Jan 18

Posted by: Matt Spenceley
18 January 2010 

The first new snow in a week, and with it, a strong gale. The 15cm that fell are now gathered in large windslabs on west - through north - to south aspects. Dangerous conditions for sure.

 

Together with Garro and a friend, Adi, I headed for the Grindelgrat in Rosenlaui. It's the tour we go for when conditions are challenging, a route that rarely exceeds 35 degrees leading all the way to the top. In violent gusts of wind and intermittent blizzard, laying a track through changeable snow to the top made for hard work. In such conditions, taking a break was more uncomfortable than continuing, so we made the summit in a single push.  The descent was tricky on skis, but Garro had the hardest time of it, battling through a crust that broke under his weight. 

Adi and Garro just below the summit slopes.  Garro on snow-on-paw clearing work...

 

 

Adi on the summit ridge of Grindelgrat

A snow & ice-blasted Garro (looking to eat more cake)

The Wellhorn

The active seracs to the north-east of the Gross Scheidegg Wetterhorn

Schwarzwald, Rosenlaui