Grubenkopf, Austria

The clear skies greeted us again today, and we decided on another piece of "unfinished business" from last year ...  through a series of circumstances (some of which will haunt Bryon for a long time), we had set out late and ran out of time before reaching the summit.

This time we were early to start, and set off up the very icy Rodelbahn track for the first stretch. Soon getting to the stepping off point in the lower meadows. The sun had not got high enough to reach here yet and it was cold enough to keep all our jackets on.

We seemed to be in good form and pressed on through the lower meadows and through the small gap to the restaurant on the edge of the lake ...  looking much sadder than last year, and we both missed the stuffed deer.

The track around the lake was very bare and previous parties had kept to the lake side, and we just followed, seeing the target summit properly for the first time today..

On the other side the track cuts, quite sharply up through the woods on a deep mogul run - guaranteed to provide entertainment later on as we descend - before it breaks out into the upper meadows. Rising gently through these after the last steep section the panorama opened out before us and we could pick out the circuitous route to the summit.

The route drops down from here slightly, although it seems to be a bigger drop than it actually is, before going up steeply on the other side and then winding its way through the foothills to the left of the target.

There is a little summer buvette hut around the back in a sheltered cwm before we headed up to our previous high point at the col.

Looking upwards from here, the top was out of sight and we just saw a rounded dome stretching away, with what looked like a slippery track that reminded me of a nightmare time I had on a route in the Simplon pass.

Head down and setting off up the slope, this could be divided into three sections, first the lower steep section, up to a more sparse middle section leading on to the summit plateau. Each with their own challenges, but the last was the most annoying as the false summits came one after another.

The final summit cone was set on the back of the plateau, with a short climb, made easier by going to the right hand side and up the ridge.

Once again we were early in the day to descend straight away and could enjoy the marvellous views and take on some calories. For the most part we had it all to ourselves, which was great.

Looking East, and over the Vennspitze

Down into Italy

At a silent signal we got ready to descend, and with a tentative rattle over the plateau we were soon testing out the snow on the top section of the dome.  Our tracks are the narrow set on the left, followed by returning to the ridge and again from the col.

The snow was almost spring with a little top dressing, giving a really fun descent. Once at the buvette, it started to get a little heavier, and was really sticky as we dropped down to the dip.

Climbing up the other side and poleing to the shepherds huts with the sun beating down was the last thing we needed, and we both were gasping once we got to the top on the climb.

By the time we reached the mogul field it was a case of getting it over with quickly and back at the lake we chose to walk around the path to rest our aching muscles.

A last look back from the auberge to see the summit standing proud at the head of the valley, and we put in a final effort down the lower meadows, which had transformed into corn snow - soft and heavy but not grippy.

Back at the van and some serious re-hydration sitting in the sun reflecting on a brilliant day.