather looks promising, but it's rained (again) overnight, so we opt to skip our planned tour to the Pain de Sucre (involves a lot of probably wet grass) and take the first bus back to Basel

2025 Summer Vacation Day 7

Weather not good enough to climb, so we do the four-pass loop from the hotel. It’s a nice hike and would no doubt have fantastic views, but we don’t see them.

2025 Summer Vacation Day 6

Good breakfast, then walk into town and take the first bus up to the Grand Bernardino pass. Drop the heavy stuff at the hotel, the off we go to climb the Grande Chenalette via its E ridge (a tour from Dani’s alpine climbing book).

The weather is great (surprisingly cool), so there are plenty of people on the trail until we turn off towards the ridge at a cairn. Up a short bit to the bottom of the route, wait for the couple who arrived a few minutes before us to start, then we start the climbing.

The first few pitches up the sporn to the ridge are on good rock mixed with some short stretches of walking. There are enough bolts to generally be able to follow the route without too much guessing. Our plan to do the longer pitches (there are belays for both 30m and 40m ropes) doesn’t go perfectly, but we get to the ridge reasonably quickly. Up on the ridge we shorten the rope and continue towards the peak. This is mostly scrambling, at times quite exposed. G fails to read the topo correctly and wimps out of the exposed bit across the double towers, but it’s still fun. Shortly before the peak, the ridge broadens and flattens and we hit a blue-white trail. Here we pack away the climbing gear. A few minutes along the blue-white trail and we are at the peak. We do a food break and then head onwards. There is some drama that ends up with us helping a family with small kids down the steep bits of the descent. Onwards we go, back down the trail to the pass and the hotel.

We check in, shower, have a cool drink and some cake, a short nap, then a surprisingly good dinner and off to bed.

2025 Summer Vacation Day 5

We get a decent night’s sleep and are barely disturbed by the 3am crowd in the next room (we are in the late breakfast room) getting up to climb the Grand Combin. After an ok breakfast (we are in Romandie), we set off and head back down, down the  mountain. There are plenty of clouds, so only some views, but we do get a good view of the Mont Blanc area for a short while.

After the first bit of descent we turn onto the path towards the Velan hut, cross the stream, and head up the moraine. The hut itself is under construction and the last bit of hiking path to it is closed, blocking direct access to the ridge, so we follow the use trail that is the T5 route to the NE ridge (from the Tourenportal). We eventually lose the track, but keep going in the same direction towards the right access point for the ridge. Eventually we re-encounter the use trail and hit the ridge. Quick food break and then we follow the ridge up, up towards the Petite Vèlan. This is a mix of walking and scrambling on mostly good rock, with a few light climbing bits where we read things wrong. Good fun and steady progress, staying mostly on the ridge (where the rock is best) until we get to the peak.

G checks out the ridge we plan to descend (the NW ridge); it looks quite steep. We take a snack break, but waiting doesn’t make things easier in G’s head, so we keep that short. Setting off again we find a cairn marking a ramp down and start the descent. This ends up being relatively straightforward: plenty of scrambling, tricky in a few spots, but staying on the ridge works almost all the time and the rock is quite good. There are plenty of “hmm, looks like a sheer drop ahead, ah, no, there’s a good way down it” moments. Lots of concentration and focus, but flowy and fun.

After the steep bit is done, we continue along the ridge, past a small colony of ibexes, to a small rise with a big cairn that we had spotted on the approach. Here we do a real food break and enjoy the weather and what views there are (low clouds are still mostly obscuring the high mountains). 

Continue along the ridge to the saddle we had spotted earlier, descend and cross a big grassy meadow, and then descend to the hiking path that takes us down, down, to Bourg St. Pierre. Check into the hotel, have showers, cool beverages, and a rest, and then a good dinner and off to bed.

