George Cave

Digging on the Wyssnollen

A thick white-out enveloped the whole glacier all day, forcing us to abandon our trip up the Wyssnollen. Instead, we resorted to my second favourite winter activity, digging!

Crossing to the Finsteraarhornhütte

Today was a big day out as we crossed over the range to the Finsteraarhornhütte on the opposite side. The steep approach to the col was filled with the same soft snow we had experienced two days previously on the Monch and we were very grateful for the French guided party in front for breaking the trail!

After summiting the Hinter Fiescherhorn we set off down to the hut through the maze of crevasses, serac debris and must-make turns!

Walcherhorn

A marvellous day of weather in the Bernese Oberland. We were sad to leave Will behind to fix a problem with his skins; the remaining three of us made a day trip to the Walcherhorn across the glacier from our base in the Mönchsjoch Hut.

Approaching the Mönch

Will, Clay, Steve and myself began our week of ski touring with a skin across to the base of the Mönch. The half metre of unconsolidated powder did little to deter us from making a start on the route... until around 40m up when we decided our vertical swim was a hopeless endeavour and we should retire to the hut to plan the rest of our week's touring.

Buachaille Etive Mor

We thought we'd have time for one more route before flying home to Bristol that evening, but the approach to the Buchaille took much longer than expected on steep wet slabs coated in snow. So we turned back at the base of the route. A nice stretch in the mountains!

Anoach Mor

I'd never climbed on Anoach Mor before but I'd always wanted to go there, so Rob, Dave, Dave and myself hiked up to the summit plateau in perfect winter weather with glorious views of CMD arete to the west. We'd abb'd down Easy Gully on a snow bollard (also a first for me) and hiked around to the start of Morwind. The conditions weren't ideal with lots of soft snow and questionable turf, so I weaved across the crag onto Turf Walk. After four nervy, runout pitches we topped out to a crowd of mountain rescue members undergoing some training. Balls of steel.