6.30 am, Umpol car park
Mountain trek | Gwächtenhorn traverse with a mountain guide
A stunning day trip featuring some easy climbing along the west ridge and a fascinating, fissured glacial landscape on the descent.
Technics
Endurance
The Gwächtenhorn combines an impressive high-alpine approach with varied climbing and an exciting descent across the glacier. Early in the morning, we set off from the Umpol car park and first ascend to the Tierbergli Hut. From there, we continue towards the west ridge. We climb up over beautiful, well-gripped rock formations in easy, somewhat exposed climbing at Grade II. The route is varied and offers repeated impressive views down into the surrounding mountain landscape. Once we reach the summit of the Gwächtenhorn, we enjoy the view over the Bernese Alps and the surrounding glaciers. For the descent, we choose the standard route. This takes us back through the high-alpine glacial landscape and currently offers a particularly impressive insight into the dynamics of the glacier. Open crevasses and the ever-changing glacial landscape make the descent a memorable part of the tour. Back at the Tierbergli Hut, we treat ourselves to coffee and cake before tackling the final stretch of the descent.
A varied day trip for fit mountaineers with experience of crampons who enjoy easy climbing and would like to ascend a high-alpine peak via a varied route.
Procedure and meeting place
We’ll meet at the Umpol car park. You have the option of arriving the evening before and staying either at the Hotel Steingletscher or at the Umpol car park. Alternatively, you can travel by carpool.
We steadily gain altitude across varied alpine terrain. From the vicinity of the Tierbergli Hut, we continue our ascent to the start of the West Ridge. Now the climbing begins: over varied rock steps and exposed sections, we climb towards the summit, well-secured on the rope, at difficulty grades II to III. Once at the summit, an impressive panorama of the Bernese Alps awaits us. After a well-deserved break at the summit, we set off on the descent. We head back down towards the valley via the standard route, crossing the high-alpine glacial landscape. Depending on current conditions, we can expect open crevasses and impressive views of the ever-changing glacier.
After a long and varied day in the mountains, we return to our starting point.
Requirements
- Experience in hiking and walking in pathless terrain
- Experiences of walking with crampons
- Climbing routes up to grade II
- Fitness level required for tours involving 1,500 metres of elevation gain and loss at a normal pace (~350 metres per hour)
- The joy of high-altitude hiking and being out and about in a small group
Price and services
- CHF 390 per participant.
- Group of 3 guests per mountain guide.
- Including planning and realisation with mountain guide and his travel expenses.
- Excluding travel expenses, possible train tickets, personal consumption.
Material and equipment
- For this tour you need the material from this PDF. We carry our equipment with us all the time. Pack only what is necessary.
- General material and packing tips we have also put together for you.
Bergschaft tours and courses are conducted in German as standard. However, our mountain guides speak good English, as do many of the participants. If you speak English, you are of course very welcome. Depending on the tour, it may be worth asking us in advance whether the guide and the group are comfortable speaking English.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us, preferably via the Contact form.
Here’s how to join us on the Gwächtenhorn traverse:
We currently have no public dates advertised. You are welcome to Contact us with your preferred date and we'll take a look together! You can also always book this tour as a Private Tour book.
As Private Tour on your desired date with your group:
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