2025 Summer Vacation Day 4

Travel to Bourg St Pierre, drop bag with mountaineering stuff at the hotel for Thursday night. Nice hike up, up, up through a really pretty valley (though mountains are mainly covered by low clouds) to the Cabane Valsorey. Surpising amount of new snow up above 2900m. This is a small, old-school hut and is awesome. We discuss and refine our plans for the next day with the hut wardens (yay old school huts with knowledgeable wardens!), then hang out for the rest of the afternoon and evening. We only occasionally have partial views, but those are very, very nice.

2025 Summer Vacation Day 3

Hike back down to Saas Almagell and then the long trip home with some exploration of possible next steps. Public transportation madness: soooo many people underway. Good dinner at home, some laundry, replanning finalization

2025 Summer Vacation Day 2

Crap weather when we woke up, not unexpectedly (though the snow was a surprise), lots of people who had cancelled their tours still in the hut.

We decide that the conditions probably don’t allow our planned ridge traverse (too much ice and wind), so it’s on to plan C.

After breakfast a hike through the wind up to the Zwischbergenpass. Easy hike, though a bit icy up top. Enjoy the views briefly, then head back down to get out of the wind.

Back at the hut a bit of resting, then we eat something before heading out on another hike to the Sonnigpass. This is fun blue-white hiking with some talus hopping and snow fields. A bit too much wind and driving sleet. At the pass we briefly enjoy the somewhat-view down towards Italy before heading back to the hut.

The weather hasn’t kept away the hordes, so the hut is madness (it’s full for at least the next 2 nights!). We have a quick rest and play some cards but it’s too loud in the dining room (everyone is inside because ithe weather is no good). 

G checks the Weissmieshütte and discovers that it is also booked out through the end of the week, so we decide to change our plans and head back home tomorrow to figure out a vacation “plan b”

2025 Summer Vacation Day 1

Train, train, bus down to Saas Almagell, chair lift up to Furggstalden. From there the “Erlebnisweg” along for a while, then up, up, up to the hut. The packs are heavy, and the altitude at the end is not nothing, but it goes ok.

Settle in to the hut, then do a bit of climbing at the crag behind the hut. The plan is to do a multipitch, but it’s windy and not warm, so we opt for single pitches instead. Some fun granite climbing (4c with the big boots) and a practice abseil with the new rap line, then back to the hut.

Decent dinner in the almost full (!) hut. Bad forecast for tomorrow, plus there are a lot of people planning to do the Weissmies, so we change our plans and decide to do the Dri Hornli ridge behind the hut. It’s nice to have a good plan B!

Swiss Alps Summer Vacation Overview

 Summer Vacation part 1: Almageller Hut

1. Hike up to the Almageller hut

2. To Zwischbergen- and Sonnigpass

3. Descent and ride home

 Summer Vacation part 2: In the Pays du St.-Bernard

4. Hike up to the Cabane Valsorey
5. Climb the Petit Velan
6. Climb the Grande Chenalette E ridge
7. Hike the Lacs de Fenetre loop
8. Ride home

 Summer Vacation part 3: Around Grimsel Pass

9. Hike up to Gruebenhut

10. Descent, climb at Gerstenegg, hike up to Bächlitalhut

11. Descent, climb at Azalee Beach, stay at Grimsel Hospiz
12. Hike along Nägelisgrätli and ride home

 

Climbing the Lauchernstock

Nice weekend at the Rugghubelhuette

Andrea with MyBergtour: Rostock Via Ferrata and Louwihorn

As greg was travelling for work, Andrea spent the weekend with MyBergtour in the Bernese Alps, climbed the Rotstock via the Via Ferrata, stayed overnight at the Mönchsjoch hut, and glacier-trekked to the Louwihorn.

Climbing the Gletscherhorn E-ridge

Nice weekend at the Martinsmadhuette

Swiss Iron Trail 2025

G did the 78km variant.

Climbing the Nueneneflue

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Weekend in Diemtigtal

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Long weekend in Unterwasser

The plan was to spend the long weekend doing some multi-pitch climbing in the Alpstein. It didn't quite work out that way, but it was a great weekend anyway.

