Snowy start to August in the Swiss Valais

Mike, Pete and I had intentions of climbing the Matterhorn last week but selected other Valais objectives as the rain poured and the snow settled quite thickly down to hut level at around 2800m

Click links below for route photos...

We packed in the quality Swiss Mountain Gneiss though starting with the superb little AD traverse of the Dri Hornli Ridge above the Almageller Hut. The next day dawned dreich and the Portengrat was substituted for the easier and more sure South Ridge of the Weissmeis.

Using the continuing poor weather for a hut walk in we got in place for a sociable night at the Dix hut and a fine traverse of Mont Blanc du Cheilon the next day, a classic high level AD at the head of the Val d'Herens.

With the snow continuing to fall high up a track was put in to the Moiry Hut (at the head of the Val d'Anniviers) and onto one of it's many fine, but fairly amenable surrounding peaks, the Pointes de Mourti which gave a fine day out with a real Scottish winter feel. The sun returned with avengence to the Valais at the weekend and whilst some teams enjoyed the mixed sport on the Grand Cornier we sought out warm sun rock on the brilliant traverse of the Aiguille de la Le.

So thanks to Mike and Pete for an excellent weeks climbing and the flexibillity to see beyond the Matterhorn to the many fantastic smaller peaks and ridges this area of the Swiss Valais has to offer.