UKC

...is it all as hard as looks?

There doesn't seem to be the range of WI3s and WI4s that you see in the other parts of the Alps. Having said that, I'm basing this on what I've seen in the Alpine Ice book, I've not seen Hot Ice.

Thanks,

Rob.

In reply to Robert Lavin:

Ice Climbing in Switzerland? I thought there was only bouldering.

In reply to Robert Lavin:
There were a few fun ice falls on the way to the road on the way down from the chairlift at Kandersteg, I think at gasterntal. I imagine the rest of the country is like that, the famous routes are in guidebooks, the rest are there for exploring?

In reply to Robert Lavin:

Have you looked at Zinal? Seem to remember (although it was over a decade ago)there were at least half a dozen routes there of W.I3 or 4 & a really good two pitch grade 5(Cascade la Le?).One route was a gulley called Goulotte Cache which was very worthwhile.... I seem to recall you started up some easy dry tooling moves(probably banked out in a good snow year)to get into a chimney that looked like it had been filled with garden waste & frozen up(bare with me it gets better!)then some steep water ice steps opening up to a big icy bowl at the top with choices of exit & a steep descent through the trees with some fixed cables or chains....much better than it sounds....honest!

In reply to Robert Lavin:

I have a mate who climbs in Switzerland a lot. His blog might help http://icesnowfearandlaughter.blogspot.co.uk/2011/02/kandersteg.html

In reply to planetmarshall:


And cheese

In reply to Robert Lavin:

At Gouille on the road from Sion up to Arolla there is a bolted ice fall opposite the Bar du Lac Bleu. I've not actually climbed on it, but it looks amenable and is so conveniently placed for a couple of days practise.

There is another icefall in the Aiguilles rouges area I saw while si touring a few years ago. It looked substantial. Again I think it's a 3 - 4.

It may come to mind soon.

In reply to Robert Lavin:

Thanks all. Some leads to look at there.

Rob.