Thursday 

We took the train to Unterwasser on Thursday morning, dropped our bags at the hotel (which happened to have our room ready... such a bonus!), and then split up and did some trail running/hiking in the Churfirsten for the rest of the day. It had rained like hell the previous day and overnight and remained overcast, so climbing wasn't a great idea. Still, we both had good days in the mountains and met back at the hotel for a rest and then dinner.

Friday

Friday was a beautiful, blue sky day. In the morning we hiked up to the Schattenwand and got set up to start with the three-pitch route Schlüsselblümli. Unfortunately it became clear pretty quickly as G was leading the first pitch that there was a ton of grass in the route. This wasn't any kind of problem for the climbing, but G didn't want to end up with ook on his hands again. So he came back down. A then led the pitch so we didn't have to leave anything behind and we packed everything up and did the very nice hike over to the Klettergarten Stoss. The rock here looked super nice, but is fully exposed to the sun and it was pretty crowded in the section of the wall where the easier routes were. A tried Heinz (5b+), but that was a bit too much for the first climbing here. G was already mentally done, so we packed the stuff up again and hiked back to town. Not much of a climbing day, but we had beautiful weather, great views, and some good hiking.

Saturday

Saturday was another perfect weather day. We left the climbing stuff at the hotel (rather than risk another day with no real climbing) and did an alpine hike instead. We took the bus to Wildhaus and headed from there along easy paths to Gamplüt. Then it was red-white steeply uphill along a nice grassy ridge to the back of the Wildhuser Schofberg. Here we took a food break, enjoyed the views, and scoped out the route ahead of us while we discussed what to do next. There was a considerable amount of steep snow in the next stage of the blue-white trail in front of us. There were clear tracks in the snow and other people underway, but G was still really nervous about the snow. In the end, G gathered himself, we changed into the approach shoes (we'd been wearing trail-running shoes to that point and carrying the approach shoes in a backpack), and we started off. G didn't enjoy the traverse across the snow or the descent into the bowl, but the snow was soft enough that it was no problem. The hike/scramble back up the other side to the saddle next to the Jöchli was fun (a bit of snow at the top, but ascending is always easier than traversing or descending). From the saddle we went up the Jöchli  itself to enjoy the crazy views and then continued along the trail under the Nädlingergrat. This would have been even more fun if there were no snow in it, but it was still pretty good. At the end of the ridge we hit the red-white hiking path crossing from the Rotsteinpass to the Zwinglipass and followed this (a couple before us had take the very quick way down by descending a steep snow field... this was too much for us). After sliding down the last bit of snow of the initial descent, we follow this very well trampled path to the Zwinglipasshütte. A cool beverage and snack while enjoying the views, then on with the trail running shoes and a mostly very nice hike/run back to Unterwasser. This was a great day hiking, despite the snow. :-)

Weekend at the Tegernsee

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Seewen to Aarth-Goldau via the Zuenggelenflue

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Eppenberg climbing

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Oensingen->Olten via Ravellen and Roggenflue SW-Kamin

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Gruyere Hike and Run Day 3

 

Track:

Stats:

Gruyere Hike and Run Day 2

 

Track:

Stats:

Gruyere Hike and Run Day 1

 

Track:

Stats:

Grandval climbing: Cafe Dancing

 There's a good weather forecast, so we head off to Grandval to do some climbing. We've done the clean line Cafe Dancing before, but opt to do it again since it's been a while since we did either multi-pitch or, especially, clean climbing. 

After a bit over an hour hiking from Grandval (the trains aren't running between Moutier and Grandval, and the bus connection is terrible) we put on the gear and set off. It's a good day to not be climbing La Cigale, which has multiple groups on it today. The route finding this time is a bit easier than last time, though there's still some question about what to do after the second pitch. We end up doing this as a long single pitch tending a bit to the right from where we start to the ridge. A has to move from the tree at the base of the gravel bit to the wall in the middle to allow enough rope. We climb the same spike before heading up the final bit the top, where we have lunch, pack the gear away, and then hike back down to Moutier.

