Alpinists often joke about the amount of effort required to climb the Dom. In the absence of any telepheriques or railways the normal route of ascent, from Randa, at 3100m, is the largest vertical height gain of all the Alpine mountains. But we found there is a lot more to the Dom than just the grunt factor.....

The walk up to the Dom Hut doesn't really justify the revered tones it receives. Whilst it is a sustained height gain of 1500m the effort is rather disguised. Firstly by the pleasant path winding it's way steadily up through the shaded Larch Forest and secondly by the fine intricate scrambling line taken through a band of crags with the assistance of many cables and metal rungs.

The Hut itself is a classic old Swiss Mountain Refuge. Pretty but practical with a friendly welcome and some of the best Apple Studel around.

In high summer the hut breakfast is at 0300 leaving an hour or so of darkness plodding up the glacier admiring the massive pyramidal bulk of the mountain ahead. After a few pitches of rocky scrambling to gain the Festijoch a choice can be made between the direct ridge line, Festigrat (PD+) or the normal North Flank glacier route (PD). Whichever option is taken, the Dom certainly creates a big mountain atmosphere....