Finally getting around to updating the blog….
Over the summer, we headed to the Alps. Dave headed up some peaks, while Jo did some lower level walking, cable car riding and intensive resting in the campsite. It was the first time we’d taken the van to the Alps in summer since the rather soggy Saas trip of 2014, and we were relieved that this one didn’t follow suit (although our expectations have probably evolved somewhat in the intervening years).
We were based initially in Bormio, Italy, where summits reached included Monte Cevedale and Punta San Matteo. We also drove up and down the Stelvio Pass a silly number of times, explored the WW2 front line, and can highly recommend the pizza and gelato at the campsite.
We then transferred over the border to Morteratsch near Pontresina in the Engadine, Switzerland. The highlight from here was Piz Palu (just sub-4000m), and we also made friends with the marmots around Piz Languard, were introduced to Megacremeschnitte (Dave promised to recreate these at home, but for some reason hasn’t got round to it yet) and did some valley climbing.
A mainly (upward) traversing warm-up walk from Bormio 2000 lift station
Valle di Sobretta
Back in the high alps
Refugio
Monte Cevedale
Alpine start views
From Cevedale, looking back towards Gran Zebru
Approaching the summit
From Monte Cevedale, first look at the ridge to come
It was a straightforward (but rarely done) ridge across over Monte Rosole to Palon de la Mare
Looking back over Monte Rosole to Monte Cevedale
Palon de la mare summit
Views across the Ghiacciaio dei Forni
Descending the interesting glacier to finish our one way alpine day with minimal guidebook instruction – success!
Meanwhile, Jo went for a wander up the valley and round some alpine forests
Only got a bit lost with Italian maps and their lack of resemblance to reality
A mainly (downward) traversing walk taking in Monte Scorluzzo. Leaving the ski areas behind
Views from Monte Scorluzzo 1
Views from Monte Scorluzzo 2 (and the ridge ahead)
Views from Monte Scorluzzo 3
Down scrambling (don’t think this is in any list of approved pregnancy activities, oh well)
Filone del Mot, a most enjoyable ridge
Military village
The van got a flat tyre. There was a garage at the bottom of the campsite hill. The other residents were bemused
A one day attempt on a peak (Punta San Matteo)
First issue – river crossing. It’s not meant to rain later is it?
Summit reached, just as the snow starts
Descending the narrow ridge with care, before a snow/hail storm with lightening too close for comfort engulfs us. Some inspired navigation meant that only a few feet went into crevasses and we appeared at the bottom of the glacier wet but safe.
Starting to dry out, having had an ‘interesting’ river crossing
Sunshine meant I had dried out by the end of the walk, despite not having waterproofs….
A misty Piz Languard
Clearing up on the descent
Marmots!
Wandering around Alp Languard
Megacremeschnitte!
Evening view of Piz Palu and friends from the Diavolezza hut/hotel (the others having gone to bed while it was all still cloud-covered)
Piz Palu has one of the more crevasses and serac-y glaciers I’ve travelled across
Tricky finding the right path through the seracs, but great views
Exciting, but the glacier thoughtfully had easier points around every hour to allow for short breaks.
Zig zagging through the many massive crevasses that protect the col
Simon emerging from a successful Bergschund crossing
We had managed to stay near the front of all the groups on the mountain, giving us relative quiet.
The summit! Only stayed here for seconds as we needed to get down the narrow summit ridge before other parties came up – passing places didn’t exist
Just starting the narrowest section.
An attempt to give a sense of the narrowness and exposure – the right hand snow field dropped away steeply for many hundreds of metres
Picture of the summit of Piz Palu. Some Swiss mountaineers assumed we hadn’t done this as we didn’t have a guide…
Surveying the slighly less narrow, but still interesting section
Waiting at a passing place
Off down the glacier again
Soon after this photo, we took a ‘short cut’ and ended up lowering/downclimbing into/across crevasses. Fun was not had by all during this.
A look at Piz Palu, with the three summits. One of the best glacier/snow alpine days.
Piz Palu at breakfast time (there might be some specks on the summit…)
View from Sass Queder (waiting for the mountaineers to return)
On the way to some crags below the Morteratsch glacier
Valley climbing
Friendly dog wants porridge
Mainly (downward) traversing walk from the Julierpass to St Moritz
St Moritzersee
Yellow Van Mountaineering 