Hi guys, will be off to Bernese Oberland end of August and just wondering if the best accessible glacier from Grindelwald to head to with my partner. His first time out so just to give him the feel of rope work, snow anchors, axes, crampons, crevasses etc etc before we properly head out. Half tempted to hire a guide for the day to go through it as my instruction is probably terrible!
[Apologies for the hijack] Haven't heard back from you re tomorrow: I could climb tomorrow morning, finishing at 1, or climb tomorrow afternoon/evening - could be at Cheddar at 4. Also I am completely clear on Thursday to climb as well - how about The Gap again? Would prefer earlier in the day to start, but later fine too. [Hijack off]
The obvious answer is the Jungfraufirn at the Jungfraujoch, but the cost of the train up is steep just for some training. From the Jungfraujoch there is a prepared track on the glacier over to the Mönchsjochhutte, one could probably train on slightly steeper ground just off the track to the north, maybe charge tourists to take their pictures (!).
I don't think the various glaciers that might be accessed from Grindelwald directly would be either easily accessible or suitable for training, perhaps too steep.
Not from Grindelwald, but the lower reaches of the Wildstrubel east flank would be good for training, and the ascent itself is quite easy too. Access on the north side from Kandersteg (I think chair lifts would be operational) with a stay at the Lämmeren Hut would be a way to do it. Link to my picture: http://www.ukclimbing.com/images/dbpage.php?id=213046&updated=713
Easier is to head up to Shreckhorn hut then glacier is fairly flat directly below. Plenty of crevasses to practise with but make sure anchors are good.
Laemmeren huette was chockablock last thursday night - you'll be wanting to book your bed. I used their website and they speak plenty good-enough English. Cablecars from Kandersteg and Gemmipass were running.
