Back to the Saastal, and starting off with a training walk up the Mittaghorn from Plattjen. 10am, 12/08/13
Allalinhorn summit (4027m), after a rather late start. 11.45am, 13/08/13
Walking round to the Almagellertal from Kreuzboden. mid-day, 15/08/13
and on up to the Almageller Hut. 1.45pm, 15/08/13
Almagellerhütte (SAC), 2894m. 5pm, 15/08/13
Almageller Hut
Portjenhorn from the S ridge of the Weissmies. 6.30am, 16/08/13
At 3500m on the Weissmies. 6.40am, 16/08/13
Looking Italy-wards from the Weissmies. 7.10am, 16/08/13
and in descent. 9.10am, 16/08/13
Approaching the W summit of the Breithorn (4164m), with Dent d'Herens and M/horn behind.. 9.35am, 20/08/13 We met up with 2 friends in Zermatt, and S shared a rope with them. I don't like ropes, and avoid them whenever possible.
NE to the Mischabel and Saastal peaks. 9.45am, 20/08/13
The arête leading to the Breithorn central summit. 10am, 20/08/13
10.30am, 20/08/13
Down to the Breithornpass. 11.15am, 20/08/13
Val d'Ayas Guides' Hut (CAI), 3420m. 4.30pm, 20/08/13
Val d'Ayas Hut
View SE from the Hut, to Monte Bettaforca (I think). 8.10pm, 20/08/13
Just above the hut, and the usual zombie-esque procession. I don't mind, there's probably a guide somewhere up ahead so it saves thinking about where to go, and it will thin out soon enough. 6am, 21/08/13
On the Grand Verra glacier. 6.10am, 21/08/13
Castor, the day's objective, to the right of the Zwillingsjoch. 6.15, 21/08/13
Sunrise imminent. 6.25, 21/08/13
Gran Paradiso and la Grivola. 6.30, 21/08/13
Mont Blanc, moonset and sunrise. 6.50, 21/08/13
Paradiso again, way across the Val d'Aosta. 7.05, 21/08/13
If a PD can be said to have a crux, it's probably here at the bergschrund / crevasse just below the summit ridge. It calls for careful treatment. 7.35am, 21/08/13
Pollux, and its SSE flank which the AC guidebook says 'can be climbed almost anywhere'. Aye, right. 7.35am, 21/08/13
The pleasantly narrow N ridge leading to the summit. 7.55am, 21/08/13
7.55am, 21/08/13
On the N ridge. Passing is not an option, or at least not an attractive one. 8am, 21/08/13
The SE ridge, the even easier route from the Quintino Sella Hut via the Felikjoch. 8.05am, 21/08/13
View SW from the summit (4228m). 8.10am, 21/08/13
SE ridge, with Lyskamm on the left. There was a keen cold NE wind, but good sunny shelter among some rocks just below the summit, where I spent a pleasant half hour before wandering along to the SE top and back. 8.40am, 21/08/13
Castor N ridge again, with the W side of Dom, Täschhorn and Alphubel; Rimpfischhorn far right. 8.55am, 21/08/13
I start a reluctant descent - Castor was very enjoyable! 9am, 21/08/13
The bergschrund again. 9.10am, 21/08/13
Castor and the Little Verra glacier. I was back at the Val d'Ayas Hut for 11am. 10.35am, 21/08/13
On the walk back next day I made a short detour to visit the Rossi e Volante bivi hut, which clings to the face of that buttress. 8am, 22/08/13
Bivacco Rossi e Volante, or Cesare e Giorgio (CAI), 3750m. 8.30am, 22/08/13
S and our 2 friends on their way across the glacier to the Breithornpass. 8.40am, 22/08/13
and again. 9.15am, 22/08/13
Looking back to Pollux. 9.40am, 22/08/13
Breithorn E tops and Roccia Nera. 9.45am, 22/08/13
Dom, Täschhorn and Alphubel, from near the lift station. 10.30am, 22/08/13
The Klein Matterhorn cable car. 12.30pm, 22/08/13
SW from Piramide Vincent, 04/09/2019, 08.20
Milking time in the Val del Lys. 28/08/19, 11.10
On Monte Rosa. 24/08/20, 09.00
Sunset from the Margherita Hut on the Signalkuppe, 4554m. 24/08/20, 20.45
On Punta Parrot, 4436m. 25/08/20, 07.00