There were a couple of likely candidates in the book just up the road from a place called Bichlbach. The parking was a a lay-by at the end of the road, and there were a couple of vans already there, but only just stirring.
Heading up the valley towards the summit we could see.. Bleisptize. This involved a circuitous route.
following the valley upwards it was clear to see that in the right (wrong) conditions this would run the gauntlet of avalanches dropping into the base of the valley.
As the valley rose several subsidiary ones came in from the side of the Bleispitze but we went past all these until reaching the last ridge rising to the left. taking to the side of the ridge caused a few palpitations as we were back in corn snow, and forging a new trail.
Rising out of the difficulties we got on the ridge top. However this just brought on another problem. in the valley we had been sheltered, but as we came out of it we were blasted. and so was the snow, which became very hard packed.
Bryon took over the trail breaking, as we continued upwards. The wind was relentless and became more painful as we progressed. The time was ticking away the corn snow and the wind had really slowed us down. So as we got to the ridge it seemed a good point to turn around.
The col was a much used passage, it seemed and there was a lot of signs on the post.A quick change over and the skins were packed away, and we were heading back down the way we had come.
The snow started of hard packed with occasional drifts of soft stuff, and then as we came to the valley became easier, but the light got flatter
The avalanche debris we skinned up the side of was more of a problem descending. .. simpler on foot.And soon we were back at the van. the weather reports were not far from reality, and the clouds moved in and it started snowing.
This was the final straw and with no good weather on the horizon we decided to head home. The idea was to get a far as possible today, and finish off tomorrow. In the end we actually got to Dunkirk (albeit late) and finally found a cheap place to stay after many rejects.
