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.
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