This weekend Anand and Mountain Guide Gary journeyed to Grindlewald, took the Jungfrau railway up through the Eiger and Monch to stay Saturday night @ 3600m in the Monchjoch hutte. Sunday they were able to ascend the Jungfrau, one of Switzerlands classic 4000m peaks. A little icy in places requiring excellent crampon technique. Well done Anand!
Summit of the Jungfrau
Monch and Jungfraujoch, Switzerland
Halfway up the classic Jungfrau
Looking for paradise for an alpine trekking adventure – great mountain vistas, big snowy peaks, interesting alpine trekking, comfy huts, big glaciers.
The Pontrasina / St Moritz region of Switzerland is a delight.
Piz Palu – big snowy majestic peak back drop for alpine trekking in Switzerlands St Moritz/Pontrasina region.
Comfy huts for Alpine trekking in Switzerland
Swiss alpine trekking transport
In July, Mountain Guide Gary Dickson did two trips around the MonteRosa massif – the classic “spagetti tour” which involves alpinism in both Switzerland and Italy, enjoying the spectacular scenery of this alpine world and the excellent alpine culture of Swiss and Italian mountain huttes/refugios.
The matterhorn at sunset on the classic “spagetti tour” MonteRosa Chain , Switzerland/Italy.
Learn , develop, extend you Alpinism skills in Switzerland this 2016 season. Join IFMGA Mountain Guide Gary Dickson for a week during July or August this 2016.
Switzerland has brilliant terrain for delivering excellent, high quality climbing courses, and you can take advantage of the knowledge that Gary has gained over the last 15 seasons doing such courses.
Contact us now to work out when you can head into the Swiss Alps for your tailor made Swiss climbing course ….
What are you doing July/August of 2016? Keen to go climbing and mountaineering in the Swiss Alps? As per normal, we are again heading to europe, to be based in Leysin ,Switzerland for the 2016 summer climbing / mountaineering season.
Switzerland has a brilliant selection of mountain options, adventures to choose from to wet your taste buds, fill your alpine desires for alpine ridges, glacier traverses, multi mitch rock missions……. all with comfortable sized backpacks, warm and elegant mountain huts, excellent access tracks or lifts….
Switzerland is set up for alpinism. It has a long history and culture of alpinism. You too can experience this, and utilize my 15 seasons of knowledge to get the best out of you Swiss alpine trip.
Beautiful Bluemlisalp region, guided trekking, Switzerland
Very achievable Alpine multipitch rock, Switzerland
Enjoying the moment on top of the Nadelhorn, Switzerland
Grant has just booked with me a week of mountaineering in the Swiss alps in August. You too can come and join the alpinism and ski team and enjoy the massive supermarket of mountaineering peaks and routes with good access, light packs, excellent mountain accomodation in Switzerland.
On his recent trip in the NZ Alps, Ant is inspired to get into more mountaineering again and will maybe join me in the swiss alps too………………… what about you?
Nadelhorn, classic summit, Switzerland
Almageller hut. Sass valley, Switzerland
Leysin is a fantastic alpine village nestled in the pre alps of Switzerland, perfect as our base to launch mountaineering trips into the swiss alps from.
Leysin has all grades of rock climbing on superb rock
Leysin has excellent local hikes pre and post mountaineering
Awesome mountain veiws from this 1500m veiw point – Leysin
Leysin is easy to get to via the fantastically efficient and reliable Swiss train system or road if you have a rental car.
It is about the same size as Wanaka, NZ – a small alpine type town with cafes, restaurants, sports stores, supermarket, a variety of nice accomodation options and importantly central to the main mountaineering regions.
So perfect for a warm up acclimatisation hike, rock session or via ferrata if required for skills acqusition , skills tune up or best weather option, and then ideal for launching off to the best venue for conditions, weather, your skills and objectives….
Helicopter action recently rennovating the Hornli hut -Matterhorn in the background
Me, Gary Dickson, IFMGA mountain guide on Swiss rock
Swiss alpine flora, on a rock climbing excursion near Leysin
blue gentians and pink pretties on a hike in the Swiss Alps
Beginning of July and the coming two months will be gone in a flash. The European Alps season for Gary is booked out with him having given his time to ISM, the International School of Mountaineering with whom he started in 1997. That is, except one week in August, special project with Phil & Barb from Wanaka, more about this at a later stage. End of last month, Gaz went off to Orny hut, a favorite play ground: another hut higher up (Trient) great peaks all around, fabulous rock climbing on granite too and there is a real chance of finding your very own crystal.
L’Aiguille du Tour, 3540 m altitude and on the border of Switzerland-France was climbed by Phil, Ian and Lee plus our favorite mountain guide of course.They continued to Arolla and the wonderful Cabane des Dix, via Pas de Chèvre, ladders and awesome scenery. Mont Blanc de Cheilon was a goal with visibility zero and finally the summit of La Luette (3548m) the culmination of the week. Next is a trip to Grand Paradiso in Italy (starting with breakfast in Switzerland) and later in the week Mont Blanc, Chamonix – France.
On a rock climbing excursion near Leysin
Only a couple of days left this month and the Swiss National day on first of August will bring fireworks aplenty. There are many keen hikers and mountaineers very dedicated to create a bonfire on just about all the mountain tops. Heavy loads of wood have to be carried up hill along with yummy picnics and appropriate beverages to celebrate the occasion. While party mode is happening for many, climbing and mountaineering fun continues for others and mountain guide Gaz has started this week with Jim on a multi pitch route in Valais. High alpine climbing is on the program for the rest of the week, starting today at the cabane des Dix in the Swiss Alps. Continue reading
A Poppy below the Tour d'Aï, Leysin
This last week in July has been absolutely beautiful weather wise and a number of alpinism activities have been going on for us: visiting the ancient alpine botanical garden high above Leysin, rock climbing and hiking plus climbing peaks over 4000 m altitude in the Swiss Alps. Earlier, Phil Melchior from Wanaka was on his sixth visit in Europe for alpine climbing with chief Gaz and he kindly made this photo album available. They stayed at the historical mountaineering hotel Rosenlaui, then climbed up to the Dossenhut. Continue reading