UKC

Looking for a weekend objective in Europe next year.

Easy - around F/PD
Attractive - snowy, glacial, photogenic surroundings
3000m - because I am crap at acclimatising over a weekend to 3300m and above!

Any suggestions please?

Much appreciated,

Colin

In reply to Colin Henderson: Try Grosses Weissbachhorn (sp?) in the Hohe Tauern, Austria. 3400m, with very nice voie normale called Kaindlgrat which is a classic snow ridge at about F+. Perfect as a weekend peak.

In reply to Colin Henderson: petit aguille vert

In reply to Colin Henderson: Whether it is global warning I'm not sure but it seems to me that these days you need to be arriving earlier and heading higher in the Alps to find easy snow peaks in worthwhile conditions.

If you want pretty snow covered summits then I'm coming round to the view that some skis and a nice winter or spring weekend are probably they way forward.

Sorry for the slightly depressing take on things but it reflects about 8 weeks this summer in the Swiss Alps, French Alps and Pyrenees where there seemed a general lack of snowy routes worth doing almost regardless of altitude.

In reply to Colin Henderson:
The Pigne d'Arolla, above Arolla village, wins on all counts in my opinion. Mont Blanc du Cheilon would also fit your requirements (although I have not climbed this one).

In reply to Colin Henderson:
Pigne de la Lé might just about fit your requirements. Easy ascent from Cabane de Moiry and brilliant views.
It might breach your height requirements slightly but then the hut is a nice one to acclimatise in.

In reply to Colin Henderson:

Pte de Vouasson, easy ascent from the Aig Rouges hut at Arolla

In reply to Colin Henderson:

You don't fancy an easy fully bolted rock route to a pointy 3000m summit?

Jeggihorn...

http://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/c.php?i=71210

In reply to Only a hill: Trouble with those two is that they demand a very elastic interpretation of 'around 3000 m'. 3796 m and 3870 m respectively, when the OP wanted 3300 m or below.

Both worthwhile trips, and the view of Mont Blanc de Cheilon from the Dix hut is very good, but perhaps not what was requested.

Mind you, nothing's leaping into my mind so whilst I can be picky I can't offer anything in return. Sorry...

T.

In reply to Colin Henderson:

Here's a couple that are just walks but have pretty good views of the surrounding snowy peaks.

Mont Buet near Vallorcine, 3096m with good views of the surrounding somewhat bigger hills.

Saykogel 3360m, Ötztaler Alps, near Obergurgl/Vent. Great views of the surrounding peaks and the Martin-Busch Hütte is very civilised as alpine huts go.

In reply to Colin Henderson: Triglav in Slovenia

In reply to Colin Henderson:

I would go to the Adamello range, not only because it is just round the corner from my house but also for your reasons - gorgeous scenery, fairly quiet, no lifts and associated mess, big easy glaciers and loads of easy peaks (going up to 3500 m)

In reply to Colin Henderson:
Combin de Corbassiere. Lovely approach, nice hut, interesting glacier and easy rocky arret. Shade below 4000m so not busy. Has it all!

In reply to Colin Henderson:

Vignemale, Pyrenees. 3298m, F+ voie normale, small glacier, can be done in a day from the valley, or there is a hut. Stacks of other options in the Pyrenees: few glaciers but plenty of snow if you go early season (May).

In reply to Colin Henderson:

Aiguille Dibona, Ecrins.

La Voie des Nains is an easy (6 pitches up to F4, bolted), pleasant and original way to get up it.

Very attractive summit, not amazingly glacial environment but the scenery is beautiful and the hut is great. It's right near the base of all the routes.

Alt:- 3131m

Hope this gives you some food for thought.

Luke

Wow, thanks everyone for all the ideas. I'll go and check each of them out.

In reply to Colin Henderson:

That should take quite a while! A few years in fact.

In reply to Colin Henderson: Try the Ticino area where I live. Its full of 3000m peaks and some with some decent glaciers. It is very remote so on a lot of these peaks you won't see anyone and you might need to be prepared for some big ascents because there are not huts everywhere, but the scenery is great and there are a lot of nice mountains.

In reply to Colin Henderson: I agree that Pigne D'Arolla is a great first summit, can't imagine anything being better for first timers.

In reply to Colin Henderson:



Hi Colin,

I suggest Petit Mont Blanc (3454m) , on the Italian side of MB

Very easy (F), good for acclimatization, incredible views on the Miage face of MB etc

http://www.summitpost.org/petit-mont-blanc/152339


There are also several easy 3K on the Southern Graians Alps / Vanoise, the so called "Giants of the Graian Alps" (strange no one as ever made a tick list with with them). Most of them easy but in a very wild environment, and being surrounded by much lower mountains, they've invariably great panoramas. They can all be easily accessible from Turin airport

Few of them that are quite popular are:

Rocciamelone /(3538m)
http://www.rocciamelone.com/
http://www.summitpost.org/rocciamelone/150383

Uja di Ciamarella (3676m)
http://www.summitpost.org/ciamarella/183040

Punta Lamet (3504m) - Punta Roncia (3612m)
http://www.lafiocavenmola.it/modules/xcgal/thumbnails.php?album=404

Levanna Orientale (3555m)
http://marcoberri.blogspot.com/2007/09/rif-davisio-e-levanna-orientale-3555...

and many others

Another popular 3k that for the normal route is not difficult (but require some attention) and has an insane panorama is Monviso (3841m)

http://www.summitpost.org/monte-viso/150676

Smashing route,you may struggle to get to the Dibona and back in a weekend though but get there anyway.
sjm

In reply to Ed Morgan:
I'm jealous thats a lovely area,I've only done a couple of little hills there(with James in a back pack)This area is great.
sjm

In reply to Colin Henderson:
Check out my post re new guide book, it will probably fit the bill perfectly!

In reply to Colin Henderson:
Good range of this sort of thing in Austria (Stubaital & Zillertal) and documented in Seibert's "Eastern Alps" (Diadem, 1992). (Still in print, I think.)
Stubaital is an easy in/out and walk-ins to the huts are modest. Fly to Innsbruck.

In reply to Colin Henderson:
Hi Colin.
How about the Pyrenees?
Contact me for lots of great missions in this hugely under-rated mountain range!
cheers

In reply to Colin Henderson:
Mettelhorn near Zermatt

On Spain (Pyrenees) Aneto (F) and Pica d'Estats (F) are good choices.

In reply to Colin Henderson: the via ferrata on the mittaghorn . saas fee . fun , safe and surrounded by 4000 mt mountains . cable car access and safe decent route . we always use it as a leg streth and aclimatisation day on our trips , never get bored of it !!