Sunday, March 03, 2024

Wasserflue East ridge

 It's been eight years since we last did the East ridge of the Wasserflue; today it was time to go back. :-)

We took the bus to Fischbach (more direct than getting off at Benkerjoch Passhoehe) and the follow the trail very briefly before turning right at the first sign of a stream (G was actually suggesting it may not be the right place to turn, but then the guy behind us went up that way, so that made it clear) and following a very slight use trail up towards the ridge. The use trail gets more obvious the further we go and eventually blue markings show up. Once on the ridge there's no way to do anything wrong. ;-)

Up up we go until we get to the scrambling bits. This is apparently now a Klettersteig, so there's a cable the whole way, much of it pretty new. That's suboptimal today, but could be useful in bad conditions (today it's a bit muddy, but not too bad) or with people with less experience. Some fun scrambling and then we are, all to quickly, up top. Break to have a snack and enjoy the views, and then we follow the ridge towards the Geissflue. 

The ridge is a fun walk and would be a very nice flowy one to run (keep this in mind for later). Onwards we go, past Saalhoehe, onward and onward until we get to the Geissflue. The bench is free, so we have lunch and enjoy the views out to the North. It's a short bit down to the Schafmatt (we had our lunch outside here back in December) and then onwards further to wrap things up in Gelterkinden.

Really nice to be outside and moving. And the scrambling bits could have been a lot longer. :-)

Map and stats to come


Saturday, January 27, 2024

Three scrambling ridges to the Rigi Hochflue

 Plenty of sun and warm in the forecast, so off we went to do some hiking and scrambling. We've done the Rigi Hochflue a few times, both scrambling and climbing, but we've never combined the scramble with the logical addition of the Buetzli and Stockflue. Today was the day for that.

Start in Brunnen and head up, up out of town to Kraehen. Up, up a bit more, then on the blue-white path (well marked, easy to follow) towards the Buetzli and Stockflue. Once we get in the sun it's nice and warm, T-shirt weather. Up, up we go in the sun with things getting progressively steeper and a bit scrambly until we hit the Buetzli. Here a quick break to enjoy the views and sun and then further along the path. The route down has a cable which we're actually grateful for, then more up, up through the woods, with a bit of scrambling until we get to the small hut below the Stockflue. Here we leave the path and follow the logical scrambling line which takes us to the top (this is nicely described in the SAC Tourenportal). Up top we are alone and get the bench, where we have a nice food break and enjoy the spectacular views. 

After a good break we continue along the blue-white path towards the top of the gondola at Timpel, but we stay on the path towards Egg and the Hochflue. Up top here, particularly on the North side, there some snow, but the going is still easy. We can see the route up the Hochflue, including what looks like a traverse of some steep snow. g is skeptical about that (and we stupidly don't have the ice axes with us), but we continue along the ridge and up, up to check it out. Leave the red-white trail for the blue-white, up up, to the ridge itself, then along the ridge for a bit towards the big snow field. As we're almost there we catch up to another hiker on his own. As the snow amount increases g gets more and more skeptical, but A encourages us to continue as long as we can. When the guy in front of us heads into the snow it's clear that after a few not-so-great steps there are really good, deep, solid tracks to follow up, so we continue. Up, up through the cement-hard snow (you can actually use the ice axe holes from whoever first did this as hand holds!), up, up until we get back to the rock. A steep bit with rock and snow and a bit of ice, but also with a cable and some steps to make it safe, and we're on the final ridge. Here along the ridge, still in snow for a bit. Quick food break in the sun and then the last few minutes to the peak. Good second lunch in the sun at the cross, again with amazing views, and then we take the route down the south face. This is pretty straightforward despite a bit of snow at the top and plenty of mud throughout, but we make it down to Ochsenboden without trouble.

Here we decide to take another new line and follow the path that traverses and descends back to Brunnen. This turns out to be a really nice, not frequently used trail, with great views all along and some interesting steep bits through the woods. We make it back to Brunnen in time to get a yogurt drink before starting the trip back home.

Really nice scrambling day in spring-like conditions, despite the fact that it's January. It's amazing that we haven't done the Buetzi and Stockflue before... they were super fun and I'm sure we'll be back and do them again!

Track and stats to come.

Saturday, January 13, 2024

Winter hike: Reigoldswil to Waldenburg

Good weather forecast for the Jura, so off we go for a snow hike.

We start in Reigoldswil with a bunch of other people who are going to the gondola. Things quiet down a lot once we're past the gondola station. Up we go along the road until we hit the Jägerwegli, then up, up along the nice trail. There's plenty of snow, but the footing is generally good (a few icy patches, but it's not bad). Up, up, past a couple of really cool patches of icicles (including one huge one which A accidentally detaches), up, up until we get to the sun and then the top of the gondola and the masses of people.

Past the gondola and up to the ridge (great views!) then along the path to the Chellenchöpfli. Here there's a good place to sit, so we have some lunch and enjoy the views (good timing on that... 10 minutes after we sit down loads of people start showing up). After a good lunch we continue along the trail, past the Beiz at Waldweid (BUSY!) and then down, down (the parts of the north side where the sun doesn't make it are still very much winter wonderland) until we get to Waldenburg and the train back home.

This was a really nice (though a bit short) winter hike.

Track:

Stats: 11.5km, 650m up and down, 3:45

Friday, December 29, 2023

Birthday climbing

The forecast calls for sun and ok temperatures, so we decide to do some outdoor climbing.
Train to Olten, hike to Säli, and then the climbing.

Routes, difficulties from SAC (though these are old-school Jura grades, so they feel a lot harder), all in sector Säli Kante
  • Hoher Riss rechts: 4c
  • Hoher Riss : 4c
  • Säli Plaisir : 5b
  • Soft Ice : 5c (g only and he top-roped the bottom, which was VERY physical)
  • Birthdayparty : 6a (g had to try this, but gave up after a couple of good falls)
It was quite nice when the sun was shining and the wind was down, but was definitely cold in the wind.

Still, it was great to get in an outdoor climbing day!


Sunday, December 03, 2023