It takes us about 2:45 total, with a short food break in the middle. Good, fun climbing, not too stressful. :-)

On the way back to Moutier we stop for another food break and end up surrounded by very curious cows... it was fun to escape from that one! ;-)

Note after the fact: there was a lot of grass/plants in the route. These didn't affect the climbing, but did result in G having an unpleasant ook on his hands for the next 1.5 weeks from his "grass" allergy. This is worth keeping in mind for the future.

Climbing in Court

 We didn't make it down to Locarno for the long weekend, but G still wanted some slab practice, so we went to Dalle de Court.

The usual nice hike through the gorge from Moutier, then on with the gear and up we climbed to the ledge. From there we did:

• Nikita (5b+)
• La Betise (5c+) ??? did we do this one?
• Multidirecte (5c)
• Voie du Milieu (5c+)
• Felix (5c+) G fell on the first bit of this, which was enough to sap his already flagging motivation, so he just finished the first half. A climbed both halves

After finishing up we packed up the things and then did the nice walk back to Moutier.

Another couple showed up after we'd done a couple routes and another pair arrived as we were finishing, so there were no crowds at all (certainly not like how it would have been if we'd made it down South!).

Trailrunning from Kandern->Basel

A came up with the idea of going trail running in the Black Forest. The public transportation to Kandern is actually pretty easy (we still screwed it up by getting off the train one stop too early; fortunately we could fix this by taking two busses instead of one).

Instead of sticking to the Kandern->Basel leg of Westweg, we added a bit more vertical by starting out over the Munzerberg and Gugelhut before rejoining the Westweg and heading the rest of the way back to Basel.

It's all extremely green (though not terribly muddy) and pretty though the clouds are a bit low to really get good view. The trails are generally pretty good, mostly flowy, and pretty easy to follow (though we get off trail at one point and have to do a bit of improv to get back on track).

Nice lunch break in a Hochsitz (never done that before!) to get out of the breeze and warm up a bit (it was generally quite cool).

A tops at Riehen and G continues the rest of the way back home.

Stats:

G: 35.3km, 715m up, 4:40 total time, 4:05 moving.

Full moon, sunrise, and a very long walk

It was the night before the full moon and the weather was perfect, so we set out for a full-moon hike and to have breakfast while watching to sunrise. The rest of the plan for the day was just to do a long hike.

We left at 4:30 with the idea of having a couple of hours under the moon before the sun came up at ~6:40. Good theory, but we mis-calculated how long the hike to our planned breakfast spot would take. Fortunately we realized this while hiking, changed plans, and did a bit of light running to reach a bench above Oberwil with a good view in the right direction.

The moon was super bright (I love moon shadows!), we had a beautiful sunrise and a good breakfast and then started walking again. Eventually we decided that Delemont would be the goal, so that's what we did.

This ended up being our longest hike so far. Super fun, great day!

Track:

Stats: 

Total time: 10 hours (7:24 moving according to my watch), 42.8km, 1300m up, 1200m down.

Orvin climbing

An absolutely beautiful sunny and and cool Spring day!

We went to the crag NNN above Orvin. There were just a few other people there when we arrived, but it ended up being pretty crowded. I guess not that surprising considering the quality of the rock and routes. I shudder to think what it must have been like at the crags that have shorted approaches!

Sector NNN

G starts

Routes:

 Yakari 5a+

La poursuite de bonheurs 5b+

Verdon facile 5b+

Toit va bien 5c+

Hammer 5c (A only)

Gerpete 6a (A only)

G ran out of motivation at the end and just did belaying.

Instead of going directly back to Orvin, we continued along the path to the ridge and then walked down to Frinvelier.

Trailrunning Reigoldswil/Passwang to Grellingen

G started in Reigoldswil and went up to Vogelberg via the Jaegerwegli, then down to Passwang. A took the bus to Passwang and we met there.

We continued together along to Hohe Winde (very different today than last time we were there), then down to Beinwil, eventually through the Chaltbrunnental to Grellingen.

