After yesterday's long day .. height and distance wise, today was always going to be a shorter route, and also include some exploration. Added to this neither of us go much sleep .. too hot, the sheet was more like an abrasive pad and the piste basher started up really early.
So combining the exploration and a route we decided to do a short route - Munt Pers - from the top of the Diavolezza lift up the valley to the south.
We declined to come back down the glacier as this would need us carrying ropes, harnesses, etc. so the idea was to climb back up to the top station and then down the piste.
Parking in the lift car park we paid for a one up ticket, and rode the crowded cable car up to the top.
Up at the top station we could look back down the motorways to the valley, and also across to the very top - just over 3000m.
Our first view of Munt Pers was disappointing... the usual route seemed to be a walking route .. the early morning and the cold night meant his was frozen and we should have brought crampons and ice axes - in place of the skis and skins...
The descent from the top top also looked less appealing, and meant a 200m climb up from the glacial moraine.
We settled on a view of Piz Bernina, a shoulder used by a lot of guided parties directly across from us, Piz Palu, and Bellavista.
We tried to identify the route to the hut on Piz Bernina, but this was in conclusive.
I liked the reflection in the restaurant windows.
Then we charged down the piste ..,. black from top to bottom.
A bit annoyed at the lack of doing anything, but also our foresight.
So a time for exploration ... first up to the hospis at the top of the pass, which confirmed that there was not much to interest here at this time.
Then down to the main valley and up to Maloja at the end of the valley ... we noted two routes here, Muott Ota from Sils we would do tomorrow, and one up the back of a fish shop to Piz Grevasalvas ... for another time.
Then we went up the Julier pass ... it seemed to be open now .. both as a way home but also as a source of routes.
Up at the Hospis there was a large number of possibilities (also a large bowl of soup, and a coffee)
Back at the hostel ... the sheet was no better, so innovation was called for.
The hospis was on the other side of the valley to the town, next to the railway station.
We went for an afternoon stroll. across to the town before dinner ... soup, salad, tiramsu, and ? better than yesterday, but still not enthusiastic.
