Bernese Oberland

Returning to the Hut after a superb ski descent of the Wanenhorn. Ski Mountaineering in the Bernese Oberland, Swiss Alps

The Bernese Oberland is a magical part of the Alps. It's vast glaciers feel more arctic than alpine in scale and provide the ski mountaineer with some truly impressive touring terrain to journey through. The areas peaks lend themselves to either perfect ski ascents or ski mountaineering summits where you travel to a fine ridge on skis and tackle the final climb in crampons (and a number of the areas famous 4000m peaks can be tackled in this way). Your efforts will be rewarded by this areas huts which are famous for their comfort, hospitality and good food. Enjoying a cold beer on the sunny terrace of the Konkordia Hut with a majestic view after a great days skiing will make you think you have struck the perfect holiday balance of effort and relaxation!

The Ski visitor to the Oberland has a wealth of appealing options to plan their trip around. The extensive network of excellent Swiss Alpine Club huts means you can traverse a peak going from hut to hut or enjoy a great days skiing with a light pack and return to the same base.

Here are a few suggestions to whet your appetite and provide the building blocks of your Oberland Ski itinerary. (Itnerary focusing on the areas classic ski peaks with further suggestions for mountaineering alternatives /additions below)

A 'shakedown day' skiing around the famous resort of Grindlewald under the N. Face of the Eiger. The Jungfraujoch railway can also be taken on the afternoon of this day to get you into the High Mountains straight away.
Traverse the Trugberg from Monchsjochutte to Konkordiahutte. A fantastic 1000m South facing descent.
Ski Ascent and descent of the SE face of the Kranzberg and skin up to the Lotschenlucke and Hollandiahutte.
Elegant gentle skin up the Abeni Flue (3962m) and long ski back to Konkordiahutte.
Cross the Grunhornlucke and ski the Wysnollen en route to the Finsteraarhornhutte.
Ski the superb East flank of the Gross Wanenhorn and out to the Oberaarjochhutte.
Long ski out to Munster in the Rhone Valley via the ski summit of the Vord Galmihorn (3517m). Train back to Grindlewald.

Additional / Alternative Ski Mountaineering objectives:

Traverse of the Fiescherhorn (4049m), PD
Jungfrau (4158m) , PD+
Gross Grunhorn (4044m), PD+
Finsteraarhorn (at 4274m the highest peak of the Oberland and visible from much of the W. Alps), PD
Aletschhorn (4193m), PD from the Bivvi Hut but a long and remote outing.

Fitness and skiing experience pre-requirements

A high level of general fitness is required for this course particularly if you are keen to complete some of the higher, tougher peaks like the Aletschorn (an ability to comfortably maintain an ascent rate of 300m/hr on skins for up to 5 hours). Effective and controlled off-piste skiing is also required. This means the ability to make linked short radius turns in a variety of off-piste snow conditions. Some ski touring experience is also required so if you don't have this check out our introduction to ski mountaineering course first (you could do it the week before!). All of the 4000m peaks in the Oberland described here are proper mountaineering challenges. Attempting them in spring with ski mountaineering gear means you must have some current winter or alpine mountaineering experience and be confident and precise with your cramponing skills

Thanks for a great 3 days and in particular for your tremendous navigation yesterday. Spot on and have a great summer, David.

David, Ski Bernese Oberland, May 2012

More Details:

Ski Mountaineering Kit List

Please use this list in a modular form according to what type of ski mountaineering you are doing e.g non glacial tours may not require harness, ice screws etc. Aim to 'pack light' and ski with a small, light pack as mu... more>

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Booking

Contact

We are always delighted to hear from past, current and future clients so whether you have a booking enquiry, want a conditions report, or some mountaineering advice please do get in touch.

In the meantime, Good climbing / skiing ! Rob.

High Mountain Guides

Chamonix Mont-Blanc, France

Mobile: + 33 (0) 670 819 250

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Comments

17th May 2012

Thursday 17 May 2012 4:56:50 pm

Rob Jarvis

Just back from an excellent ski trip in to the Bernese Oberland which included a bit of everything. Big glacial ski journeys, a fine ski touring peak (Abeni Flue) and an enjoyable mountaineering ridge from a ski depot (The Mitaghorn). The weather was equally diverse from baking in the sun to grimacing in a blizzard. However one constant was the excellence of the mountain huts. Both the Hollandia and Konkordia were, as usual, a pleasure to stay in featuring great hospitality, fine food and stunning location.

Conditions are good for ski travel with generally well filled in glaciers and snowy, rather than icy, ridges. As we were leaving yesterday there was up to 50cm of fresh snow on the higher glaciers and the snow line continued all the way down to just above Grindlewald. Not bad for mid May!