UKC

Hi All,

I'm after some suggestions, preferably first hand experience, on weekend alpine trip destinations.

Ideally:

- Alpine routes, not just a snowy walk to some rock.
- AD/D difficulty
- Worth making a trip for just the one/two routes
- Relatively low altitude
- Hopefully near ish an airport

If you could let me know your thoughts that'd be grand.

Thanks,

H

In reply to sweenyt:

Bluemlisalphorn Traverse, Kandersteg. Reasonable access from Swiss airports (2.5 hours from Geneva by train? could be done on a fri eve, check timetables?)

Classic AD snow and ice ridge with a few short rocky bits, 3600m so not too high but is does remain at that height for the 3 peaks of the ridge, so it depends how you acclimatise/deal with that. It's as good as the Rochfort Arete but longer, so yes, well worth the trip.

There's a few photos on here and some on summitpost too. It's best done in July in a normal year, though we did it in August last year in very good nick.

In reply to LakesWinter:

Thanks - I'll ahve a look

In reply to sweenyt:

Saas Grund is a good possibility. Easy access from the airports and a good itinerary would be day 1- Almagellar hut, day 2- Dri Hornli, day 3 Weissmeiss. If you had the time the Allalinhorn the following morning could be done as well.

In reply to goatee:

Bluemlisalp is better than all those routes though, even though the Weissmies traverse is a classic PD, really varied

In reply to LakesWinter:

Thanks again - it does look great! Any other contenders out there form the UKC collective?

In reply to sweenyt:


Well for a quick weekend trip you could do a lot worse than Chamonix with an easy transfer provided by numerous companies for around 50 euro return taking about 1hr 30 minutes from Geneva Airport. In Chamonix there are loads of great rock routes at a reasonable altitude around AD to D including the NNE ridge of the Aiguille de L'M:
http://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/c.php?i=69203
...or the chapelle de la gliere in the Aiguilles Rouges:
http://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/c.php?i=33802

Or further afield in Val Bregaglia/Switzerland there is the super classic North Ridge of the Piz Badile at 3300m:
http://www.ukclimbing.com/logbook/c.php?i=35203
Not sure how easy to get to via plane and train though!

Cheers Dave

In reply to BALD EAGLE:

Thanks, sorry if I wasn't clear in the OP - I don't want just rock, I'm really after 'proper' alpine routes. I've been to Cham a few times and I love it, I just think it will be a bit high for a 2 day climb!

Thanks

I'll throw in something a bit different, it loses points for probably not having the technicality you're after but wins for being close to an airport.

Aure region of Norway. Handy websites are:
http://ut.no/map/page/maptool/203250 (cabins and some routes)
http://www.westcoastpeaks.com/Norway/more_aureG.html (well put together guide to some routes from day walks to pretty tough scrambles)
http://www.177mr.no (public transport)

I only thought of it as I was there a couple of weeks ago and the walking route starts from the airport (Kristiansund)! There was still a good amount of snow at 450+m.