The part we did together was almost all runnable and very flowy, super fun and nice views.

Good day out!

Track and stats to come.

Climbing vacation in Finale Ligure

Sunday

Morning:

Trail run together

Afternoon climbing

Crag: Avancorpo Di Boragni

g starts

• Quinta Elementare 5a
• Primi Passi 5b
• A Naso 5b+
• Passera 5c
• Via Senza Nome 1 5c

Monday

First we tried Casa del Vacche, but it was too wet

Crag: Falesia dello Scoiattolo

A starts

• Nuvole 5a
• Corridoio 5c (A on TR)
• Struzzo (6a+, g TR, A TR with an alternate beta for the overhanging bottom)

hike back through the woods

Tuesday

Crag: Falesia della Coccinella

g  starts

• 14 5a
• 15 5a
• 10 5b
• 9 5c (this one was tricky between the 1st and 2nd bolt. We both did it lead with some hanging, then top roped it to refine the movement)
• 16 5c (no problem)
• 17 6a+ (g lead, A toprope; a start that looked athletic, but wasn’t that bad, then a tricky bit of slab before an easy finish)

Wednesday

Crag: Falesia della Coccinella

A starts

There were some things that looked good left to climb, so we came back.

• 20 5a
• 21 5b (very physical at a couple of points. A did TR)
• 18 6a 
• 23 5c+ Fun climb; harder in some ways that the 6a
• 22 6a (A did TR with a bit of help over the physical crux). Super nice after the physical crux

Thursday

Crag: Falesia del Gorilla

g starts

Alone in the morning, then more people showing up in the afternoon. Really nice, long routes.

• 9 5a
• 10 5b
• 14 5c (35m, lovely!) (g with a fall going over one overhang)
• 12 5c+ (34m, lovely!)
• 1 6a fun!
• 8 6a (31m, soooo nice after the weird start)

Friday

Crag: Falesia del Condor

A starts

Really nicely situated crag walkable from our flat; we were alone all day.

• 1 5b
• 2 5c (start looks super physical but is actually pretty easy)
• 7 5c
• 8 5c+
• 9 6a
• 10 6b (A in TR) This was g's first 6b onsight
• 5 6a

Saturday: 

Some rain in the morning, so we went trail running. After the first loop together (with three different sets of people asking us how to find a famous cave with easy climbing routes), g repeated the loop from the first day on his own, A went for a stroll down to Finalborgo.

Other stuff: 

• we rented a car in Basel and drove down. The drive, less than 6 hours since we didn't have traffic, wasn't bad at all.
• the flat worked well and the location up on the hill above town was great.

This was a great trip and we definitely need to go back. :-)

Barenfels climbing

 It was a fantastic, warm, spring day, so we went climbing in the afternoon at Barenfels.

Routes:

• Steinbrunnenwand: Green River 5b
• Ostgruppe: Bel Ami 5b
• Ostgruppe: Level 2 5c+ (g only)
• Ostgruppe: Oliver Twist 5a (A only)
• Ostgruppe: Chruetlischwur 6a (g, toprope)

We were, unsurprisingly, not alone (at least until we moved over to the Ostgruppe) :-)

We are both still very much getting used to climbing on rock again, so this was good progress.

Falkenflue climbing

 First time outside in the Jura in a looooong time!

Climbing in sector Piazza Grande, we found five routes that shared a common anchor

• T18 5a
• Oazapft'is 5b (TR)
• Freibier 5c+ (TR)
• La Bete 6a (TR, g only)
• Kanal Fatal 6b (TR, both of us played at the beginning, but couldn't get past the first slabby bit

We both almost need to re-learn how to climb on rock; it was super nice to be able to do the last routes in toprope and to be able to practice with a smaller mental component.

Also: Falkenflue is great!

Rigi winterhike

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Breakfast hike to the Belchenflue

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Winter hike: Beinwil - Hohe Winde - Mervelier

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Winter hike: Sigriswil - Habkern

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